If you are looking to get divorced, you can file for divorce right away (and you should), but there are required waiting periods.  Michigan, like most states, requires a “cooling off” period once the divorce complaint is filed, and you are required to wait a minimum amount of time until the divorce can be completed.

If you have no minor children (meaning no children under 18), the minimum waiting period is 60 days from the filing of the divorce complaint.  However, if you do have minor children, the waiting period is 180 days (six months) from the filing of the divorce complaint.

What this will mean depends on how straightforward or how complex your particular case is.  Normally, you would start working to resolve the issues in your divorce case immediately once the complaint for divorce is filed. That way the process moves forward, and it is possible to have a signed and final agreement when the waiting period expires.  However, with few exceptions, the divorce cannot actually be granted until the minimum waiting period is over.

Under the right circumstances and with an agreement, it is possible to waive part of the 180 day waiting period.  No matter what the circumstances, however, it is not possible to get divorced in less than 60 days.   Also, these waiting periods are the minimum, not the maximum, and divorces can and often do go beyond 60 days and divorces with children can go beyond six months.