Search St. Joseph County Divorce Decree Records
St. Joseph County divorce decree records are filed through the 45th Circuit Court and maintained by the County Clerk in Centreville. The Clerk's office also serves as the Clerk of Circuit Court and Register of Deeds, making it the single point of contact for divorce decrees, vital records, and land records. Circuit court filings go back to the 1830s, and divorce records are available from 1900 onward. Residents can request records in person, by phone, or by mail from the historic courthouse at 125 W. Main Street.
St. Joseph County Overview
County Clerk and Circuit Court Contact
The St. Joseph County Clerk's office is located on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse at 125 W. Main Street in Centreville. The office handles divorce decrees, vital records (births from 1867, deaths from 1867, marriages from 1832), and land records all in one place. County Clerk Gina Everson oversees the office. Call ahead if you plan to visit so they can pull records in advance.
| Office | St. Joseph County Clerk / Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 125 W. Main St., Second Floor, Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 189, Centreville, MI 49032 |
| Phone (Clerk) | (269) 467-5603 |
| Phone (Circuit Division) | (269) 467-5549 |
| Phone (Circuit Court) | (269) 467-5542 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | stjosephcountymi.gov |
Circuit Judge Paul Stuteaman presides over the 45th Circuit Court, with Kathryn Griffin serving as Court Administrator. The Friend of the Court office, reached at (269) 467-5570 and headed by William Thistlethwaite, handles post-divorce matters like child support enforcement and custody modifications.
Michigan MDHHS Vital Records handles state-level divorce certificates separately from the court decree records maintained by the County Clerk.
MDHHS handles the state vital records side of divorce, which produces a certificate separate from the full divorce decree issued by the 45th Circuit Court in Centreville.
Searching St. Joseph County Cases Online
Michigan's MiCOURT Case Search covers circuit courts statewide including the 45th Circuit Court in St. Joseph County. You can use MiCOURT to search by party name or case number, confirm a case exists, and see basic filing information. The tool is free and available around the clock.
MiCOURT does not provide the actual divorce decree document. For a certified copy, you need to contact the Clerk's office in Centreville. If a case doesn't appear in MiCOURT, it may be an older record. The Clerk can search manual records going back to the 1830s for circuit court filings.
Michigan Divorce Law in the 45th Circuit Court
Michigan's divorce law is no-fault. Under MCL 552.6, no proof of wrongdoing is needed. A spouse files stating the marriage has broken down with no reasonable likelihood of recovery. That's the standard. The 45th Circuit Court follows this law like every other circuit in Michigan.
Residency rules come from MCL 552.9. One spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days. They must also have lived in St. Joseph County for at least 10 days before filing. Both conditions apply before the clerk will accept the complaint.
Waiting periods are fixed by statute. If no minor children are part of the case, the court must wait at least 60 days after the complaint is filed before issuing the final decree. If minor children are involved, the wait is 180 days. Exceptions exist but are rarely granted. The 45th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases over $25,000, and all family matters including divorce. When the judge signs the final divorce decree, it is filed with the Clerk and becomes a permanent public record.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
These serve different purposes. Don't confuse them.
The divorce decree is the full court order signed by Judge Stuteaman or another 45th Circuit judge. It is the actual legal document that ends the marriage and sets out everything the court decided: property division, debt allocation, child custody, support payments. Get this from the County Clerk's office in Centreville.
The divorce certificate is a vital record held by MDHHS Vital Records. It's a short summary with party names, date, and county. It proves a divorce happened but contains no terms. For basic legal uses like a new marriage license or name change, the certificate usually works. For anything requiring the actual terms of the decree, get the full court document. Online ordering is available through VitalChek for the certificate.
What a St. Joseph County Divorce Decree Contains
The final decree from the 45th Circuit Court is a detailed legal document. It includes the full legal names of both spouses, the date the marriage is legally over, and the complete terms of the settlement or court judgment.
Most decrees cover real property division, bank and investment accounts, vehicles and personal property, and debt responsibilities. If the couple has minor children, the decree includes the custody arrangement, parenting time schedule, child support amount, and health care coverage. Spousal support terms are included when applicable. Some cases involve a Qualified Domestic Relations Order for retirement accounts, which may be attached to or referenced within the decree. Criminal records in St. Joseph County go back to 1833, and the circuit court has been handling family matters since the 1830s.
Legal Help for St. Joseph County Residents
Michigan Legal Help offers free, plain-language guides for Michigan divorce cases. The site has tools for both contested and uncontested divorces, with or without children. It includes forms you can complete yourself, which is helpful for straightforward cases.
The Friend of the Court office at (269) 467-5570 can assist with post-divorce matters like support modifications and custody changes. For legal representation, the State Bar of Michigan's referral service can connect you with family law attorneys in southwest Michigan. The Clerk's office can explain procedures but cannot provide legal advice.
Cities in St. Joseph County
Centreville is the county seat of St. Joseph County. No cities in St. Joseph 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 125 W. Main Street in Centreville.
Nearby Counties
St. Joseph County is in southwest Michigan, bordered by several counties with their own circuit courts.