Find Dearborn Divorce Decree Records
Dearborn divorce decree records are maintained by Wayne County's Third Judicial Circuit Court at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit, not by Dearborn City Hall. The Dearborn City Clerk issues birth and death certificates for Dearborn events, but it does not maintain divorce records under any circumstances. To get a certified copy of a divorce decree from a Dearborn case, you contact the Wayne County Circuit Court Records Division.
Dearborn Overview
Wayne County Third Circuit Court Handles Dearborn Divorces
All divorce cases filed by Dearborn residents go through the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Wayne County. The court is at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. The main clerk line is (313) 224-0157. The Family Division phone is (313) 224-5300. The Records Division is in Room LL-61, reachable at (313) 224-6262. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Civil court records including divorces are available from 1942 forward through this system. For records from before 1942, contact the clerk's office to ask about alternative archives. The Wayne County records page has current guidance on accessing court documents.
The Wayne County Clerk's Vital Records office is at 2 Woodward Avenue, Room 201, Detroit. Phone is (313) 224-6262. Vital records and divorce decrees are separate. Vital records handles the short-form divorce certificate. The Records Division in Room LL-61 handles the full divorce decree. Most legal and government purposes require the full decree.
Dearborn City Clerk: Not the Right Place for Divorce Decrees
The Dearborn City Clerk is at 16901 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126. Phone is (313) 943-2442. The city clerk issues birth and death certificates for events that occurred within the City of Dearborn. That is a different function from divorce records. Divorce records are not kept by any city in Michigan.
There is also a 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, (313) 943-2060. This court handles civil infractions and misdemeanors. It does not handle divorce cases and has no role in divorce decree access. Divorce is a circuit court matter at the county level.
The Dearborn city website provides information on city services and the city clerk's functions. Divorce decree records are not listed because the city does not hold them. For divorce records, you go to the Wayne County courthouse in Detroit.
The Dearborn city government website shows city clerk services. Divorce decrees are not among them. Those records are at the Wayne County Third Circuit Court in Detroit.
How to Get a Dearborn Divorce Decree Copy
The Wayne County Clerk charges $2 per page for copies, $10 for certification, plus $1 to $2 per additional page. Credit or debit card payments add a $2.50 convenience fee. Cash or check avoids that surcharge.
In Person: Go to the Records Division at Room LL-61, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Bring a government-issued photo ID. Know both parties' names and the approximate year of divorce. Staff can search by name, but having the case number speeds up the process.
By Mail: Send a written request to 2 Woodward Ave., Room LL-61, Detroit, MI 48226. Include both parties' full names, the year the divorce was finalized, and your return address. Attach a check or money order payable to Wayne County Clerk and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Do not send cash through the mail.
Online: The Third Circuit Court's Odyssey Public Access portal lets you search Wayne County divorce cases by name or case number. This is a free tool to confirm case details before requesting copies.
Wayne County's Third Circuit Court Odyssey Public Access portal lets you search for Dearborn divorce cases online and confirm case numbers before requesting certified copies.
Michigan Divorce Law for Dearborn Residents
Michigan uses no-fault divorce under MCL 552.6. You do not need to prove your spouse did something wrong. You simply state the marriage has broken down with no reasonable hope of saving it. The Third Circuit Court in Wayne County follows this standard.
Under MCL 552.9, you must have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Wayne County for 10 days before filing. Dearborn residents who have been in Wayne County for at least 10 days qualify. That is a short bar for most residents.
There is a waiting period before a judge can sign the final decree. For divorces with no minor children, the wait is 60 days from filing. For divorces with minor children, the wait is 180 days. Judges can waive the 180-day period in cases of hardship, but this requires a formal motion and is not routine. Plan your timeline around these mandatory waiting periods.
Online Access to Dearborn Divorce Records
Two online tools are available. The Third Circuit Court Odyssey Public Access portal covers Wayne County cases including Dearborn divorces. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search also covers Wayne County. Both tools are free and show case status, case numbers, and basic docket information. Neither provides full documents. Certified copies require a formal request to the clerk's office.
Legal Help for Dearborn Residents
Michigan Legal Help provides free online guidance for anyone going through a Michigan divorce. Wayne County Legal Aid is at (313) 964-4130 for income-qualifying residents. The Wayne County Bar Association lawyer referral line is (313) 961-3545. For questions about getting copies of an existing decree, call the Records Division directly at (313) 224-6262.
Dearborn City Hall provides municipal services. For divorce decree records access in Dearborn, contact the Wayne County Third Circuit Court Records Division at 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities are also in Wayne County or neighboring areas and share access to Wayne County divorce records.
Wayne County Divorce Records
For more information about divorce decree records in Wayne County, visit the county records page.