Farmington Hills Divorce Decree Records
Farmington Hills divorce decree records are maintained by Oakland County's 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. Farmington Hills is one of Oakland County's largest cities, but divorce is a county-level matter in Michigan. The Farmington Hills City Clerk does not hold divorce records. For certified copies, you contact the Oakland County Circuit Court or use the Troy satellite office for a closer option.
Farmington Hills Overview
Oakland County 6th Circuit Court Handles Farmington Hills Divorces
Farmington Hills is in Oakland County. The 6th Circuit Court at 1200 North Telegraph Road, Department 404, Pontiac, MI 48341-0404 processes all Oakland County divorces, including those filed by Farmington Hills residents. The clerk phone is (248) 858-0344. This is where the records are kept. Divorce records in Oakland County go back to the 1820s.
Copies cost $1 per page and certified copies are $10 per document. Call the clerk at (248) 858-0344 to confirm current rates before sending a mail request. Fees can change and it's better to confirm ahead of time than to underpay and cause delays.
Oakland County's Court Explorer is a free online tool for searching Oakland County circuit court cases, including divorces from Farmington Hills. Search by name or case number. The main county clerk website is at www.oakgov.com/clerk.
Troy Satellite Office: A Nearby Option
Oakland County runs a satellite clerk office at 1151 Crooks Road, Troy, MI 48084, phone (248) 858-0571. This office serves South Oakland County residents including those in Farmington Hills who want to avoid the full drive to Pontiac. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Appointments are required. Schedule at oakgov.com/clerk.
The Troy satellite office can provide certified copies of circuit court documents. That includes divorce decrees filed in Oakland County. Services available at the satellite location are a subset of what is available at the main Pontiac courthouse, but for standard copy requests, it works well and is more convenient for Farmington Hills residents.
The county also has a Local Office Visits program where county clerk services are brought to community locations. Check www.oakgov.com/clerk for current schedules if there is a location even closer to Farmington Hills available.
Farmington Hills City Clerk: What They Handle
The Farmington Hills City Clerk is at 31555 W. 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336. Phone is (248) 871-2420 and email is FHClerk@fhgov.com. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The city clerk handles elections, voter registration, and city-level vital records for events that occurred within Farmington Hills.
Divorce records are not part of what the city clerk keeps. This is true in every Michigan city, not just Farmington Hills. Divorce is a circuit court matter. The city has no role in the process. The Farmington Hills city website provides city services information. Divorce decree access is not on the list.
If you contact the city clerk asking about divorce records, they will tell you to contact the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac or schedule an appointment at the Troy satellite office.
The Michigan MDHHS vital records office issues divorce certificates, which are short-form documents. For full divorce decrees from Farmington Hills cases, you need the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court. Visit the MDHHS vital records page to understand the difference between the two document types.
How to Get a Certified Copy of a Farmington Hills Divorce Decree
There are three main paths: Troy satellite office, in person at Pontiac, or by mail.
Troy Satellite Office (closer, by appointment): Call (248) 858-0571 or schedule online at oakgov.com/clerk. This office at 1151 Crooks Road, Troy can process certified copy requests. Bring photo ID and case details.
In Person at Pontiac: Go to Oakland County Circuit Court, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, Department 404. Bring photo ID, the names of both parties, and the approximate year of divorce. Have the case number if possible. Staff can search by name.
By Mail: Send a written request to Oakland County Clerk, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. Include both parties' names, year of divorce, your contact information, and a check or money order for the fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call (248) 858-0344 first to confirm current fees and mail processing times.
Michigan Divorce Law for Farmington Hills Residents
Michigan's no-fault divorce law at MCL 552.6 allows any spouse to file for divorce without showing that the other did anything wrong. The only legal ground is that the marriage has broken down irreparably. The Oakland County 6th Circuit Court applies this standard to all Farmington Hills cases.
The residency requirement at MCL 552.9 requires 180 days in Michigan and 10 days in Oakland County. Farmington Hills residents who have lived in Oakland County for 10 days meet the county requirement. The 180-day state threshold is the one that affects people who recently moved to Michigan.
Mandatory waiting periods are 60 days for divorces with no minor children and 180 days for those with minor children. Both waiting periods run from the filing date. The court will not finalize a divorce before the required time has passed. Waivers of the 180-day period are available but require a formal motion and documented hardship. Most cases go through the full waiting period.
Online Search for Farmington Hills Divorce Cases
Oakland County's Court Explorer is the main online search tool. Search by party name or case number. Use the DM code for divorce with minor children and DO for divorce without children to filter results. Michigan's statewide MiCOURT Case Search also covers Oakland County. Both tools are free.
These tools provide case status and docket information. They do not let you download the actual divorce decree. To get a certified copy, you need to contact the clerk's office.
Legal Help in Farmington Hills and Oakland County
Michigan Legal Help provides free online guidance for Michigan divorce. Oakland County Bar Association has attorney referrals at (248) 334-3400. Legal Aid and Defender serves low-income Oakland County residents at (313) 964-4130. The circuit court clerk's office can answer questions about the copy request process, but they do not provide legal advice.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities are also in Oakland County and share access to the 6th Circuit Court divorce records system in Pontiac.
Oakland County Divorce Records
For more information about divorce decree records in Oakland County, visit the county records page.