Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Michigan
A Michigan divorce counts as uncontested when both spouses file together, or one spouse files and the other consents. Either way, the couple needs a complete marital settlement agreement covering property and, if applicable, custody and support. Michigan calls this track a summary proceeding for entry of a consent judgment. It has no marriage-length or asset cap. Any couple can use it once they agree on every term. An agreed case still follows Michigan's standard waiting periods. There is no shortcut around the 60-day or 6-month floor, even with a signed settlement in hand from day one.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Michigan law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Michigan paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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The consent judgment track
Both spouses file together, or one files and the other formally consents, with a complete marital settlement agreement. That agreement covers property division and, when relevant, custody, parenting time, and support. There is no separate short-marriage or low-asset eligibility test.
This track is available to any couple who agrees on every term. It still runs on the same statutory waiting periods as a contested case. Agreement speeds up the process by avoiding a contested hearing. It does not shorten the clock itself.
The two waiting periods
Michigan sets a 60-day minimum wait after filing for cases with no minor children. That rises to 6 months, or 180 days, when minor children are involved. A court can shorten the second half of that 180-day period for documented unusual hardship or compelling necessity, down to a 60-day floor.
The first 60 days of either waiting period can never be waived, by any court, even with both spouses' agreement. This is a hard statutory floor, not a matter of judicial discretion or party stipulation.
Document checklist
Michigan does not use a dedicated Petition for Divorce form. File the general SCAO Summons, form MC 01, and Complaint, form MC 01a, captioned for a domestic relations action. Add a Verified Statement and any applicable Friend of the Court forms.
Add the signed marital settlement agreement supporting a consent judgment. A spouse who cannot afford court costs can file form MC 20, Affidavit and Order, Suspension of Fees/Costs. It is automatically approved for applicants receiving certain public assistance. Otherwise, it is evaluated against 125 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
Residency and parenting classes
At least one spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days before filing. Separately, either spouse must have lived in the specific filing county for 10 days before filing. This county rule is jurisdictional. It cannot be waived by agreement. If the cause for divorce happened outside Michigan, one spouse needs a full year of Michigan residency instead.
Most, but not all, Michigan circuit courts require a parenting education class, commonly called SMILE, for divorces involving minor children. This comes from local Friend of the Court policy rather than a single statewide statute, so requirements and format vary by county.
Sources: MCL 552.9f, waiting periods for judgment, MCL 552.9, residency requirements, MCL 552.6, grounds for divorce, Form MC 20, fee waiver affidavit, Michigan Courts, domestic relations SCAO forms, Michigan Legal Help, consent judgment summary track
Not independently confirmed
- Confirm whether a divorce-specific numbered SCAO form exists beyond the general Summons and Complaint (MC 01, MC 01a), and check the current filing packet at courts.michigan.gov.
- Whether e-filing is available or mandatory for self-represented divorce filers varies by county and was not individually verified for all 83 Michigan counties. Confirm with the filing circuit court.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Michigan: frequently asked questions
Does Michigan have a simplified divorce procedure?+
Michigan runs a summary proceeding for entry of a consent judgment when both spouses agree on every term. It has no marriage-length or asset cap the way some states' simplified tracks do. It still follows the same statutory waiting periods as a contested case, so it speeds up the process by avoiding a contested hearing, not by shortening the clock.
What is Michigan's waiting period for divorce?+
60 days after filing for couples with no minor children. 6 months, or 180 days, when minor children are involved. A court can shorten part of the 180-day period for documented hardship, down to a 60-day floor. The first 60 days of either period can never be waived, even with both spouses' agreement.
What is Michigan's residency requirement for divorce?+
At least one spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days before filing. Separately, either spouse must have lived in the specific filing county for 10 days before filing. This county rule is jurisdictional, not waivable by agreement. If the cause for divorce arose outside Michigan, one spouse instead needs a full year of state residency.
What forms do I need for an uncontested Michigan divorce?+
Michigan has no dedicated divorce petition form. File the general SCAO Summons, form MC 01, and Complaint, form MC 01a, captioned for a domestic relations action, along with a Verified Statement. Add the signed marital settlement agreement supporting the consent judgment, plus any applicable Friend of the Court forms.
Can I get the Michigan filing fee waived?+
Yes, if you cannot afford it. File form MC 20, Affidavit and Order, Suspension of Fees/Costs, under MCR 2.002. It is automatically approved for applicants receiving means-tested public assistance, such as SNAP or Medicaid. Otherwise, it is evaluated against 125 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
Do we need a parenting class if we have minor children in Michigan?+
Often, but this is not a single statewide statutory mandate. Most Michigan circuit courts require a parenting education class, commonly called SMILE, for divorces involving minor children, imposed through local Friend of the Court policy. Confirm the specific requirement and format, in-person or online, with the filing county's Friend of the Court office.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Michigan, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Michigan's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Michigan. Virdix does not prepare or file Michigan divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Michigan.
More Michigan divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Michigan, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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