Access Ingham County Divorce Records
Ingham County divorce records are filed with the 30th Judicial Circuit Court, which operates at two locations in Lansing and Mason. The county offers free online access to court cases filed after October 2009, and in-person or mail requests are available for all records at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. This page covers every method for searching and obtaining Ingham County divorce records, including local fees, contact details, and applicable Michigan statutes.
Ingham County Overview
Ingham County Circuit Court - Family Division
The 30th Judicial Circuit Court handles all divorce cases in Ingham County. Its Family Division has jurisdiction over divorce, custody, support, and related matters under MCL 600.1021. Ingham County is home to Michigan's state capital, Lansing, which means the 30th Circuit handles a high volume of cases and has staff who are experienced with the full range of Michigan divorce law.
The 30th Circuit Court operates out of two locations. The primary location for Lansing cases is the Veterans Memorial Courthouse at 313 W Kalamazoo Street, 1st Floor, Lansing, MI 48933. The phone number is (517) 483-6500, the fax is (517) 483-6401, and the email is circuitcourt@ingham.org. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The second location is the Ingham County Courthouse at 315 S Jefferson, 3rd Floor, Mason, MI 48854. Mason is the official county seat. Which location handles your case may depend on where in the county the filing party lives or where the case was originally assigned.
The County Clerk's Office for broader county functions can be reached at clerk@ingham.org or by phone at (517) 676-7201. The Clerk's website is at clerk.ingham.org. For a broader view of county services, the main Ingham County website is at ingham.org.
The screenshot below shows the Ingham County online court records portal, which offers free access to cases filed since October 1, 2009.
After accessing the portal at courts.ingham.org, you can search by party name or case number to find divorce case filings and track the docket entries without visiting the courthouse.
| Court | 30th Judicial Circuit Court, Family Division |
|---|---|
| Lansing Address | Veterans Memorial Courthouse 313 W Kalamazoo Street, 1st Floor Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Mason Address | Ingham County Courthouse 315 S Jefferson, 3rd Floor Mason, MI 48854 |
| Phone | (517) 483-6500 |
| Fax | (517) 483-6401 |
| circuitcourt@ingham.org | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Search Ingham County Divorce Records Online
Ingham County has its own free online court records system at courts.ingham.org. Cases filed after October 1, 2009 are available online. Limited criminal and traffic cases from before that date are also searchable. You can search by party name or case number and view docket entries for each case. This is useful for confirming whether a divorce was filed, finding the case number, and tracking the current status without calling the clerk's office.
For cases predating October 2009, you need to contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office directly. Those older records are not in the online system and require an in-person or mail request. The MiCOURT statewide system also covers Ingham County and offers the same type of case index information. Divorce case type codes are DM for cases with minor children and DO for cases without. The Ingham County portal and MiCOURT pull from similar court data, so you can use either.
The screenshot below shows the Ingham County Clerk website, which links to both the courts.ingham.org portal and the Circuit Court Clerk's contact information.
The Clerk's site also provides information on vital records, election services, and other county clerk functions separate from the court records system.
Note: The online court records portal shows docket entries and case status but does not allow document downloads. Copies of filed documents must be requested from the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
How to Get Ingham County Divorce Records
In person is the most direct way to get Ingham County divorce records. Visit the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, 1st Floor, Lansing, MI 48933. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties, plus the case number if you have it from an online search. Staff will locate the file and make copies. Standard copy fees in Ingham County are $1.50 per page. Transcript copies cost $0.90 per page. Certification of a record adds $10 per document. You pay at the time of the request.
Mail requests go to Circuit Court Clerk's Office, 313 West Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933. Include both parties' names, the year of the divorce, and the case number. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment by check or money order. Do not send cash. Allow additional time for mail requests, as turnaround depends on current workload at the clerk's office. If you need the records urgently, an in-person visit is a better option.
Divorce certificates from MDHHS are separate from Circuit Court records. These certificates confirm the fact of a divorce but do not contain detailed case documents. MDHHS charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy. Order through michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords. Marriage records are also held by MDHHS Vital Records, not by the Circuit Court.
Ingham County is also home to the State Archives of Michigan and the Library of Michigan, both located in Lansing. These institutions may have historical divorce records or related documents for cases that go back many decades. They are worth contacting if you are researching older cases that predate the clerk's searchable records.
The screenshot below shows the broader Ingham County website, which provides a full picture of county government offices and services.
The county website at ingham.org links to the Circuit Court, Clerk's office, and all related county services from one central page.
Ingham County Divorce Records Fees
Ingham County has clearly published copy fees. Standard copies cost $1.50 per page. Transcript copies are $0.90 per page. Certification of a record, which makes a copy legally official for use in court or for government agencies, costs $10 per record. These fees apply to requests made in person or by mail at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
Filing fees for a new divorce case are paid to the Ingham County Clerk at the time of filing. Fee amounts for new filings follow state guidelines and may vary based on case type. Ask the clerk for the current filing fee schedule when you go in. Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford to pay. You must apply for a waiver and get approval from the judge before your fees are waived.
Michigan Divorce Law and Ingham County Cases
Ingham County divorce cases follow the same Michigan statutes as every other county in the state. Michigan has operated as a no-fault divorce state since 1972 under MCL 552.6. The only ground for divorce is a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the point where no reasonable likelihood exists that it can be saved. Neither spouse needs to prove fault or show that the other did something wrong.
Residency rules under MCL 552.9 require that at least one spouse have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Ingham County for at least 10 days before the divorce complaint is filed. Ingham County cases filed in Lansing or Mason must meet this requirement. If residency is in question, the 30th Circuit clerk can advise on the correct county for filing.
Waiting periods apply in all Michigan divorces. Cases without minor children have a 60-day minimum waiting period from the date of filing before a final judgment can be entered. Cases with minor children must wait 180 days. These rules hold in Ingham County the same as anywhere else in Michigan. The waiting period affects when the final divorce record becomes available at the clerk's office for public access.
Property division in Ingham County follows MCL 552.19. The 30th Circuit judge divides assets in a way the court finds just and reasonable based on the circumstances of both parties. Spousal support is determined under MCL 552.13, with the court weighing the ability to pay, the needs of both parties, and the length of the marriage. The full text of these statutes is at legislature.mi.gov.
Legal Help for Ingham County Divorce
Free legal resources are available for Ingham County residents dealing with divorce. The Michigan Legal Help website at michiganlegalhelp.org has guided interviews that produce divorce forms for the 30th Circuit and explain local procedures. The site is free and walks you through each stage of the process from filing to final judgment. The State Archives and Library of Michigan in Lansing may also assist with historical research if older records are needed.
The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov has all SCAO-approved forms at no cost. For electronic filing in Ingham County Circuit Court cases, use the MiFILE portal. The State Bar of Michigan at michbar.org can refer you to family law attorneys in the Lansing and Mason area. Legal aid organizations serving Ingham County may also help people who cannot afford a private attorney.
Major Cities in Ingham County
Lansing is the largest city in Ingham County and serves as Michigan's state capital. All divorce cases from communities across Ingham County are filed at the 30th Judicial Circuit Court.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Ingham County. Filing in the correct county is required for the circuit court to have jurisdiction over a divorce case.