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Michigan Divorce Records
Michigan’s state divorce records cover events filed since 1897; some divorces were not filed with the state.
Decide whether you need the event record or judgment
Michigan MDHHS supplies a certified state divorce record, but the actual judgment comes from the county where the divorce occurred. Ask the organization requesting proof which document it needs before paying. A certificate establishes the recorded event; the court decree contains the judge’s terms, so ordering a state record will not supply the full judgment.
For example, Michigan’s Secretary of State accepts a divorce decree for a name correction only when it is certified and shows both the previous and changed names. An ordinary copy is not accepted for that purpose. Requirements for another recipient may differ; identify the intended use and any certification or foreign-use requirement before selecting a product.
Gather names and the divorce year
The divorce-specific application covers Michigan divorces filed with the state since 1897, warns that some were never filed, and permits anyone to request a search with a signed application and fee. Use this divorce-specific coverage rather than the ordering page’s general 1867 description of vital records. Neither date means every Michigan divorce is in the state file.
Both spouses’ names at the time of the divorce application and the divorce year are required. If the day and month are unknown, the state searches the supplied year. Add the county, parent names and other requested details when known, plus your mailing address and required daytime phone. For an uncertain year, list the additional years to be searched rather than leaving the required year blank.
Price and send a paper application
The base search is $34 for one year and includes one certified copy or a no-find letter. Each additional search year is $12; each additional certified copy is $16; rush processing adds $12. These are different units: an extra year broadens the search, while an extra copy duplicates a located record. Search fees are non-refundable, including when no record is found.
Hand-sign the application in ink and enclose payment by check or money order payable to State of Michigan. MDHHS’s current ordering instructions also require a photocopy of the requester’s valid ID for mailed applications. Address regular mail to Vital Records Requests, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909; use Vital Records RUSH at that same box for rush service.
Use the current processing notice
As checked October 2, 2026, the MDHHS ordering page lists 10–12 weeks for regular divorce requests and 8–10 weeks for expedited requests. The February 2025 application still prints shorter 4–6 and 2–3 week in-office estimates. Plan around the live notice and confirm before relying on a deadline; neither estimate guarantees arrival on a particular day.
Rush processing is separate from shipping. The paper application says results go by USPS First Class Mail and prepaid return envelopes are not accepted. If the posted timing cannot meet your need, contact the Eligibility Unit at 517-335-8666 about the available ordering options before submitting a second paid search.
Consider online ordering or Lansing pickup
VitalChek is Michigan’s authorized online provider; phone ordering is available at 866-443-9897. The state lists a $34 standard-record search fee plus $14 online processing, with extra charges for optional delivery. Its current instructions offer Will Call through VitalChek, processing in 2–5 business days, followed by an email that the order is ready. Pickup is Tuesday or Thursday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; bring photo ID and that email.
In-person ordering at 333 South Grand Avenue, Lansing, is appointment-only, with limited Tuesday and Thursday slots. Do not travel based only on having submitted an online order. The office also offers a lobby drop box for a sealed application packet, payment and required documents. Confirm the method and appointment through MDHHS before going, particularly if you need the actual decree rather than its state record.
Follow a no-find or incorrect record to the right office
A no-find letter reports the result of the state search you purchased. First compare both names and the year on the application with your own paperwork; then ask the county court about its judgment, including older or unfiled-with-the-state divorces. Request the case number, document title, number of copies and certification you need. Court copying and certification costs are separate from MDHHS’s state-record fee.
For a discrepancy in a divorce record, start with the issuing county court and identify the incorrect field and supporting document. Michigan’s correction rules state that marriage and divorce records are not corrected by the state registrar’s office. A records inquiry is also different from asking a judge to modify a divorce judgment; obtain legal advice if the desired change concerns the order’s substance.
Related Record Guides
Sources
Authoritative next stops
Official source
Divorce-specific 1897 coverage, eligibility, search fields, fees and mail address
Official source
Judgment/certificate distinction and issuing-court route
Official source
A certified decree must show previous and changed names for this specific use
Official source
Current processing banner, identification, online fee and pickup methods
Official source
Rule 325.3266: state registrar does not correct divorce records