Ontonagon County Divorce Decree Records
Ontonagon County divorce decree records date back to 1854 and are kept by the County Clerk, who also serves as Register of Deeds, at the courthouse in Ontonagon, Michigan, and this page explains how to request certified copies, what fees apply, how to pay by credit card, and what to expect when searching for records from this Upper Peninsula county's 32nd Circuit Court.
Ontonagon County Overview
Where to Get Ontonagon County Divorce Decree Records
The Ontonagon County Clerk serves as both the County Clerk and the Register of Deeds, a combined role common in smaller Upper Peninsula counties. For divorce decree records, the office to contact is the County Clerk's office at the courthouse, 725 Greenland Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953. Reach the clerk by phone at (906) 884-4255 or by email at spreiss@ontonagoncounty.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
The 32nd Circuit Court is located on the second floor of the same courthouse building. The courthouse address for circuit court correspondence is also 725 Greenland Road, Ontonagon, MI 49953. Judge Michael Pope presides over the 32nd Circuit Court. The Friend of the Court is Shannon Clinesmith, reachable at (906) 884-4670 for matters related to child support and custody enforcement tied to existing divorce decrees.
Divorce and court records in Ontonagon County go back to 1854. Marriage records start from 1861, and birth and death records from 1868. This makes Ontonagon one of the counties with the longest available historical record collections. For records from the mid-1800s, call ahead to ask about the format in which they are stored and what information you will need to provide to locate a specific case.
Requests are accepted in person, by mail, and the county also offers an online payment option for circuit court fees. For online payment, check the county website at ontonagoncounty.org. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card.
The screenshot below shows the Ontonagon County Clerk page, where contact details and records information for this Upper Peninsula county are listed.
That page confirms the combined clerk and register of deeds role and links to relevant services for Ontonagon County divorce decree requests.
| Office | Ontonagon County Clerk / 32nd Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 725 Greenland Rd., Ontonagon, MI 49953 |
| Phone | (906) 884-4255 |
| spreiss@ontonagoncounty.org | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM |
| Circuit Court Record Fee | $1.50 per page + $10.00 per record for certification |
| Vital Records Fee | $10.00 first copy; $3.00 each additional |
| Payment Methods | Cash, check, money order, credit/debit card |
| Records From | 1854 (divorce/court) |
Ontonagon County Divorce Decree Fees
Certified copies of court records, including Ontonagon County divorce decree documents, cost $1.50 per page plus $10.00 per record for certification. So a two-page certified decree would cost $13.00 total. Additional copies of the same document cost less because the certification fee applies once per record. Confirm the current fee schedule by calling (906) 884-4255 before submitting payment.
Vital records fees are different from court record fees. Birth, marriage, and death certificate copies cost $10.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record. Divorce decrees are court records, not vital records, so the court document fee schedule applies to decree requests. If you need a divorce certificate rather than a decree, vital record fees would apply through MDHHS.
The county accepts cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards. This breadth of payment options is useful for residents in this remote Upper Peninsula location. When paying by mail, use a check or money order made payable to Ontonagon County. For card payments, contact the office for instructions before submitting your request.
Searching Ontonagon County Divorce Cases Online
Ontonagon County does not maintain a local online case search tool. The statewide MiCOURT Case Search system is the main option for searching 32nd Circuit cases online. MiCOURT covers all Michigan circuit courts and provides basic case index information at no cost. Search by party name or case number to find Ontonagon County divorce cases.
MiCOURT provides index data only. It does not give you access to the full documents. To get the actual Ontonagon County divorce decree, use the case number from MiCOURT to contact the clerk and submit your request. For records from before MiCOURT's digital coverage, call the clerk at (906) 884-4255 and ask about archive access for older filings.
The county website at ontonagoncounty.org also has links to records-related pages and current contact information for the clerk and circuit court. The screenshot below shows the main county website homepage.
Check that site for any current changes to office hours, procedures, or fee schedules before submitting a records request.
Michigan Divorce Law in Ontonagon County
Michigan uses a no-fault divorce standard for all cases statewide. Under MCL 552.6, a divorce may be granted when there has been a breakdown of the marriage to the point where the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there is no reasonable chance they can be restored. Proof of fault is not required. This applies in Ontonagon County the same as everywhere else in Michigan.
Residency requirements under MCL 552.9 require one spouse to have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Ontonagon County for at least 10 days before filing. Cases are filed with the 32nd Circuit Court. Given Ontonagon County's small population, divorce cases are relatively few, and the court processes them with a relatively personal level of attention compared to larger urban circuits.
Waiting periods apply after filing. Cases without minor children have a 60-day wait. Cases with minor children require 180 days from the filing date. The court may shorten the longer period in cases of hardship. These timelines determine when the Ontonagon County divorce decree is signed and when certified copies can be requested.
The decree includes all terms the court ordered. Property and debt division, spousal support if any, and for cases with children, custody, parenting time, and support amounts. Once signed by the judge, the order is binding. You need a certified copy for legal and administrative purposes after the divorce is finalized.
Decree vs. Certificate in Ontonagon County
Two different documents prove a divorce in Michigan. The court decree is the full final order from the 32nd Circuit Court. The divorce certificate is a shorter vital record from MDHHS. Both come from different offices and contain different information.
If you need the full terms of the divorce, you need the decree from the circuit court clerk in Ontonagon. If you just need to prove the divorce occurred and the date, a certificate from Michigan MDHHS Vital Records may be sufficient. Many people need both at different times. MDHHS vital records can also be ordered through VitalChek online for added convenience.
Legal Help for Ontonagon County Divorce Cases
The Ontonagon County Clerk and 32nd Circuit Court can provide forms and explain procedures. They cannot give legal advice. For guidance, Michigan Legal Help is available free to all Michigan residents. It covers the divorce process thoroughly and includes tools to help complete court forms.
Legal aid resources for Upper Peninsula residents are available through programs serving rural and remote Michigan counties. Call the clerk at (906) 884-4255 or check Michigan Legal Help for current referrals. Given Ontonagon County's remote location, phone and online resources may be more practical than trying to find local legal offices. The Friend of the Court at (906) 884-4670 is the right contact for questions about existing custody or support orders tied to a divorce decree.
Cities in Ontonagon County
Ontonagon County is a remote Upper Peninsula county with a small population. No cities in Ontonagon County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These Upper Peninsula counties border Ontonagon County and have dedicated divorce decree records pages: