Divorce records in Ingham County, Michigan, can be accessed through several channels. InghamCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for cases filed in the county. You can also obtain records directly from the circuit court that issued the decree, the Ingham County Clerk's Office, or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Division. The method you use depends on whether you need a detailed court file or a vital record certificate.
Ingham County Divorce Records Search
In Michigan, divorce cases are handled at the circuit court level. The 30th Judicial Circuit Court, based in Lansing, has jurisdiction over all divorce and family law matters filed in Ingham County. The Ingham County Clerk serves as the clerk of the circuit court and maintains case files, including divorce decrees, judgments, settlement agreements, custody orders, and related filings.
The Michigan DHHS Vital Records Division separately maintains divorce certificates — abbreviated records that confirm a divorce occurred but do not include the full terms of the settlement. You can search for Ingham County circuit court case information online through the MiCOURT Case Search portal or the Michigan Courts case search tool, which includes the Ingham Circuit Court.
30th Judicial Circuit Court — Ingham County Clerk
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Ingham County
Understanding where different types of divorce records are kept will help you contact the right office on the first try.
30th Judicial Circuit Court (Family Division)
All divorce and separate maintenance actions in Ingham County are filed with the 30th Judicial Circuit Court. Once a judge signs the judgment of divorce, the original decree and the complete case file — including property settlement agreements, parenting-time orders, custody determinations, and spousal support provisions — remain with the circuit court clerk's office. This is the office to contact when you need copies of the actual judgment or any documents filed during the case. Standard family division forms are available through the SCAO Miscellaneous Family Division Forms index.
Ingham County Clerk's Office
The Ingham County Clerk is the elected official responsible for maintaining circuit court records, including divorce files. Requests for certified copies of divorce judgments go through this office. The Clerk also keeps vital records such as birth and death certificates at the county level.
Michigan DHHS — Vital Records Division
The state Vital Records office maintains divorce certificates for divorces granted anywhere in Michigan. A divorce certificate is a summary document — it confirms the names of the parties, the date of the divorce, and the county where it was granted, but it does not include property division terms, custody arrangements, or other case details. Contact this office if you need a state-issued certificate rather than the full court record.
Which office to contact:
- Full divorce decree, settlement terms, custody orders: 30th Judicial Circuit Court / Ingham County Clerk
- Divorce certificate (proof that a divorce occurred): Michigan DHHS Vital Records Division
- Online case lookup (basic case information): MiCOURT Case Search
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Ingham County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce decree (circuit court) | $10.00 for certification plus $1.00 per page | Same day to 5 business days (in-person requests processed faster) |
| Plain (non-certified) copy of court documents | $1.00 per page | Same day to 5 business days |
| Divorce certificate (Michigan Vital Records — standard mail) | $26.00 | Approximately 3–4 weeks |
| Divorce certificate (Michigan Vital Records — expedited) | $26.00 plus expedited shipping fee | Approximately 1–2 weeks |
| MiCOURT online case search | Free | Immediate |