Macomb County Divorce Records

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Understanding Macomb County Divorce Records

What is a Divorce Record?

A Macomb County Divorce Record is the official file kept by the court. It holds all the papers from a divorce case. This file shows the end of a marriage by law. It is made when a judge signs the final order. These records are key proof of a divorce. They hold many facts about the case.

Divorce Decree vs. Divorce Certificate

It helps to know the two main types of divorce proof. The full Divorce Decree is the court's final judgment. It lists all terms of the divorce. This includes how things like homes or cars were split. It also covers child care plans and money support. You get this from the Macomb County Clerk's office. It is part of the main case file. A Divorce Certificate is simpler. It shows just the basic facts. These are the names of the two people, the date, and the place of the divorce. The County Clerk or the state health department (MDHHS) issues these. Certificates are often used for tasks like name changes or proving you can marry again. The full decree has much more detail.

Public Access Under Michigan Law

In Michigan, most court records are open to the public. This rule comes from the state's Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231 et seq.). This means that most Macomb County Divorce Records can be seen by anyone who asks. You do not need to be one of the people in the divorce to ask for a copy. This helps keep the court process open. But there are some limits.

Sealed Records and Confidential Information

Some parts of a divorce record might be kept private. A judge can order a record sealed. This often happens to protect kids involved. It can also hide very private money facts or facts about abuse. If a Macomb County Divorce Record is sealed, only certain people can see it. These include the two people in the divorce, their lawyers, or someone with a special court order. Most of the record is often still open, like the fact the divorce took place and the date. But sensitive details may be blacked out or kept fully secret.

Primary Location: Macomb County Clerk's Office

Role as Court Clerk

The main place to find official Macomb County Divorce Records, especially the full Divorce Decree, is the Macomb County Clerk's Office. The County Clerk acts as the Clerk for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. This court handles all divorce cases in Macomb County. The Clerk's office keeps all the official files for these cases. This is where the full record lives. They manage the papers filed and the final orders signed by the judge.

Clerk vs. State Records

While the County Clerk holds the detailed court file (decree), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in Lansing keeps a statewide list of divorces. They issue the Divorce Certificates mentioned earlier. So, for the full story and all the details agreed to in the divorce, you need the County Clerk. For just a basic proof of divorce, the state or county certificate might be enough.

How to Request Macomb County Divorce Records (Decrees/Case Files)

You can get copies of Macomb County Divorce Records in a few ways from the Clerk's office.

In-Person Requests

You can go to the court building to ask for records.

• Location: Visit the Macomb County Clerk's Office File Room. This is inside the Macomb County Court Building.

• Address: 40 N. Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043.

• What to Bring: Know the names of the people in the divorce. Know the rough date it happened. If you have the case number, bring it. You will need photo ID.

• Process: You will likely fill out a request form there. Staff can help find the file. You pay the fees to get copies.

• Hours: The office is usually open normal work hours. Plan for Monday to Friday, perhaps 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call ahead to be sure.

Mail Requests

You can ask for Macomb County Divorce Records by mail.

• Where to Send: Mail your request to the Macomb County Clerk's Office, Attn: File Room, 40 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043.

• What to Send: You need the official Macomb County Circuit Court Documents Order Form. Fill it out fully. Include a copy of your valid photo ID. Add payment for the fees (check or money order usually).

• Form: Download the form from the Macomb County Clerk's website or use the link above. Print it and fill it in by hand. Be sure your writing is clear.

Fax/Email Requests

The Clerk's File Room may also take requests by fax or email.

• Fax Number: (586) 469-5365.

• Email Address: fileroom@macombgov.org.

• Process: Use the same official order form. Fill it out completely. Include details for payment, like credit card info, as shown on the form. Be sure to sign it if needed. Check the form for exact steps for fax or email orders.

Online Access (Case Information)

Macomb County might offer some online ways to search case information. This often includes names, dates, and case status. Check the official Macomb County Clerk or 16th Circuit Court websites. Look for links like "Case Search" or "Online Records". Note that this may only show basic case data, not full document images. If you do not know your case number, you may need to pay for a name search first.

Requesting Divorce Certificates

If you only need a basic Divorce Certificate, you have two main options.

From Macomb County Clerk (Vital Records)

The County Clerk's Vital Records office also issues divorce certificates for events in the county.

• Location: This office is at 120 North Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043. This is a different spot than the court file room.

• Process: You can often request these in person or by mail. They may have their own form, different from the court file request form. Check their part of the Clerk's website or call them at (586) 469-5120.

From Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)

The state keeps records of all divorces in Michigan.

• When: You usually must wait 60 to 90 days after the divorce is final.

• How: Order by mail using the state's official form.

• Address: Send the form, ID copy, and fee to: Vital Records Requests, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909.

• Forms/Info: Visit the MDHHS Vital Records Mail Order page for forms and current fees.

Information Required for Your Search

To find the right Macomb County Divorce Record, you need some key facts. Having these ready makes the search faster and easier for the clerk's staff.

• Names: Full legal names of both people who got divorced. Use the names they had at the time of the divorce.

• Date: The approximate date or year the divorce case was filed or finalized. Even just the year helps a lot.

• Case Number: This is the best piece of info. If you know the court case number, the staff can find the file very fast. Look on old court papers if you have any.

• Your Info: Your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address.

• ID: A copy of your valid driver's license or other government photo ID. This proves who you are, needed for certified copies.

Fees for Macomb County Divorce Records

Getting copies of Macomb County Divorce Records costs money. The fees help cover the cost of storing and finding the records.

• Regular Copies: Usually cost $2.00 per page. These are plain copies.

• Certified Copies: Cost more. There is a $10.00 fee for the official certification seal. Plus, you pay $2.00 per page for the copy itself. Certified copies are often needed for legal reasons.

• Name Search: If you don't have the case number, the staff must search by name. This costs $2.00 per name searched, based on the order form.

• Authenticated Copies: Needed for use in other countries. Costs $10.00 plus $2.00 per page.

• Payment: Check the official request form for payment options. They usually take checks or money orders payable to "Macomb County Clerk". The form also lists credit cards they accept (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) for mail/fax/email orders. Cash might be okay for in-person requests.

Macomb County Clerk and Court Contact Details

Here is contact info for the main offices handling Macomb County Divorce Records.

Macomb County Clerk / Register of Deeds

• Circuit Court Records Address: 40 N. Main St, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (For decrees and case files)

• Vital Records Address: 120 N. Main St, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (For certificates)

• Phone (File Room Help): (586) 469-5199

• Phone (Vital Records): (586) 469-5120

• Fax (File Room): (586) 469-5365

• Email (File Room): fileroom@macombgov.org

• Business Hours: Generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It is smart to call ahead or check the Clerk's website for current hours before visiting.

16th Judicial Circuit Court

• Address: 40 N. Main St, Mount Clemens, MI 48043 (Same building as Clerk's court file room)

• Phone: (586) 469-5150 (General court info)

Official Forms and Michigan Legal Resources

Use these links to get forms and learn more about Michigan divorce law.

• Macomb County Form: Macomb County Circuit Court Documents Order Form

• State Vital Records: Michigan MDHHS Vital Records Mail Order Page

• State Laws: Visit the Michigan Legislature Website to read laws like MCL 552.6 (Divorce Judgment) and MCL 552.9 (Residency Rules).

• Legal Help: Find general guides on divorce at Michigan Legal Help.

• Courts Info: See the main state courts site: Michigan Courts Official Website.