Online divorce is a low-cost and convenient way to complete all necessary documents for no-fault, uncontested divorces. In this case, spouses can apply for a marriage dissolution without involving divorce law attorneys, thereby saving lots of time and money.
How does it work?
All you need to do is go through a series of questions at your own pace. The answers you provide are then used to produce divorce paperwork, which is why you should be very attentive during this step. After that, you should follow simple instructions provided by the online platform. In terms of two business days, divorcing couples usually can download a full set of completed divorce papers that comply with local laws, requirements, and case specifics.
Contested Divorce
Online Divorce $299
DIY Divorce
The list of necessary divorce forms is unique in each case, which can be explained by differences in divorce-related matters and personal circumstances. At the same time, all divorcing couples should be prepared to submit the following documents when initiating a divorce in Michigan:
Currently, all residents of Michigan have the opportunity to obtain divorce papers in one of the following ways:
After getting appropriate divorce forms, a petitioner should complete them by following several significant steps:
If you want to avoid challenges associated with the procedure of filling out divorce forms, you can use the services offered by ComplteCase.com. This online platform provides assistance in completing up-to-date divorce papers, so divorcing spouses can move forward with their divorce without any issues.
To apply for divorce in Michigan, residents of this state should follow several significant steps.
Grounds for Divorce
Initial Filing
Court Fees
Serving a Spouse
Finalizing a Divorce
Grounds for Divorce
Michigan belongs to a list of purely no-fault states, which means that there is no need to report specific marital misconduct committed by the other party in order to get divorced. In turn, divorce can be granted if:
Even though these conditions seem complicated at first sight, they are actually not. Simply put, a judge will grant a divorce if the relationship is over and there's no chance to reconcile.
Initial Filing
For the initial submission, divorcing partners are required to prepare appropriate divorce papers and file them with the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where one of the spouses has resided for the past 10 days.
Couples seeking an uncontested divorce can use Michigan's streamlined procedure known as a "Summary Proceeding for Entry of Consent Judgment." As a result, they can skip some of the steps in the regular process of starting a divorce case (for example, there's no need to formally serve the other spouse with the divorce forms).
Court Fees
The amount of mandatory filing fees mainly depends on whether the couple has children. Spouses without children will have to pay $175 (it includes a $25 electronic system transaction fee) when filing divorce paperwork. Partners with children will be charged nearly $255-295 (this payment most often includes $80 for a custody and parenting time fee and $40 for a child support fee).
Serving a Spouse
Within 91 days after the date of filing, the plaintiff (a person initiating a divorce case) should inform the other party that legal action is taken against them. It can be done in one of the following ways:
Finalizing a Divorce
To finalize a divorce, spouses will have to attend a court hearing. During this hearing, the judge will review the paperwork to make sure it is fair and satisfies the expectations of both parties. If yes, the judge will sign a final divorce judgment, thereby terminating the marriage officially.
With the help of a divorce law attorney, Michigan residents can negotiate a divorce settlement regarding marital estate and child-related issues. In total, average costs for Michigan divorce lawyers are $9,000 to $12,000, which is a substantial financial loss for most divorcing couples in the state.
Therefore, to save a vast amount of money and time, spouses going through an amicable route can get divorced without legal assistance. A do-it-yourself (DIY) divorce can be a perfect option for people who:
Plus, to simplify the whole process of terminating a marriage in Michigan, people living in this state can use online divorce services provided by CompleteCase.com as a part of a DIY divorce. Accordingly, instead of researching the state's law and gathering the documentation to prepare divorce forms, soon-to-be-ex spouses can focus on other aspects of their lives.
Child Custody
Under Michigan family law, it is in the best interests of children to maintain a close relationship with both parents. In other words, joint custody (both legal and physical) is the most preferable option considered by local courts. However, before awarding any type of custody, the judge usually takes into account a variety of factors, including:
Child Support
Child support is financial support made by one or both parents to meet the basic needs of their child. If parents fail to reach an agreement on this aspect independently, the judge will decide it considering the parents' income(s), their parenting time, and the number of children to support. To estimate a share of financial support, divorcing parents can use Michigan's Child Support Formula.
In Michigan, the length of the mandatory waiting period depends on whether the couple has minor children. For instance, spouses with no children need to go through a 60-day waiting period after filing divorce documents with a court. People with children, in turn, will have to follow a 180-day waiting period before their divorce can be finalized.
The law requires these waiting periods for a combination of several reasons. They are as follows:
To apply for a divorce in Michigan, people are required to follow both requirements outlined below:
Itβs possible to get out of the 10-day requirement:
How long will it take in Michigan?
On average, uncontested divorce takes around 3-4 months (without children) or 7-8 months (with children). In contrast, contested divorce cases can last from 6 months to over a year, depending on the number of issues that should be resolved.
Can I get a free divorce in Michigan?
In order to get a free divorce, the couple should use a DIY method and ask the court to waive filing fees using a Fee Waiver Request form.
How to file for divorce in Michigan?
In order to file for a divorce in Michigan, a petitioner should:
How much does a divorce cost in Michigan?
The minimum cost of an uncontested divorce in Michigan is $175-295 (filing fees). Together with attorney's fees, this cost can reach over $5,000-10,000.
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