How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Michigan? (2026 Guide)
How much does a divorce cost in Michigan? Start with the good news: Michigan is a no-fault ONLY state, so nobody can drag adultery or cruelty allegations into the pleadings to run up the bill. Filing fees are set statewide at $175 without minor children and $255 with minor children, and there is no separation period required before you file. The tradeoff is a mandatory waiting period after filing: 60 days without kids, six months with kids. This 2026 guide covers Michigan filing fees, average costs by divorce type, and the state-specific rules that move your total up or down.
Quick Answer: Michigan Divorce Costs at a Glance
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filing fee, no minor children | $175 (statewide, Mich. Comp. Laws section 600.2529, as of July 2026) |
| Filing fee, with minor children | $255 (statewide, Mich. Comp. Laws section 600.2529, as of July 2026) |
| Friend of the Court fee | About $60 (per divorce.com Warren MI cost breakdown) |
| Service of process | $30 to $75 (estimate) |
| DIY total, no kids | $205 to $310 (filing plus service plus copies, per divorce.com) |
| DIY total, with kids | $265 to $370 (estimate) |
| Uncontested with flat-rate attorney | $1,000 to $3,000 (estimate) |
| Contested divorce | $10,000 to $50,000+ (estimate) |
| Waiting period, no kids | 60 days (cannot be waived) |
| Waiting period, with kids | 6 months |
Filing Fees and Court Costs in Michigan
Michigan divorces are filed in the circuit court of the county where either spouse lives, and the filing fee is set by state statute, not county by county. Expect $175 if you have no minor children and $255 if you do, per Mich. Comp. Laws section 600.2529 (figures current as of July 2026, per divorce.law’s Michigan guide citing the statute and mittenlaw.com’s 2026 price guide). Fees drift when the legislature acts, so verify the current amount with your county clerk before you file.
Other costs to plan for:
- Friend of the Court fee: About $60 when minor children are involved, on top of the $255 filing fee (per divorce.com’s Warren, Michigan cost breakdown). The Friend of the Court office handles custody, parenting time, and support enforcement.
- Service of process: Roughly $30 to $75 through the sheriff or a private server (estimate). A cooperative spouse can sign an Acknowledgment of Service instead, which is typically free.
- Fee waiver: If you cannot afford the fee, file form MC 20 (Fee Waiver Request) with the court. Approval is based on income and public assistance status.
- Certified copies: Around $10 to $25 per certified copy of the Judgment of Divorce (estimate).
- Motion fees: Typically $20 to $50 per motion if disputes require extra filings (estimate).
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Michigan by Type?
| Divorce type | Typical total cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DIY, no minor children | $205 to $310 | Filing fee plus service and copies (per divorce.com) |
| DIY, with minor children | $265 to $370 (estimate) | $255 fee plus Friend of the Court fee plus service |
| Uncontested with online service | $500 to $1,500 (estimate) | Document prep plus filing fees |
| Uncontested with flat-rate attorney | $1,000 to $3,000 (estimate) | Published Michigan flat-fee ranges; higher with custody terms |
| Contested (moderate disputes) | $10,000 to $30,000 (estimate) | Discovery, mediation, hearings |
| Highly contested | $30,000 to $50,000+ (estimate) | Custody evaluations, business valuation, trial |
Attorney hourly rates in Michigan run $200 to $450 depending on experience and market, with metro Detroit at the top end (2026 figures, estimates).
What Affects the Cost of Divorce in Michigan
1. No-fault ONLY means no mudslinging premium. Under MCL 552.6, the sole ground for divorce in Michigan is breakdown of the marriage relationship. Fault grounds like adultery cannot even be pleaded. That removes an entire category of accusation-driven litigation that inflates costs in fault states, which is a structural reason Michigan divorces skew cheaper than the national horror stories.
2. No separation required before filing, but a waiting period after. A question readers ask: “Do we have to be separated before filing for divorce in Michigan?” No. Michigan requires no separation period at all before you file. What it does require is a waiting period after filing: 60 days when there are no minor children, six months when minor children are involved. The 60-day floor cannot be waived, so plan your timeline around it.
3. Kids add the Friend of the Court layer. Beyond the higher $255 filing fee, cases with minor children involve the Friend of the Court (about a $60 fee) plus custody, parenting time, and support determinations. That office’s involvement is also why the waiting period triples to six months.
4. Residency is stricter than most states. You need 180 days living in Michigan plus 10 days in the filing county before the court has jurisdiction. File too early and the case gets dismissed, which means paying the filing fee twice.
5. Contested custody is the cost multiplier. As in every state, custody fights add evaluations, guardian ad litem appointments, and multiple hearings. Michigan’s no-fault rule keeps the pleadings clean, but it does not stop a custody battle from pushing a case past $30,000.
How to Keep Divorce Costs Down in Michigan
- File when you are ready, no separation needed. Do not burn months on a separation Michigan does not require.
- Agree on custody and property before filing. A signed settlement agreement is what keeps you in the flat-fee tier.
- Use a flat-fee attorney for uncontested cases. Published Michigan ranges run $1,000 to $3,000, far below hourly billing on a cooperative case.
- Get the Acknowledgment of Service signed. It skips the $30 to $75 service fee and starts your waiting period on day one.
- File form MC 20 if money is tight. The fee waiver can eliminate the filing fee if you qualify.
- Mediate before you litigate. Michigan courts favor mediated settlements, and partial agreements shrink what a judge must decide.
Michigan Divorce Filing Steps (Summary)
- Meet residency: 180 days in Michigan plus 10 days in the filing county.
- File the complaint: File the Complaint for Divorce with the circuit court and pay $175 (no kids) or $255 (kids), or file form MC 20 for a waiver.
- Serve your spouse: Sheriff, private server, or a signed Acknowledgment of Service.
- Wait out the statutory period: 60 days minimum without kids (cannot be waived), six months with kids.
- Finalize: Most uncontested cases finish with a brief hearing or on the paperwork; the judge signs the Judgment of Divorce.
Get a personalized number with our divorce cost calculator, or read our uncontested divorce cost guide if you and your spouse agree on the terms. More state guides are on the homepage.
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much is the filing fee for divorce in Michigan?
$175 if there are no minor children and $255 if there are, set statewide by Mich. Comp. Laws section 600.2529 (as of July 2026). With kids, add about $60 for the Friend of the Court fee. Verify the current figures with your county clerk before filing.
2. Is Michigan a no-fault divorce state?
Michigan is no-fault ONLY. Under MCL 552.6 the sole legal ground is breakdown of the marriage relationship, and fault grounds like adultery cannot even be pleaded. You never have to prove wrongdoing.
3. How long is the waiting period in Michigan?
60 days after filing when there are no minor children, and the 60-day floor cannot be waived. With minor children the waiting period is six months. These run from the filing date, not from any separation.
4. What is the Friend of the Court fee?
About $60 in cases with minor children, paid on top of the $255 filing fee (per divorce.com’s Michigan cost breakdown). The Friend of the Court office handles custody, parenting time, and child support matters.
5. Can I get the filing fee waived in Michigan?
Yes. File form MC 20, the Fee Waiver Request, with your complaint. The court grants it based on income level and whether you receive public assistance.
6. How long does an uncontested divorce take in Michigan?
Roughly two to three months without kids (the 60-day wait plus processing) and six months or more with kids (estimate). Cooperative couples with signed settlement agreements finish fastest.
