Wayne County Divorce Decree Records
Wayne County is Michigan's most populous county, and its divorce decree records are managed by the Wayne County Clerk through the 3rd Circuit Court (Third Judicial Circuit). The main office is at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center at 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, with the Records Division in the basement at Level LL-61. Civil court records including divorce go back to 1942, and marriage records go back to 1837. Certified copies are $10.00 per document seal plus $1.00 to $2.00 per page. Records from 2010 onward are kept in the records room, while older files may come from the Archives.
Wayne County Overview
How to Get Wayne County Divorce Decree Records
The Wayne County Clerk's Records Division handles divorce decree requests for the 3rd Circuit Court. The office is in the basement of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center at Level LL-61. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Records from 2010 forward are in the records room. Cases older than that may come from the Archives, which typically requires one business day for retrieval.
| Clerk (General) | Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 |
|---|---|
| Records Division | Basement Level LL-61, same building |
| Phone (Clerk) | (313) 224-6262 |
| Phone (Civil Court Records) | (313) 967-6938 |
| Phone (Circuit Court) | (313) 224-5300 |
| Phone (Family Division) | (313) 224-5510 |
| Phone (Records Division) | (313) 224-5530 |
| Email (Records) | wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | waynecounty.com |
| 3rd Circuit Court | 3rdcc.org |
Fees: Uncertified copies cost $2.00 per page. Certified or authenticated copies cost $10.00 for the document seal plus $1.00 to $2.00 per page. Credit or debit card payments add a $2.50 surcharge. For payment by check, make it out to Wayne County Clerk. When requesting a record, include the names of both parties and the approximate date. A case number helps a lot, especially for large counties where name searches return multiple results.
Detroit city records after 1983 are at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice. Call (313) 224-2502 for those. Wayne County criminal records from 1942 to 1983 outside Detroit are also in the Records Division. The Wayne County Clerk serves as Clerk of Court for the Family Division of the 3rd Circuit Court.
The 3rd Circuit Court website covers the court's structure, the Family Division, and how to navigate the court system in Wayne County.
The 3rd Circuit Court site confirms the Family Division's jurisdiction over all divorce matters in Wayne County, including the Odyssey Public Access portal for online case lookup.
The Wayne County Clerk records page outlines how to request civil and divorce court records, including mail and in-person options.
The county records page shows the fee schedule, how to submit mail requests, and the email address for the Records Division at Level LL-61.
The Wayne County website links to the Clerk, Circuit Court, and other departments that handle records for Michigan's largest county.
The main county site provides access to all departments and a directory for reaching the right office when requesting Wayne County divorce decree records.
Online Access to Wayne County Divorce Cases
The 3rd Circuit Court offers the Odyssey Public Access portal at 3rdcc.org/OPA. This allows online searches of Wayne County circuit court cases, including divorce filings, by party name or case number. It is available any time and free to use.
Michigan's statewide MiCOURT Case Search also covers the 3rd Circuit Court. Both tools show case information and filing dates but do not provide actual copies of the decree. For a certified copy, email wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov or call (313) 224-5530. Records from 2010 forward are in the records room for quick retrieval. Older files from before 2010 may require next-business-day processing from the Archives.
Divorce records in Wayne County are generally public, though some records or portions may be restricted by court order. The clerk's staff can confirm whether a specific case has any sealed portions before you request a copy.
Michigan Divorce Law and Wayne County
Michigan uses no-fault divorce law. Under MCL 552.6, no proof of fault is required. Either spouse can file for divorce by stating the marriage has broken down with no reasonable likelihood of being preserved. The 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit follows this law the same as every other Michigan circuit.
To file in Wayne County, residency rules under MCL 552.9 must be met. At least one spouse needs to have lived in Michigan for 180 days. That same or the other spouse must have lived in Wayne County for at least 10 days before the complaint is filed.
Waiting periods are set by law. Divorces without minor children require a 60-day wait after filing. Divorces with minor children require 180 days. These cannot be shortened without specific court action. Wayne County's 3rd Circuit is the largest circuit court in Michigan. The Family Division handles all divorce, custody, and domestic relations matters. The court processes a high volume of cases each year. Once the judge signs the final decree and it is filed with the Clerk, it becomes a public record. The Records Division at Level LL-61 is where you request certified copies of filed decrees.
Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate
In Wayne County as everywhere in Michigan, these are two separate documents.
The divorce decree is the full court order from the 3rd Circuit Court judge. It is the legally binding document that ends the marriage and contains every term: property division, debt allocation, custody, parenting time, support payments. If you need to know what the court ordered, you need the decree. Contact the Records Division at (313) 224-5530 or email wcrecordroom@waynecountymi.gov.
The divorce certificate is a short vital record held by Michigan MDHHS Vital Records. It confirms a divorce happened and lists the parties and date. For basic uses like proving prior divorce status, the certificate often works. You can order it online through VitalChek.
What a Wayne County Divorce Decree Contains
The final decree from the 3rd Circuit Court is a detailed legal document. It names both parties, gives the legal end date of the marriage, and covers all terms the court ordered or both parties agreed to in a settlement. In most cases, the decree addresses the marital home and other real estate, vehicles, bank and investment accounts, business interests, and debts.
When children are part of the case, the decree sets out legal custody, physical custody, the parenting time schedule, child support amounts calculated under Michigan's guidelines, and health insurance. Spousal support is included if ordered, with full terms and duration. Retirement accounts often involve a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, which may be attached to or referenced in the decree. The Wayne County Clerk files the signed decree, which then becomes a permanent public court record accessible at the Records Division. Some records or portions may be restricted by judicial order, particularly in cases involving minors or sensitive information.
Getting Legal Help in Wayne County
Michigan Legal Help is a free resource with guides, forms, and self-help tools for Michigan divorce cases. Wayne County has many free and low-cost legal resources because of its size and the presence of multiple law schools nearby.
The State Bar of Michigan's lawyer referral service can connect you with family law attorneys in Detroit and Wayne County. Many offer free first consultations. Wayne County Legal Aid and other nonprofit organizations also provide free services to those who qualify based on income. The Clerk's office and Records Division can explain filing and copy procedures but cannot give legal advice.
Cities in Wayne County
Wayne County includes several major cities, all served by the 3rd Circuit Court for divorce decree records. The following cities have dedicated records pages on this site:
Other communities in Wayne County, including Inkster, Lincoln Park, and Romulus, do not meet the population threshold for individual pages. All Wayne County residents access divorce decree records through the Records Division at Level LL-61, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit.
Nearby Counties
Wayne County borders several other southeast Michigan counties, each with their own circuit courts.