In Michigan you have to be a resident of the state for at least 180 days before filing for divorce. You also must be a resident of the county for at least 10 days to file for divorce. In looking at this we see some states that you have to be a resident of the county for much longer, in Michigan this does give you a chance to move to a different county if possible and then file for divorce after you have lived there for 10 days. A divorce in Michigan is referred to as dissolution, so a divorce is dissolution of marriage. The grounds for divorce in Michigan are very simple. They are the breakdown of a marriage, irreconcilable differences. In the divorce papers in Michigan you can simply state that there has been a breakdown of a marriage and that there is no possible chance of reconciliation between the two of you and there is no reason for the marriage to continue. Most states will give you a list of grounds for divorce, such as adultery, drunkenness, but those are all part of the breakdown of a marriage in Michigan and are causes for a divorce, so it can simply state that there was a breakdown of the marriage. You can bring up a lawsuit against your spouse if you have been extremely abused and had cruel treatment, but it is separate from your divorce, if you want to pursue the case. You should also have proof of the abuse, which can be your own documents, a friend, and pictures, but again this is separate from a divorce. The divorce process in Michigan begins when one spouse files for divorce in the county they reside in. They file for the dissolution of marriage. The divorce papers are then served to the other spouse. The spouse is given a reasonable amount of time to respond to the divorce papers. Again, as in most states, if the spouses in the divorce are in agreement over the divorce itself, property division, debt division, child custody, and child support then the divorce can be finalized without ever going to trial. If there is disagreement over any of these issues then a trial date will be set for the divorce. In Michigan you can file for the temporary assistance with debt and child custody and support issues with the court. Now remember these things will more then likely change after the divorce goes to trial.
As with any state, it is important to seek some form of counseling for your divorce, especially if there are children involved. It does allow for children to realize it is not their faults along with helping spouses move along after the divorce. Remaining friends if you have children together is so very important, remember a divorce is hard anybody, but put yourself where your