Search Mackinac County Divorce Records
Mackinac County divorce records are filed and maintained at the Mackinac County Circuit Court in St. Ignace, Michigan. This county sits at the Straits of Mackinac where the Upper and Lower Peninsulas meet, and includes Mackinac Island. The Circuit Court Clerk handles all divorce case records for the county. You can search Mackinac County cases online through Michigan's MiCOURT system for free, or contact the clerk in St. Ignace directly to request copies of records.
Mackinac County Overview
Mackinac County Circuit Court
The 50th Judicial Circuit Court handles all divorce cases in Mackinac County. The court is located at 100 S. Marley St. in St. Ignace. The Circuit Court Clerk at this address is the official keeper of all divorce records for the county. Staff can search by party name or case number and process requests for plain or certified copies.
Mackinac County covers a large geographic area spanning both peninsulas at the Straits of Mackinac, including Mackinac Island, Bois Blanc Island, and a stretch of the northern Lower Peninsula around Mackinaw City. Despite its geographic scope, the county has a small permanent population. Most divorce cases filed in Mackinac County involve permanent residents of the St. Ignace area or nearby communities, not seasonal visitors or island residents who are not legal Michigan residents.
Mackinac Island does not have its own court. Residents of Mackinac Island who are legal Mackinac County residents file their divorce cases at the circuit court in St. Ignace. Accessing the St. Ignace courthouse from the island requires a ferry and a short drive, so mail requests or electronic filing through MiFILE are practical alternatives for island residents. Call 906-643-7300 to reach the clerk's office and ask about current options for record requests and case filings.
| Court | 50th Judicial Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 S. Marley St. St. Ignace, MI 49781 |
| Phone | 906-643-7300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Search Mackinac County Divorce Cases Online
Michigan's MiCOURT case search system covers Mackinac County Circuit Court records. The search is free. Use a party name or case number to locate a case. Divorce cases in Mackinac County appear as case type DM (with minor children) or DO (without children). MiCOURT shows the register of actions, party names, filing and hearing dates, and case status. It does not provide downloadable documents, but it confirms whether a case exists and gives you the case number for a follow-up request.
Given the location of St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula, MiCOURT is a practical tool for anyone who cannot easily travel to the courthouse. Search online first, get the case number, and then submit a mail request to the clerk with that information. This approach works for people anywhere in the state or outside of Michigan.
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org provides free guided divorce forms for Mackinac County residents, walking through each step of the filing process. The site covers the 50th Circuit Court and generates court-ready forms tailored to each person's situation. For residents of Mackinac Island and other remote parts of the county, this online resource is often the most accessible way to start a divorce case.
Note: MiCOURT provides case information only. To get copies of Mackinac County divorce records, contact the 50th Circuit Court Clerk at 100 S. Marley St., St. Ignace, MI 49781, or call 906-643-7300.
How to Get Mackinac County Divorce Records
Copies of Mackinac County divorce records are available in person or by mail. For in-person requests, go to the Circuit Court Clerk at 100 S. Marley St. in St. Ignace. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties or the case number. Standard Michigan copy fees are $1 to $2 per page. Certified copies add a $10 to $15 certification fee. Call 906-643-7300 before visiting to confirm current fees and confirm the file is accessible.
For a mail request, write to the Mackinac County Circuit Court Clerk, 100 S. Marley St., St. Ignace, MI 49781. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and the case number if available. Include a check or money order payable to the Mackinac County Clerk and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests typically take one to two weeks to process. Older archived files may take longer to retrieve.
MDHHS provides certified statewide divorce certificates for all Michigan divorces since 1897. These are different from court records. An MDHHS certificate costs $34 for the first copy and $16 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Request through michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords, by mail to P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, or call (517) 335-8656. The MDHHS certificate is a summary; the full court record from Mackinac County contains the detailed judgment orders.
Michigan Divorce Law and Mackinac County Cases
Mackinac County divorce cases are governed by Michigan law. Under MCL 552.6, Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. There is no need to prove wrongdoing. The court must find a breakdown of the marriage relationship with no reasonable chance of recovery. The 50th Circuit Court in St. Ignace applies this standard to every case it handles.
Residency requirements are set by MCL 552.9: at least one party must have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Mackinac County for at least 10 days before filing. Mackinac County includes a portion of the Lower Peninsula around Mackinaw City in addition to its Upper Peninsula territory. Either portion of the county counts for the 10-day county residency requirement, as long as it is within Mackinac County's legal boundaries.
Waiting periods apply statewide. Without minor children, the minimum wait is 60 days from filing. With minor children, it is 180 days. A judge may shorten the wait for documented hardship. Property is divided equitably under MCL 552.19. Spousal support is addressed by MCL 552.13. Full statutes are at legislature.mi.gov.
Legal Resources for Mackinac County
Free resources are available for Mackinac County divorce cases. Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org generates court-ready forms and walks you through the process for the 50th Circuit Court. For remote areas of Mackinac County, including Mackinac Island, this online tool is often the only accessible form of legal guidance without traveling to the mainland. The Michigan Courts website has all SCAO-approved forms for free.
File new divorce cases electronically through MiFILE. The State Bar of Michigan at michbar.org offers a lawyer referral service for the Straits of Mackinac region. Legal aid programs serving the Upper Peninsula also cover Mackinac County residents who qualify for free legal assistance.
Cities in Mackinac County
Mackinac County does not have any cities that meet the qualifying population threshold for dedicated pages. St. Ignace, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, and other communities in the county all have their divorce cases handled by the Mackinac County Circuit Court in St. Ignace.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or are near Mackinac County at the Straits of Mackinac. Use the filing party's residential address at the time of the complaint to confirm which county court has jurisdiction.