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Court filing fees in Michigan

What the court charges to start a divorce or an adult name change in Michigan, as stated in the fee schedule or statute. Lawyer fees, service of papers and newspaper costs are extra.

The details

Fee to file for divorce

Civil Filing Fee $150 plus $25 Electronic Filing System Fee. With children, Custody and Parenting Time Fee $809 also applies (total $984). Table dated February 2025.¹

Same fee statewide.

Table has no line titled divorce. Totals combine listed civil and Friend of the Court fees.

Fee to respond to a divorce

Not listed¹

Fee for an adult name change

Petition for Name Change 600.2529(1)(a) Required $150. The $25 e-filing fee may also apply.¹²

Same fee statewide.

Michigan Legal Help says it will cost $175 to file the petition.

Newspaper publication for a name change

Usually. Most notices of name change hearings must be published in a local newspaper. A judge can excuse it if publishing would be dangerous or harmful.²

Court that handles divorce

Circuit Court¹²

If you cannot afford the fee

You can ask the judge to waive the fee if you cannot afford it.²

Sources

1. Circuit Court Fee and Assessments Table (February 2025), Michigan State Court Administrative Office, checked 1 November 2026
2. I Want to Change My Name, Michigan Legal Help (secondary), checked 1 November 2026

Checked 1 November 2026. "Secondary" marks a source we used only because the official page could not be read.