St. Clair County Divorce Records

St. Clair County divorce records are maintained by the 31st Judicial Circuit Court and the St. Clair County Clerk's Office, both located at 201 McMorran Blvd. in Port Huron. You can request certified copies by mail, search cases online through MiCOURT, and file new cases electronically through MiFILE. This page covers the offices, contact information, request procedures, and Michigan divorce law requirements for cases in St. Clair County.

31st Circuit Court and County Clerk

The 31st Judicial Circuit Court handles all divorce cases in St. Clair County. The circuit court is located at 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060, and can be reached at 810-985-2240. The St. Clair County Clerk's Office is at the same address, Suite 1700, with a main number of 810-985-2200. The clerk handles vital records and general administrative functions, while the circuit court clerk manages active case files including divorce petitions, motions, orders, and final judgments. You may need to contact both offices depending on what type of document you are requesting.

St. Clair County is in the Thumb region of Michigan, bordering Ontario, Canada, across the St. Clair River. All divorce cases filed by St. Clair County residents go through the 31st Circuit Court. The Family Division of that court handles divorce, custody, child support, and related domestic relations matters. The court's jurisdiction covers the entire county, so regardless of which community in St. Clair County you live in, your divorce case is filed here in Port Huron.

Note: The St. Clair County website at stclaircounty.org may experience connectivity issues at times. If you cannot reach the site, contact the clerk directly at 810-985-2200 or the circuit court at 810-985-2240 for assistance. Staff can answer questions about record requests, fees, and what documents are available by phone during regular business hours.

Searching St. Clair County Cases

St. Clair County 31st Circuit Court cases are included in the statewide MiCOURT case search portal. MiCOURT is free to use and requires no registration. Search by party name or case number. The system returns case type, party names, and the register of actions showing all filings and court activity. Divorce cases appear as DM (with minor children) or DO (without children). Documents are not available to download through MiCOURT, but you can confirm a case exists and get the case number you need to request copies from the clerk's office.

St. Clair County Circuit Court cases can be filed electronically through MiFILE, Michigan's statewide eFiling platform.

St. Clair County Circuit Court cases can be filed electronically through MiFILE, Michigan's statewide eFiling platform. MiFILE is available for both attorneys and self-represented parties. It covers new case filings and subsequent document submissions in active 31st Circuit cases. If you want to submit a divorce petition or file a motion without traveling to Port Huron, MiFILE is the right tool. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov has all SCAO-approved forms for divorce cases, available at no charge.

Requesting St. Clair County Divorce Records

For in-person requests, visit the 31st Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron. Bring a valid photo ID and the case number if you have it. Provide both parties' names and the approximate year the divorce was finalized. Staff will locate the record and process your copy request. Most requests are handled the same day for accessible records. Call 810-985-2240 ahead of your visit to confirm current copy fees and hours.

By mail, send your request to the Circuit Court Clerk at 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060. Include both parties' full legal names, the approximate divorce date, the case number if known, a legible copy of your photo ID, and payment. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return your documents. Call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule and preferred payment method before mailing your request. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, particularly for older or archived records.

For a certified divorce certificate rather than the full case file, MDHHS Vital Records handles statewide vital records including divorce records. The fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy of the same record. You can order online at michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords. The MDHHS document provides basic information about the divorce. For full case documents, including the petition, judgment, and any agreements, go through the 31st Circuit Court.

Divorce Law in St. Clair County

St. Clair County divorces follow Michigan state law. Under MCL 552.6, Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. You do not need to prove the other spouse did something wrong. The grounds for divorce are simply that the marriage has broken down with no reasonable likelihood of being saved. The 31st Circuit Court processes every divorce on this basis. Neither party needs to establish fault for the court to grant the divorce.

Residency requirements are set by MCL 552.9. One spouse must have lived in Michigan for at least 180 days before filing. That spouse must also have lived in St. Clair County for at least 10 days. These thresholds must be met for the 31st Circuit Court to have jurisdiction. If you are new to St. Clair County, check these requirements before filing. If neither spouse meets the county requirement, the case needs to go to the correct county.

Every divorce in St. Clair County is subject to minimum waiting periods. Cases without minor children must wait at least 60 days from the filing date before the judge can enter the final judgment. Cases with minor children wait a minimum of 180 days. These timelines cannot be shortened without a court order granting a waiver for good cause. During the waiting period, temporary orders for custody, support, and use of the marital home keep things organized while the case is pending.

Property is divided under the equitable distribution standard in MCL 552.19. The court divides marital property as it finds just and reasonable, which is not always a 50/50 split. Spousal support, if ordered, is governed by MCL 552.13. The judge looks at the financial situation of both parties and the length of the marriage when deciding whether to award support and in what amount. The full text of all statutes is at legislature.mi.gov.

Resources for St. Clair County Residents

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is a free resource for anyone handling a divorce case in St. Clair County. The site offers guided interviews that generate custom court forms for your situation, plain-language explanations of Michigan divorce law, and step-by-step filing instructions. It covers the 31st Circuit Court and is updated to reflect current Michigan law. If you are representing yourself, start here before going to the courthouse.

The Michigan Courts website has all SCAO-approved divorce forms at no cost. These forms are accepted in St. Clair County's 31st Circuit Court. The State Bar of Michigan at michbar.org provides a lawyer referral service to connect you with family law attorneys who handle Port Huron area cases. Legal aid organizations serve St. Clair County for those who qualify based on income. The Friend of the Court in St. Clair County handles child support enforcement and parenting time matters in cases involving minor children.

Communities in St. Clair County

St. Clair County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. The county seat and largest city is Port Huron. Other communities include Fort Gratiot Township, Marysville, St. Clair, and Kimball Township. All divorce cases from these communities are filed at the 31st Judicial Circuit Court at 201 McMorran Blvd. in Port Huron.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Clair County. If you need records from a nearby county, or if you are unsure which jurisdiction covers a particular case, the county where the filing party lives determines where the divorce must be filed.