Find Dissolution Of Marriage Records in Farmington Hills

Dissolution of marriage cases for Farmington Hills residents are filed with the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Oakland County, located in Pontiac. This page explains where to file, how to search dissolution records using the Oakland Court Explorer portal, what the filing fees are, and how to get certified copies or official divorce certificates.

Where Farmington Hills Dissolution Cases Are Filed

Farmington Hills residents file dissolution of marriage cases at the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Pontiac. Oakland County uses this court for all family law matters, including dissolution, custody, support, and related proceedings. The court is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac, about 25 minutes from Farmington Hills under normal conditions. The main family court filing number is (248) 858-0344.

The Legal Records Division is in Department 413 of the same building complex at 1200 N. Telegraph Road. This is where court records, case files, and certified copy requests are handled. You can call the division directly at (248) 858-0582. The County Clerk handles general civil filings and some recording functions and can be reached at (248) 858-0581. For most dissolution of marriage records requests, the Legal Records Division is the right starting point.

The 47th District Court is in Farmington Hills at 31605 W. Eleven Mile Road, (248) 871-2900. That court handles small claims, traffic, and local ordinance matters. Dissolution of marriage cases are not filed there. They go to the circuit court in Pontiac.

Note: Standard filing fees in Oakland County are $175 for cases without minor children and $255 for cases involving children, which is close to the statewide average for Michigan.

Searching Farmington Hills Dissolution Records Online

Oakland County runs the Oakland Court Explorer, a public case search portal that covers circuit court filings including dissolution of marriage cases. You can search by party name, case number, or filing date. The portal shows case type, current status, and court dates. It is one of the more user-friendly county case search tools in Michigan and is updated regularly.

The statewide MiCOURT case search from the Michigan Supreme Court is also available. It covers courts across the state and can be useful if you want to search multiple counties or if you are not finding a specific case through the Oakland portal. For Farmington Hills dissolution records specifically, start with the Oakland Court Explorer since it focuses on Oakland County cases.

Note: Court Explorer shows docket-level information. To get copies of actual filed documents or certified judgments, contact the Legal Records Division at the courthouse directly.

Farmington Hills Dissolution Of Marriage Filing Process

Filing a dissolution of marriage in Farmington Hills requires that at least one spouse has lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Oakland County for 10 days before the date of filing. This residency rule is set by MCL 552.9. If neither party meets those thresholds yet, you will need to wait before filing. Filing early can result in the case being dismissed.

Michigan is a no-fault state under MCL 552.6. You do not need to show that one spouse did anything wrong. The required statement is simply that the marriage has broken down with no reasonable chance of being saved. That is all Michigan law requires. Once filed, a mandatory waiting period applies under MCL 552.9f. Cases without minor children must wait at least 60 days. Cases with minor children must wait at least 180 days, though a judge may shorten that wait in hardship situations.

Cases involving children are filed as DM cases. Cases without children are DO cases. The Friend of the Court office is involved in all DM cases to address custody, parenting time, and support. Property is divided under MCL 552.19. Spousal support is addressed under MCL 552.23. Oakland County filing fees are $175 for DO cases and $255 for DM cases. Copies cost $1 per page and $10 for certified copies.

Accessing Farmington Hills Dissolution Records

Once a dissolution case has been resolved, the file is part of the public record unless specific documents have been sealed by court order. Most final judgments and decrees in Farmington Hills dissolution cases are accessible to the public. You can review these records at the Legal Records Division in Department 413 at the Oakland County courthouse in Pontiac. Staff can pull case files and assist with both plain and certified copy requests.

If you cannot visit in person, you can mail a written request. Include the case number or the full names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and your contact information. Specify whether you need a plain copy or a certified copy. Plain copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies cost $10 for certification plus the per-page copy fee. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and are required for legal tasks like updating government identification, changing a name at a financial institution, or handling estate matters that reference the dissolution.

The rules governing record access in Michigan are found in MCR 8.119. Some portions of dissolution files, particularly exhibits, financial affidavits, and documents concerning minor children, may be restricted from public view. If you are accessing your own records, bring photo identification when you visit. Third parties can generally view the public portions of a case file.

MDHHS Vital Records

Michigan divorce certificates are issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services through its Vital Records office. A divorce certificate is not a copy of the final judgment. It is a short summary document that confirms the dissolution occurred, listing the names of the parties, the county of filing, and the date the judgment was entered. It does not contain custody agreements, support orders, or property division terms.

Request a Michigan divorce certificate from MDHHS Vital Records.

MDHHS Vital Records is at 333 S. Grand Avenue in Lansing, phone (517) 335-8666. Mail requests cost $34 for the first certificate. Online orders through VitalChek cost $58.50 for the first copy. Each additional copy at the same time is $16. For name changes with a state agency or driver's license update, a divorce certificate from MDHHS is usually all you need. If you need the full judgment with all legal terms, get a certified copy from the 6th Circuit Court records division.

Legal Help for Farmington Hills Dissolution Cases

Farmington Hills residents have solid options for legal help with dissolution of marriage matters, whether they can afford an attorney or are handling things on their own.

Michigan Legal Help is a free statewide resource developed with the State Bar of Michigan. It walks through the dissolution process step by step, provides plain-language explanations of Michigan law, and offers court forms you can fill out online and print. The site is designed for people who do not have a lawyer and covers everything from basic filing to contested issues like custody and support. It is a good starting point regardless of your situation.

The Michigan Courts website has official forms and court procedure guides. The Michigan Legislature site lets you read the statutes in full. If you want to hire an attorney, the State Bar of Michigan's lawyer referral service can connect you with a family law attorney in Oakland County. Oakland County has a large number of experienced family law practitioners, and many offer free initial consultations to discuss your situation before you commit.

Oakland County Dissolution Records

Farmington Hills is in Oakland County, and all dissolution of marriage filings go through the 6th Judicial Circuit Court. The Oakland County page covers the court in more detail, including additional resources for residents across the county.

View Oakland County Dissolution Records

Nearby Cities

Other nearby cities in Oakland County with dissolution of marriage record pages are listed below.