Find Divorce Decree Records in Roscommon County
Roscommon County divorce decree records are held by the County Clerk and Register of Deeds, which also maintains 34th Circuit Court filings. The Clerk's office at 500 Lake Street in the town of Roscommon handles in-person requests, mail requests, and can help you find case details going back to 1867 for vital records and earlier for circuit court filings. If you need a certified copy of a Roscommon County divorce decree, this is the office to contact first.
Roscommon County Overview
Roscommon County Clerk and Circuit Court
The County Clerk and Register of Deeds office manages both vital records and circuit court filings for Roscommon County. For divorce decree records specifically, the Circuit Court division of this office is what you need. You can go in person during regular business hours or send a written request by mail. Either way, you'll want to include the names of both parties and the approximate filing date. A case number helps too, if you have it.
| Office | Roscommon County Clerk and Register of Deeds |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653 |
| Phone (Clerk) | (989) 275-5923 |
| Phone (Circuit) | (989) 275-4776 |
| Fax | (989) 275-6722 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | roscommoncounty.net |
Vital records fees are $15 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy of the same record. This applies to divorce certificates issued through vital records. For certified copies of the actual divorce decree from the circuit court file, check with the clerk directly as fees may differ.
The Roscommon County website has current contact information and details for the Clerk and Register of Deeds office.
The county site confirms hours, phone numbers, and mailing addresses for submitting divorce decree requests to the 34th Circuit Court Clerk.
How to Search Online
Michigan's MiCOURT Case Search tool covers circuit courts across the state. Roscommon County cases should be searchable through that portal by name or case number. This is a good way to verify a case exists and get the case number before calling the clerk's office for a copy.
MiCOURT shows case status, party names, and filing dates. It does not give you the actual decree document. For that, you need to request a copy from the 34th Circuit Court Clerk. The online search is free and available any time.
If you are unable to find a case online, it may be an older filing that hasn't been digitized. Call the clerk at (989) 275-4776 and they can search manually.
Michigan Divorce Law and What It Means in Roscommon County
Michigan has been a no-fault divorce state for decades. Under MCL 552.6, you don't need to prove your spouse did anything wrong. You file saying the marriage has broken down and there is no reasonable chance of saving it. That is enough. This is the law in every Michigan county, including Roscommon.
Before you can file in Roscommon County, residency rules apply. MCL 552.9 says one spouse must have lived in Michigan for at least 180 days. You also need to have lived in Roscommon County for at least 10 days before filing there. If you just moved, you may need to wait a few more days before the circuit court will accept the complaint.
After the case is filed, there is a mandatory waiting period. Cases with no minor children require at least 60 days before the judge can issue the final decree. If minor children are part of the case, the wait is 180 days. The 34th Circuit Court will not finalize the divorce before those periods are up. The final divorce decree is the legally binding order that ends the marriage and sets out all terms both parties must follow going forward.
Roscommon County also has a 3-day waiting period for marriage licenses, which is a separate county-specific rule handled by the same clerk's office.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
Two documents. Two different uses. A lot of people ask for one when they need the other.
The divorce decree is the full court order from the 34th Circuit Court. It is the document the judge signed. It covers everything: who gets what property, what happens with debts, custody arrangements, support payments. If you need the legal terms, you need the decree. Get it from the Roscommon County Clerk's office.
The divorce certificate is a summary record maintained by the State of Michigan through MDHHS Vital Records. It lists the basics: names, date, county. It proves a divorce happened but doesn't go into detail. For things like applying for a new marriage license or changing your name on a government ID, the certificate is usually what you need. MDHHS also works with VitalChek for online ordering of vital record documents.
What Is in a Roscommon County Divorce Decree
The final divorce decree from the 34th Circuit Court is a public court record. It includes the full legal names of both spouses, the date the divorce is final, and how the judge resolved all the issues in the case. For most divorces, that means property division, debt allocation, and if children are involved, custody terms, parenting time, and child support.
Spousal support (alimony) is included if the court ordered it. Retirement account splits are sometimes handled through a separate Qualified Domestic Relations Order, which may be attached to or referenced in the decree. The decree is signed by the circuit court judge and filed with the clerk. Once filed, it becomes part of the public court record and can be accessed by request.
Legal Help for Roscommon County Residents
Michigan Legal Help is the best free starting point for anyone dealing with divorce in Roscommon County. The site has plain-language guides, forms you can fill out yourself, and step-by-step instructions. It covers both contested and uncontested divorces.
If you need a lawyer, the State Bar of Michigan runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with attorneys who handle family law cases in northern Michigan. Some offer free or low-cost initial consultations. The clerk's office can tell you what forms to file but cannot give you legal advice.
Cities in Roscommon County
The county seat is the town of Roscommon. No cities in Roscommon County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Residents throughout the county use the Clerk's office at 500 Lake Street for all divorce decree requests.
Nearby Counties
Roscommon County is in the northern Lower Peninsula, surrounded by several other mid-Michigan counties.