Oscoda County Divorce Decree Records
Oscoda County divorce decree records are handled through the 23rd Circuit Court's Central Filing Office in Mio, a court shared with Alcona, Arenac, and Iosco counties, and this page covers how to request copies, the contact information you need, important notices about the current office location, and Michigan divorce law as it applies to cases filed in this rural northern Michigan county.
Oscoda County Overview
Where to Get Oscoda County Divorce Decree Records
Oscoda County divorce decree records are handled through the Central Filing Office of the 23rd Circuit Court. The court is located at 105 S. Court Street, Mio, MI 48647. Phone the County Clerk at (989) 826-1110 or fax to (989) 826-1124. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The 23rd Circuit Court line is (989) 826-1111. Presiding Judge Casandra Morse-Bills oversees the court, and Amy Dawson serves as Friend of the Court at (989) 826-3548.
The 23rd Circuit Court covers four counties: Oscoda, Alcona, Arenac, and Iosco. Oscoda County cases are filed and stored in Mio. If you are not sure which county a case was filed in, contact the clerk at (989) 826-1110 and describe the parties involved. Staff can confirm the county and help you direct your request properly.
Records requests can be submitted in person at the Central Filing Office, by mail, or by email. When contacting by email, provide the case number, the names of both parties, and the approximate filing date. Birth, death, and marriage records in Oscoda County date from 1867. Divorce records are available from the court's records.
Note: As of January 17, 2026, a major water line break forced all Oscoda County offices to relocate to the south side of the building. Use the parking lot entrance on South Court Street to access county offices. Call (989) 826-1110 to confirm the current access situation before visiting.
The screenshot below shows the Oscoda County website, which is the primary contact source for courthouse information and records requests.
Check that site for updates to the office access situation before planning an in-person visit to request Oscoda County divorce decree records.
| Office | 23rd Circuit Court Central Filing Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 105 S. Court Street, Mio, MI 48647 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 399, Mio, MI 48647 |
| County Clerk Phone | (989) 826-1110 |
| Circuit Court Phone | (989) 826-1111 |
| Fax | (989) 826-1124 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM |
| Methods | In-person, mail, email |
| Records From | 1867 (birth/death/marriage); divorce from court records |
Searching Oscoda County Divorce Cases Online
Oscoda County does not maintain a local online case search tool. Use the statewide MiCOURT Case Search system to search for 23rd Circuit cases including Oscoda County divorce decree cases. MiCOURT is run by the Michigan Supreme Court and provides free access to circuit court case index information statewide. Search by party name or case number.
MiCOURT shows index data only. You will see the case number, filing date, parties' names, and current status. You cannot access full documents through MiCOURT. Use the case number from your search to make a targeted records request with the Oscoda County Clerk. For older records not in MiCOURT, call (989) 826-1110 or email the clerk and provide what information you have about the case.
When contacting the clerk by email to request records, include the required information: case number if known, names of both parties, and the approximate filing date. Having all three pieces of information speeds up the response significantly. Staff at the Central Filing Office can confirm what is available before you submit a formal request.
Michigan Divorce Law in Oscoda County
Michigan is a no-fault divorce state. The statute is MCL 552.6, which allows a divorce when there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the point where the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there is no reasonable likelihood of restoration. No party has to prove the other was at fault. This applies to all Oscoda County divorce cases.
Residency requirements in MCL 552.9 require one spouse to have lived in Michigan for 180 days and in Oscoda County for at least 10 days immediately before filing. Cases are filed with the 23rd Circuit Court in Mio. If both spouses have recently moved out of the county, the residency rule needs to be met by whoever files the complaint.
Waiting periods apply after filing. Cases without minor children wait 60 days. Cases with minor children wait 180 days from filing. Courts can reduce the 180-day period in cases of hardship. These timelines determine when the Oscoda County divorce decree is signed and when you can request certified copies of the final order.
The final decree covers all terms the judge ordered: property and debt division, spousal support if applicable, and for cases with children, custody type, parenting time schedules, and child support amounts. Once signed, the decree is binding and enforceable. You need a certified copy for legal purposes after the divorce is finalized.
What Oscoda County Divorce Decrees Contain
A divorce decree is the final order from the circuit court dissolving a marriage. It differs from a divorce certificate. The decree has all the case terms. The certificate is a short vital record from MDHHS confirming the divorce. Both documents have uses, but they come from different offices.
An Oscoda County divorce decree will include the full legal names of both parties, the case number, the county and date of filing, and the date the judge signed the final order. The substantive terms cover property division, debt allocation, and any spousal support ordered. Cases with children include custody designations, parenting time schedules, and child support amounts. More complex cases may address additional financial matters such as retirement accounts or insurance obligations.
Most Oscoda County divorce decree records are public. Any person may request a copy. Some files are sealed in cases involving domestic violence or sensitive information about children. Check with the clerk before submitting a request if you are unsure whether a specific file is accessible.
For a divorce certificate rather than the decree, contact Michigan MDHHS Vital Records or order through VitalChek. These are different from the court and are managed by the state vital records office.
The 23rd Circuit Court and Oscoda County
The 23rd Circuit Court covers four counties and operates a Central Filing Office in Mio for Oscoda County cases. This multi-county structure means judges may rotate between locations, but Oscoda County records stay in Mio. The Circuit Court Probation Department for Oscoda County can be reached at (989) 826-2285 for matters related to probation conditions tied to any court order.
Oscoda County is located within the Huron National Forest, a rural and relatively remote area. The court's multi-county structure reflects the limited caseload in these smaller northern Michigan counties. Staff at the Central Filing Office handle a range of case types, and contacting them directly by phone or email before submitting a records request is the most reliable way to get current guidance.
Legal Help for Oscoda County Divorce Cases
The 23rd Circuit Court clerk can provide forms and explain procedures. Clerks cannot give legal advice. For guidance, Michigan Legal Help is a free resource available to all Michigan residents. It covers divorce proceedings from start to finish and includes form-completion tools designed for Michigan courts.
Legal aid programs serving northern Michigan may assist low-income Oscoda County residents with family law matters. Call the clerk at (989) 826-1110 or visit Michigan Legal Help for current referrals. The Friend of the Court at (989) 826-3548 can assist with enforcement and modification of custody and support orders included in existing Oscoda County divorce decrees.
Cities in Oscoda County
Oscoda County is a small, rural county in northern Michigan within the Huron National Forest. No cities in Oscoda County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Oscoda County and each has a dedicated divorce decree records page: