Michigan Divorce Self-Help Resources: Free Legal Tools and Court Support

If you're filing for divorce in Michigan without an attorney, you're not entirely on your own. The state has several free resources designed specifically for pro se litigants — from online document assembly tools to in-person help desks at the courthouse. Knowing what's available (and what each resource can and can't do) saves time and reduces the risk of procedural errors.

Michigan Legal Help (MichiganLegalHelp.org)

This is the most comprehensive free resource for self-represented divorce filers in Michigan. Michigan Legal Help is a nonprofit that provides:

• Guided document assembly tools — answer questions in plain language and the system generates completed SCAO-approved court forms with your information filled in. This covers the Complaint for Divorce, Summons (MC 01), Confidential Case Inventory (MC 21), and other required filings.
• Step-by-step filing instructions — organized by case type (divorce without children, divorce with children, defendant in a divorce case) with links to the specific forms you need.
• Legal information articles — plain-language explanations of Michigan divorce law, property division, custody, and support.

Michigan Legal Help provides information and document preparation, not legal advice. The tools won't tell you whether filing for divorce is the right decision, how to handle contested issues strategically, or what terms to propose in a settlement. They help you fill out forms correctly — which is valuable, but it's only one part of the process.

Court Self-Help Centers

Many Michigan circuit courts operate self-help centers or kiosks, typically located near the clerk's office. These centers provide:

• SCAO-approved form packets specific to your county
• Procedural instruction sheets explaining local filing requirements
• Help with MiFILE — the state's electronic filing system, which some counties require and others offer as an option
• Referrals to local legal aid organizations and community dispute resolution centers

Self-help center staff can explain procedures and help you identify which forms you need, but they cannot give legal advice. They can tell you how to file a motion, but not whether you should file one. Availability varies by county — smaller counties may have limited hours or no dedicated self-help center at all.

Friend of the Court (FOC) Offices

For divorces involving minor children, the Friend of the Court office is an automatic part of the process. Beyond its formal role in custody and support, the FOC provides practical resources:

• Parenting class registration (SMILE program) — the FOC office can tell you which format your county accepts and how to register
• Child support calculation tools — some FOC offices provide worksheets or online calculators based on the Michigan Child Support Formula
• FOC handbooks — many counties publish local handbooks explaining their specific procedures for conciliation conferences, objections, and custody evaluations
• Mediation referrals — the FOC can connect you with court-approved mediators for custody and parenting time disputes

Contact your county's FOC office directly for its hours, location, and what services it offers to pro se litigants. Some FOC offices are significantly more helpful to self-represented parties than others.

Legal Aid Organizations

Several Michigan legal aid organizations offer free or reduced-cost legal assistance for divorce cases, particularly for low-income litigants and domestic violence survivors:

• Michigan State Bar Lawyer Referral Service — offers a 25-minute initial consultation for a $25 administrative fee
• Legal Aid of Western Michigan and Legal Services of Eastern Michigan — income-qualified free legal representation
• Lakeshore Legal Aid — serves southeast Michigan with free family law assistance
• Michigan Poverty Law Program — coordinates statewide legal aid resources

Eligibility for free legal aid is typically based on income (usually at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level). Even if you don't qualify for full representation, some organizations offer limited-scope help — reviewing your completed forms, advising on a specific issue, or representing you at a single hearing.

Community Dispute Resolution Centers

Michigan has a network of community dispute resolution centers that offer low-cost mediation for divorce-related issues. These centers charge on a sliding scale based on income, and some provide free mediation for qualifying parties.

Mediation through these centers can help resolve property division, parenting time, and other disputed issues without the cost and adversarial nature of a trial. The court may also refer you to one of these centers under MCR 3.216.

What Free Resources Don't Cover

Free resources handle the forms and procedures well. What they don't cover is the strategy — the filing sequence, deadline tracking, document organization, and decision-making framework that gets a pro se filer from complaint to final judgment without missing a step.

The Michigan Divorce Filing Process Guide fills that gap: a complete procedural roadmap with worksheets for financial disclosure, property division, custody planning, and every deadline in the Michigan divorce timeline — the process navigation layer that sits on top of the free forms and information these resources provide.

See more Michigan guides →