St. Clair County Divorce Decree Records
Divorce decree records in St. Clair County are maintained by the County Clerk at 201 McMorran Boulevard in Port Huron, home to the 31st Circuit Court. The office handles divorce filings going back to 1849 and vital records from the mid-1800s. Anyone who needs a certified copy of a St. Clair County divorce decree, or wants to search for a case by name or file date, can contact the Clerk's office directly during regular business hours.
St. Clair County Overview
Where to Get Divorce Decree Records
The St. Clair County Clerk's office in Port Huron is your main contact for divorce decree records. The Clerk maintains circuit court filings including all divorce cases heard in the 31st Circuit Court. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for basic case lookups.
| Office | St. Clair County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 McMorran Blvd, Port Huron, MI 48060 |
| Phone | (810) 985-2031 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | stclaircounty.org |
When you contact the office, have the full names of both parties ready. Knowing the approximate year of the divorce speeds up the search. A case number is even better if you have it. The clerk can search manually for older records that may not be in the digital system. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you look up case information yourself if you visit in person.
Divorce and court records go back to 1849. Birth records start from 1867 to 1868, death records from 1868, and marriage records from 1834. St. Clair County has one of the longer marriage record histories in Michigan.
Michigan MDHHS vital records handles state-level divorce certificates separately from the court's divorce decree records.
MDHHS Vital Records handles divorce certificates for the State of Michigan, which are separate documents from the full divorce decree held by the St. Clair County Clerk.
Online Case Search Options
St. Clair County courts have offered a web inquiry portal in the past at securewebinquiry.stclaircountycourts.org, though availability may vary. Check the St. Clair County website for the current status of any online case lookup tool.
Michigan's statewide tool, MiCOURT Case Search, also covers 31st Circuit Court cases. You can search by party name or case number. MiCOURT shows basic case data but not the actual documents. For certified copies of the decree, you still need to contact the Clerk's office.
Public access terminals at the courthouse provide another option for in-person lookups. These terminals are available during regular business hours and let you search the case index without paying copy fees just to confirm a record exists.
Michigan Divorce Law in St. Clair County
Michigan has used no-fault divorce for many years. Under MCL 552.6, a spouse can file for divorce simply by stating that the marriage has broken down. No proof of fault is required. This is how it works at the 31st Circuit Court in St. Clair County, just as in every other Michigan county.
Before filing, residency rules must be met. MCL 552.9 requires that at least one spouse has lived in Michigan for 180 days and in St. Clair County for at least 10 days before the complaint is filed. If you recently moved, you may need to wait a few more days.
Waiting periods apply after filing. Couples without minor children must wait at least 60 days before the judge can issue a final decree. Couples with minor children face a 180-day wait. These periods are mandatory under Michigan law and cannot be waived except in rare circumstances. The 31st Circuit Court will not finalize the divorce before these periods expire. Once the judge signs the final decree, it is filed with the Clerk and becomes part of the public record. From that point, anyone can request a copy.
Decree vs. Certificate: Knowing Which You Need
Two separate documents exist for a Michigan divorce. Both prove a divorce happened, but they serve different purposes.
The divorce decree is the full court order issued by the 31st Circuit Court judge. It is the legal document that ends the marriage and sets out all terms: property, debts, custody, support. If a bank, title company, or attorney asks for proof of how assets were divided, they need the decree. Get it from the St. Clair County Clerk at 201 McMorran Blvd.
The divorce certificate is a shorter summary record kept by Michigan MDHHS Vital Records. It lists the parties' names, the date, and the county. It's sufficient for most name change applications or proving that a prior marriage ended. You can order certificates online through VitalChek.
What a St. Clair County Divorce Decree Contains
The final divorce decree from the 31st Circuit Court is a complete legal record. It includes the full names of both spouses, the legal end date of the marriage, and every term the court ordered or the parties agreed to. For most cases, that means how real property, bank accounts, vehicles, and debts are split.
When children are involved, the decree covers legal custody, physical custody, the parenting time schedule, child support calculations, and health insurance responsibilities. Spousal support, if awarded, is detailed with amount, duration, and conditions. Some decrees reference a Qualified Domestic Relations Order for retirement accounts. All of this is in the public file unless a judge sealed specific portions. The clerk's office can confirm whether any parts of a particular case are sealed.
Getting Legal Help in St. Clair County
Michigan Legal Help is a free resource with guides, forms, and step-by-step tools for handling divorce in Michigan. It covers both contested divorces and simple uncontested cases. You can use it to prepare forms yourself or to understand what to expect from the process.
The State Bar of Michigan's lawyer referral service can connect you with family law attorneys who practice in the Port Huron area. Some offer free consultations for new clients. The Clerk's office can explain filing procedures but cannot provide legal advice on your case.
Cities in St. Clair County
Port Huron is the county seat of St. Clair County. No cities in St. Clair County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. All residents access divorce decree records through the County Clerk's office at 201 McMorran Blvd in Port Huron.
Nearby Counties
St. Clair County borders several counties in southeastern Michigan, each with their own circuit courts.