Michigan Divorce Records: Certified Judgments, State Divorce Records and What's Public
Michigan family law · Last reviewed October 23, 2026
Michigan has two kinds of divorce record, and they aren't interchangeable:
- the judgment of divorce, the court's order with all its terms, kept by the county clerk of the circuit court that granted it; and
- the state divorce record, the vital-records report of the event, kept by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
If you need to prove the terms of your divorce, such as property, support or custody, you need the judgment.
A certified copy of the judgment
Ask the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees are set locally. Examples from the clerks' own pages:
| County | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Oakland | $10 plus $1 per page |
| Macomb | $10 plus $2 per page (the whole document must be copied) |
| Kent | "An uncertified copy is $7. A certified copy costs $15." |
Check your clerk's site for current fees and ordering by mail. A certified copy of a judgment can also be recorded with the county register of deeds to show a change in real estate ownership (MCL 552.104).
The state divorce record (MDHHS Vital Records)
MDHHS keeps divorce records reported by the courts. "Michigan divorce records date back to 1897."
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search of one year and one certified copy (or a no-record letter) | $34 |
| Each additional copy of the same record, ordered at the same time | $16 |
| Each additional year searched | $12 |
| Rush processing | $12 |
| Online orders through VitalChek, the state's only authorized online provider | plus a $14 processing fee |
Who can order. "Divorce records are not restricted documents in Michigan," so anyone may order one. MDHHS's ordering page lists photo ID as not required for divorce records but also says mailed applications need a copy of valid ID; include one to be safe.
Order online, by mail or in person at MDHHS Vital Records, 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing; the ordering page gives the current mailing address and hours. Commercial sites that look official charge extra; start from michigan.gov.
What's public and what isn't
Court records are generally public, with important exceptions in divorce cases:
- The complaint, until service. "a complaint for divorce filed with the court shall not be made available to the public until the proof of service has been filed with the court" (MCL 552.6a, since October 1, 2022).
- Financial disclosures. The verified statement and the financial information form are kept out of the public file if they're filed at all (MCR 3.229); the financial form is exchanged, not filed.
- Friend of the Court records have their own access rules.
- Personal identifiers such as Social Security and account numbers are protected under the court rules.
- Sealing anything else requires a written motion, a finding of good cause and no less restrictive alternative; a court can't seal its own orders.
To look up whether a case exists, the state's MiCOURT case search covers participating courts; a missing result doesn't prove no divorce exists.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my divorce judgment in Michigan?
From the clerk of the circuit court in the county that granted the divorce. The state's vital records office issues a divorce record, not the judgment.
Who can order a Michigan divorce record?
Anyone. Michigan divorce records are not restricted documents.
How far back do Michigan divorce records go?
State divorce records go back to 1897. County clerks hold the judgments themselves; their older records vary.
How much does a Michigan divorce record cost?
$34 from MDHHS for a search and one certified copy, $16 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Certified copies of the judgment cost whatever the county clerk charges.
Are Michigan divorce records public?
Generally yes, but the complaint stays nonpublic until proof of service is filed, and financial disclosures and certain other documents are protected.