thinking of filing for divorce in michigan and trying to wrap my head around the process. i know it’s a no-fault state, but there are so many steps! anyone else gone through this and have tips to share?
yeah, i went through it last year. first thing is making sure you meet the residency requirements—lived in michigan for 180 days and in your county for at least 10.
Blake said:
yeah, i went through it last year. first thing is making sure you meet the residency requirements—lived in michigan for 180 days and in your county for at least 10.
oh good call. i almost forgot about that. it’s important to get that part right or you could face delays.
Blake said:
yeah, i went through it last year. first thing is making sure you meet the residency requirements—lived in michigan for 180 days and in your county for at least 10.
thanks for the heads-up! i think i’m good there, but i didn’t realize how long the waiting periods could be, especially with kids involved.
@Zayn
yeah, with no kids it’s 60 days, but with minor kids, it’s 180 days. can feel like forever.
after you file, your spouse has like 21 days to answer the complaint if they’re served in state. otherwise, they get 28 days. if they don’t respond, you could end up with an uncontested divorce.
Dayton said:
after you file, your spouse has like 21 days to answer the complaint if they’re served in state. otherwise, they get 28 days. if they don’t respond, you could end up with an uncontested divorce.
oh wow, that seems pretty quick. do they really just not show up sometimes?
@Zayn
it happens! but even if they don’t, you still need to go to a final court hearing to wrap it up.
don’t forget about the temporary orders if you have kids or financial stuff to settle during the process. it can cover things like custody, support, and who stays in the house.
Skyler said:
don’t forget about the temporary orders if you have kids or financial stuff to settle during the process. it can cover things like custody, support, and who stays in the house.
yeah, that part seems complicated. what happens if one of us tries to sell off assets or something?
@Zayn
the temporary order usually prevents either of you from doing that. it basically freezes everything until the divorce is final.
negotiation and mediation are key. once the discovery phase is over, that’s when your lawyers start working on a settlement. if you can, avoid a trial—it’s way more expensive.
Teagan said:
negotiation and mediation are key. once the discovery phase is over, that’s when your lawyers start working on a settlement. if you can, avoid a trial—it’s way more expensive.
yeah, i definitely want to avoid trial if possible. heard mediation can be hit or miss though.
@Zayn
true, but it’s usually worth trying before going to court. it’s cheaper and quicker most of the time.
just remember, the final divorce isn’t official until the judge signs off on it. everything has to be in writing and agreed upon—no going back once it’s done.
Blake said:
just remember, the final divorce isn’t official until the judge signs off on it. everything has to be in writing and agreed upon—no going back once it’s done.
thanks for the advice! sounds like i’ve got a long road ahead.