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Lansing Divorce Attorney Representing Men In Divorce In Lansing, Michigan

Cordell & Cordell has Lansing divorce lawyers ready to help you through one of the most trying periods in your life.

Featuring a comprehensive understanding of Michigan divorce law, our Lansing family lawyers focus entirely on Lansing divorce issues, including Michigan child custody laws, Michigan alimony laws and child support in Michigan.

To schedule an appointment, call 517-579-5300 or 1-866-DADS-LAW. One of our representatives will be glad to speak with you. Cordell & Cordell Lansing Divorce Lawyers - Located at 120 N. Washington Square, Suite 805, Lansing, MI 48933. Phone: 517-579-5300

Frequently Asked Lansing Divorce Questions

How long do I have to live in Ingham County before I can file for divorce?

One spouse or both spouses must have resided in the State of Michigan for at least 180 days immediately prior to the date of filing for divorce, and in Ingham County for at least 10 days immediately prior to the date of filing for divorce.

Residency in the state and the county gives the court in Lansing the power to grant the divorce.

Note, though, that it only takes one of the spouses to satisfy both residency requirements – which means you can file for divorce even if you do not reside in the county so long as your spouse has resided in the county for the required ten days and in Michigan for the required 180 days.

Is there a mandatory waiting period in Ingham County before a divorce can be granted?

Yes. As in all counties in Michigan, the minimum waiting period for a divorce with children in Ingham County is six months, and the minimum waiting period for a divorce without children is 60 days.

However, some judges will waive the waiting period, or a good portion of it, in certain circumstances, such as when all issues are resolved and there is no property or debt to divide, or in cases involving emergencies.

How can I serve my spouse in Ingham County? If attempts to serve do not work, can I serve by publication?

As in all counties in Michigan, in Ingham County service of the initial divorce filings must be by registered, certified mail, return receipt requested and delivery restricted to the addressee (your spouse) or personally delivered by an adult other than you. Court-appointed process servers are not required but are frequently used.

If you cannot effect service by either of these methods, and you make that known to the judge, then the judge may approve of service in any other manner that satisfies the minimum guarantees of due process – notice of the case and an opportunity to be heard on the merits.

A combination of service by first class mail, posting at a conspicuous place (e.g., on a residence or at the county building) and service by publication in the legal newspaper is common. The main legal newspaper for the county is the Ingham County Legal News.

What are the specific forms I will need to file for a divorce in Ingham County?

In addition to a Complaint for Divorce, in Ingham County spouses must provide the Court Clerk with a pre-printed Summons, which the Clerk will complete with a court seal and an expiration date of 90 days for you to serve your divorce filings, a Record of Divorce and, when children are involved, a Title IV-D Verified Statement.

These forms are available online or at the courthouse. However, is it advisable to use an attorney to prepare these forms because they bear legal significance and are not always modifiable after filing for divorce.

Where do I file for divorce in Ingham County?

All divorce filings in Ingham County must be filed with the Circuit Court at the Clerk of the Court’s Office inside the Ingham County Courthouse, which is located at 313 W. Kalamazoo St. in downtown Lansing.

When children are involved, copies of all documents must also be provided to the Friend of the Court, which is located on the ground floor of the same courthouse.

How much are filing fees at the Ingham County Courthouse?

As in all counties in Michigan, the filing fee for a divorce is $150. When children are involved, there is an additional $80 "judgment entry fee."

Some counties charge this fee when the case concludes, but, at this time, Ingham County charges the fee when filing for divorce.

Are there any Ingham County-Specific laws that are different from how other family law cases around the state are handled?

Yes. By State Court Rule, the Circuit Court for each county may assign certain tasks to the County Friend of the Court when children are involved.

The Friend of the Court is an agency that investigates families, makes recommendations for child custody, parenting time and child support orders and enforces those orders.

In Ingham County, the Friend of the Court caseworkers engage in early conciliation to interview parents and determine temporary orders for child support, child custody and parenting time. The meetings are informal, and attorneys are not "required" to attend – though they should, because the recommendations become court filings and may result in a temporarily enforceable order. The deadlines to challenge these orders are extremely limited.

Always speak with an attorney about the conciliation process and how it may affect your case before, during and after the conciliation process.

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