Hiring a Divorce or Family Lawyer in Michigan
How divorce lawyers in Michigan charge, the state's filing rules, how to check a lawyer's license, and free or low-cost family law help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Michigan: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | A contingent fee is allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits it. The agreement must be in writing and state how the fee will be determined; at the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the client's share and how it was figured. Michigan Court Rule 8.121 adds requirements for some contingent fee agreements. Lawyers may not charge a criminal defendant a contingent fee, or charge a domestic relations fee contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, or based on the lawyer's success, results obtained, value added or any factor that leaves the client unable to discern how the fee is determined. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The State Bar of Michigan Client Protection Fund reimburses clients harmed by a lawyer's dishonest conduct, such as theft or embezzlement of estate, trust or settlement funds, or failing to return unearned fees; it does not cover malpractice, negligence, fee disputes or consequential damages. Limits: $150,000 per claimant and $375,000 for all claims against one attorney (prorated if exceeded). File within two years after the loss or six months after discovery, whichever is later (or within one year after a discipline determination or the lawyer's death). A Request for Investigation with the Attorney Grievance Commission is part of the application. There is no filing fee; a lawyer who helps may charge no more than $250 unless the State Bar authorizes more. Contact: cpf@michbar.org, (517) 346-6354. Fund home: https://www.michbar.org/client/protectionfund |
Michigan rules to know first
| Residency requirement | One spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days immediately before filing, and one spouse must have lived in the county where the case is filed for 10 days before filing. The 10-day county rule does not apply in certain cases where there is a risk that a minor child will be taken out of the United States by a spouse born in or a citizen of another country. If the defendant was not domiciled in Michigan when the case was filed or when the grounds arose, the filing spouse must also show that the couple lived together in Michigan as a married couple, or that the filing spouse lived in Michigan in good faith for 1 year before filing. Source: MCL 552.9; MCL 552.9f |
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| Filing fee | Filing a civil action in circuit court, including a divorce, costs $150 plus a $25 electronic filing system fee. When custody or parenting time of a minor child is to be decided, an additional $80 fee is due at filing; if only child support is to be decided, the additional fee is $40. Fees can be waived or suspended for a person who cannot pay, and if the filing fee is waived for indigence, the e-filing fee must also be waived. Fee table: https://www.courts.michigan.gov/siteassets/court-administration/resources/cfee.pdf |
| Uncontested divorce | Michigan has no separate simplified divorce procedure. Every divorce uses the same no-fault ground and waiting periods. The defendant may admit the ground in an answer without explanation, but the court still requires evidence in open court before entering a judgment. Parties may also ask the court, with their first papers, not to open a Friend of the Court case, and the court must agree unless, for example, a party receives or applies for public-assistance child support (Title IV-D) services or asks for a Friend of the Court case. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service matches people who can afford to hire a lawyer with a participating panel lawyer; a referral assistant matches you by type of matter and area. Per the program rules (May 2023), the service "charges a $25 administrative fee" and the panelist "will provide up to a 25-minute initial consultation free of charge"; the fee is waived for residential tenants, Social Security claimants, workers' compensation claimants and personal injury plaintiffs. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday. A Modest Means Program connects moderate-income people with attorneys offering reduced-cost help. Program rules: https://www.michbar.org/file/lrs/lrs-programrules.pdf |
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| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints (Requests for Investigation) about Michigan lawyers go to the Attorney Grievance Commission. Anyone may file, using the AGC form or a signed letter describing the misconduct with approximate time and place and any documents (unbound, unstapled). Requests are not accepted electronically or by fax; mail them to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 2100, Troy, MI 48084. Intake decides whether the lawyer must respond or dismisses (you may ask for reconsideration); after investigation the Commission may close the file, issue a consensual admonition, place the lawyer on contractual probation, or authorize formal charges before the Attorney Discipline Board, and notifies the parties in writing. A lawyer's public disciplinary record can be requested from the Commission. Phone: 313-961-6585. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Michigan's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Lakeshore Legal Aid, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Michigan Advocacy Program and Michigan Indian Legal Services. |
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All legal help in Michigan · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.