Canton Township Divorce Decree
Canton Township divorce decree records are maintained by Wayne County's Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit, not at the Canton Township Clerk's office. Canton is one of the largest charter townships in Michigan, but divorce records follow county lines in Michigan. All divorces filed by Canton Township residents are processed and stored at the Wayne County courthouse at 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
Canton Township Overview
Wayne County Third Circuit Court: Canton Township's Divorce Court
Canton Township is in Wayne County, and Wayne County's Third Judicial Circuit Court handles all divorce filings for the township. The court address is the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. The main clerk line is (313) 224-0157, and the Family Division is (313) 224-5300. The Records Division, where you go to request copies, is in Room LL-61 of the same building.
Hours at the Records Division run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Arrive before 4:00 PM if you want to complete a request the same day. Civil court records, which includes divorce cases, go back to 1942 in this system.
The Wayne County Clerk website has general information on records access, and the Third Circuit Court's Odyssey Public Access portal lets you search cases by name or case number online at no cost.
Mail requests go to 2 Woodward Ave., Room LL-61, Detroit, MI 48226. In-person visits and mail requests both work for getting certified copies.
Canton Township Clerk: What They Do
The Canton Township Clerk's office is at 1150 S Canton Center Road, Canton, MI 48188. Phone is (734) 394-5120 and email is CantonClerk@cantonmi.gov. Township Clerk Michael A. Siegrist manages the office. Passport processing is available by appointment Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Notary services are provided at no cost to Canton residents. Voter registration is handled here too.
What the clerk does not do is maintain divorce records. The Canton Township Clerk's office is clear about its scope: it handles township government functions. Divorce is a state law matter handled through county circuit courts. There is no divorce record at the township level anywhere in Michigan.
The Canton Township Clerk's office website shows township services including passports and notary. Divorce decree records are not among them. Those are held at Wayne County's Third Circuit Court.
How to Get a Certified Copy of a Canton Township Divorce Decree
Wayne County charges $2 per page for copies, $10 for certification, plus $1 to $2 per additional page. Credit and debit card payments carry a $2.50 convenience fee. Bring cash or a check if you want to skip that extra charge.
In Person: Drive to Room LL-61 at 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Bring a photo ID. Know the names of both parties and the year the divorce was finalized. A case number makes the process faster if you have it. Court staff can search by name if you don't have the number.
By Mail: Write a request letter with both parties' full names, the approximate year of divorce, your full name, return address, and contact number. Attach a check or money order payable to Wayne County Clerk. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Do not mail cash. Send to 2 Woodward Ave., Room LL-61, Detroit, MI 48226.
Online: The Odyssey Public Access portal for the Third Circuit Court lets you search cases online. Confirm the case number before submitting a mail or in-person request to speed things up and avoid search fees.
Michigan Divorce Law Applied to Canton Township
Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. MCL 552.6 allows any spouse to file for divorce without proving the other did anything wrong. The only legal basis needed is that the marriage has broken down beyond repair. All Michigan circuit courts, including Wayne County's Third Circuit, apply this standard.
Residency requirements are set by MCL 552.9. You must have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Wayne County for at least 10 days before filing. Canton Township is in Wayne County, so the county requirement is met as soon as you've been a township resident for 10 days. The state requirement of 180 days is what most new residents need to plan around.
After filing, there is a mandatory wait before a judge can enter the final divorce decree. For cases without minor children, the wait is 60 days. For cases with minor children, it is 180 days. The court enforces these periods strictly. The waiting period begins on the day the case is filed with the clerk.
Searching Canton Township Divorce Cases Online
Use the Odyssey Public Access portal to search for Canton Township divorce cases online. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search also covers Wayne County. Both tools are free and show case status and docket information. They do not give you a downloadable copy of the decree itself. To get the actual document, you still need to request it through the Wayne County Clerk.
Getting Legal Help in Canton Township
Michigan Legal Help is a free online resource covering Michigan divorce law, forms, and procedures. Wayne County Legal Aid can be reached at (313) 964-4130. The Wayne County Bar Association has attorney referrals at (313) 961-3545. The clerk's office staff can explain the copy request process but cannot give legal advice about your specific case.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities are also in Wayne County or nearby areas with access to Wayne County and neighboring circuit court divorce records.
Wayne County Divorce Records
For more information about divorce decree records in Wayne County, visit the county records page.