Find Divorce Records in Livingston County

Livingston County divorce records are filed and maintained through the 44th Judicial Circuit Court in Howell. The county clerk's office handles vital records and court document requests, and the county also offers an online portal called LivingstonLive for searching court records and ordering certified copies. This page covers how to find divorce records in Livingston County, what fees apply, and which tools are available for online searches and in-person requests.

44th Circuit Court and County Clerk

Livingston County has two separate offices you may need to contact for divorce records. The County Clerk's Office is located at 200 East Grand River, Howell, MI 48843-2399. Their phone number is 517-546-0500 and email is countyclerk@livgov.com. The county clerk handles vital records. The 44th Circuit Court Clerk is located at 204 S. Highlander Way, Suite 4, Howell, MI 48843-1953, with phone 517-546-9816 and email wclerks@livgov.com. Court records including divorce filings and judgments go through the circuit court clerk. More information about Livingston County courts is at livgov.com/courts.

All divorce cases in Livingston County are handled by the 44th Judicial Circuit Court. The Family Division of that court covers divorce filings, custody, support, paternity, and related matters. If you or your spouse lives in Livingston County and meets the residency requirements, your case is filed here. The circuit court clerk keeps the case files, including petitions, financial disclosures, and the final divorce judgment. These documents are what you request when you need certified court copies rather than a vital records certificate.

LivingstonLive Online Portal

Livingston County offers an online records portal called LivingstonLive at livingstonlive.livgov.com. This portal lets you search court records and order vital records including divorce records online. Searching costs $6 per name or court searched. Case history reports are $2.50 per case. These fees are paid through the portal at the time of your request. LivingstonLive is one of the more convenient options if you cannot easily visit the courthouse in person, since you can search and order from home.

The self-service court indexes at the 44th Circuit Court Clerk's Office are free to use in person. If you visit the office at 204 S. Highlander Way, staff can help you locate a case by name or case number. This free in-person access is a good option if you need to confirm whether a divorce was filed in Livingston County before paying for a copy. The in-person terminals show case-level information but not full document text.

The statewide MiCOURT case search also covers 44th Circuit Court cases. MiCOURT is free and lets you search by name or case number. You can see the case type, party names, and the register of actions. Case types DM and DO designate divorce with and without minor children respectively. MiCOURT does not provide document downloads, but it helps you find the case number you need to request copies. The MiFILE system is used for electronic filing of new cases and documents in the 44th Circuit.

How to Get Divorce Records

For court copies of divorce documents, contact the 44th Circuit Court Clerk at 204 S. Highlander Way, Suite 4, Howell. In person is the fastest option. Bring a photo ID and the case number if you have it. Copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $10. Staff can make copies on the spot for most requests. For older or archived cases, processing time may be longer.

By mail, write to the 44th Circuit Court Clerk at the Howell address above. Include both parties' full names, the approximate divorce date, the case number if known, your contact information, and payment. A self-addressed stamped envelope speeds the return of your documents. If you only need a basic divorce certificate rather than the full case file, you can also order through MDHHS Vital Records. MDHHS charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy of the same record. Orders can be placed at michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords.

Under Michigan law, divorce records are generally public court records. The main exception is for cases involving minor children, where certain documents such as psychological evaluations and abuse allegations may be sealed by the court. If a document you request is confidential, the clerk will let you know and explain the reason. For most standard divorce requests, access is straightforward.

Michigan Divorce Law: What You Need to Know

Michigan is a no-fault divorce state under MCL 552.6. You do not need to prove the other party did anything wrong. The grounds for divorce are simply that the marriage has broken down with no reasonable likelihood of being saved. This applies to every divorce filed in Livingston County. Either party can file. The court does not consider fault when dividing property or deciding support, though there are some exceptions in extreme cases.

Under MCL 552.9, at least one spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days before filing, and in Livingston County for at least 10 days. Meeting the county residency requirement is a basic threshold for the 44th Circuit Court to have jurisdiction. If you have recently moved to Livingston County from another Michigan county, you may still need to satisfy that 10-day requirement before filing locally.

Once filed, the case cannot be resolved for at least 60 days if there are no minor children involved. If minor children are part of the case, the waiting period extends to 180 days. These timelines are set by state law. The 44th Circuit Court judge has some discretion to shorten the period, but that is rarely granted. During the waiting period, the court can issue temporary orders covering things like custody, child support, and use of the marital home.

Property division in Livingston County follows the equitable distribution standard in MCL 552.19. The court divides marital assets as it finds just and reasonable. Spousal support, if either party requests it, is decided under MCL 552.13. The court weighs ability to pay, length of the marriage, and the needs of both parties. All statutes are available in full at legislature.mi.gov.

Free Help for Livingston County Cases

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free divorce forms and step-by-step guides for Livingston County cases. The site generates custom court forms based on your specific situation and provides filing instructions. It covers the 44th Circuit's procedures and is updated regularly to reflect current Michigan law. If you are filing on your own or just need to understand the process, this is one of the best free resources available.

The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov offers all SCAO-approved forms for divorce proceedings. These forms are free to download and accepted in every Michigan circuit court, including the 44th. The State Bar of Michigan at michbar.org has a lawyer referral service if you need to hire a family law attorney. Legal aid organizations also serve the Livingston County area for people who qualify based on income.

Communities in Livingston County

Livingston County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. The county seat is Howell. Other communities include Brighton, Hartland, Genoa Township, and Hamburg Township. All divorce cases from these areas are filed through the 44th Judicial Circuit Court in Howell.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Livingston County. Jurisdiction for a divorce case depends on where the filing party lives. Under Michigan law, you must meet the residency requirement in the county where you file.