Divorce records in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, can be accessed through several channels. GrandTraverseCourt.us can help find publicly available divorce record information. You can also search records through the 13th Circuit Court, the Grand Traverse County Clerk's Office, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records Office. Whether you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or a divorce certificate for personal use, the right office depends on the type of document you need.
Grand Traverse Divorce Records Search
In Grand Traverse County, divorce case files are maintained by the County Clerk's Office, which serves as the clerk for the 13th Circuit Court. The Circuit and Family Court Records Division accepts filings in divorce matters, including cases involving minor children, and maintains the associated court files.
The divorce records collection in Grand Traverse County typically includes:
- Divorce decrees and judgments of divorce
- Settlement agreements and property division orders
- Custody and parenting time orders
- Motions, responses, and other case filings
The Michigan Vital Records Office separately maintains divorce certificates — a summary document that confirms a divorce occurred but does not include the full details of the court file. Computer terminals are available in the Court Section of the Clerk's Office for the public to review court records in person.
Grand Traverse County Clerk — Circuit & Family Court Records
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Grand Traverse
In Michigan, divorce cases are heard in the circuit court. Grand Traverse County falls under the 13th Circuit Court, which handles all divorce and family law matters filed in the county. After a judge signs the judgment of divorce, the decree is filed and maintained by the County Clerk's Office in its role as clerk of the circuit court.
The Michigan Vital Records Office also receives a Record of Divorce or Annulment after each case is finalized. This office issues divorce certificates — not the full judgment — which are used for purposes like updating identification or proving marital status.
Which office to contact depends on what you need:
- Full divorce decree, settlement agreement, custody orders, or other case filings: Contact the Grand Traverse County Clerk's Circuit & Family Court Records Division.
- Divorce certificate (summary vital record): Contact the Michigan Vital Records Office.
Grand Traverse County Clerk — Circuit & Family Court Records
Michigan Vital Records Office
You can search for Grand Traverse County divorce case information online through the county's civil and criminal records search tool or the statewide MiCOURT Case Search portal. The county also provides divorce-related forms, including the Record of Divorce or Annulment, through the Friend of the Court page. For general divorce filing guidance, visit the county's divorces information page.
Requests for certified copies of court records can be made by mail, email, online form, or in person at the Clerk's records request page.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Grand Traverse
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of court record (County Clerk) | $10 plus $1 per page | Varies; contact the Clerk's Office |
| Divorce certificate (Michigan Vital Records Office) | $26 | Approximately 3–4 weeks by mail |