If your divorce, custody, or child support case is filed in Wayne County, it moves through the Third Judicial Circuit Court, Family Division. For many families in Dearborn and across Metro Detroit, this is unfamiliar territory. You may have never set foot in a courthouse before, and now you are trying to understand where to go, who handles your case, and what happens next.
We wrote this guide to make that process clearer. At Clarity Law Firm, we help families throughout Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties understand exactly what is happening in their family law case and why. That is the whole idea behind our name.
One Court, Three Divisions, and Only One That Handles Family Cases
The 3rd Circuit Court serves all of Wayne County and is the largest circuit court in Michigan by caseload. It has three main divisions holding jurisdiction over: Civil, Criminal, and Family. Each handles a different category of case, and they are not interchangeable.
The Civil Division hears lawsuits over money and property disputes above a certain dollar amount, along with appeals from Wayne County’s district courts and some administrative agency decisions. The Criminal Division handles felony cases. Neither of these divisions is where a family law case is filed.
Divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, and parenting time all go through the Family Division instead. This division works closely with a related office called the Friend of the Court on child support and parenting time matters. Most family cases move through the same general path: filing, a waiting period, temporary orders if needed, possible mediation, and a final hearing or judgment. We walk through each of these in more detail below.
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Where Family Cases Are Heard
Family Division hearings for divorce, custody, and support matters take place at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, located at 2 Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. Court staff often shorten this to “CAYMC.”
A separate courthouse, the Lincoln Hall of Justice on East Forest Avenue, handles juvenile matters like delinquency and abuse or neglect cases. Most divorce and custody cases for adults do not go there.
Court hours generally run 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have a hearing scheduled, plan extra time for security screening and parking near downtown Detroit.
The Role of the Friend of the Court
One office that surprises many first-time filers is the Friend of the Court, often called the FOC. This is not a separate court. It is an office within the Wayne County Circuit Court that supports the Family Division on child support, parenting time, and custody-related matters.
The Wayne County Friend of the Court is located in the Penobscot Building at 645 Griswold Street in Detroit, a short distance from the main courthouse. The FOC can help calculate child support under Michigan Court’s guidelines, investigate parenting time disputes, and enforce existing court orders. FOC staff cannot give legal advice or represent either parent, so many families choose to have an attorney help interpret what the FOC recommends.
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How a Family Case Typically Moves Through the Court
Every case is different, but most divorce and custody cases in Wayne County follow a similar general path.
- Filing. A complaint for divorce, custody, or another family matter is filed with the Wayne County Clerk’s office at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Wayne County’s Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan has its own e-filing process for many case types, separate from the statewide MiFile system used in other Michigan counties, so it helps to confirm current filing procedures with the clerk’s office or your attorney before submitting any forms.
- Waiting period. Michigan law requires a minimum waiting period before a divorce can be finalized, longer if minor children are involved. This is meant to give both spouses time before the case moves forward.
- Temporary orders. If a family needs an interim arrangement for parenting time, support, or who stays in the home, the court can enter temporary orders while the case is pending.
- Friend of the Court involvement. For cases involving children, the FOC may become involved to help with support calculations or parenting time recommendations.
- Mediation or negotiation. Many family cases resolve through negotiation or mediation rather than a trial. The court often encourages this route when both parties are willing.
- Final hearing or judgment. If the parties reach an agreement, the court can enter a judgment based on those terms. If they cannot agree, cases proceed to a hearing or trial before the judges.
The Legal Standards Behind Family Cases
Michigan divorce law does not require either spouse to prove fault. Under MCL 552.6, a spouse only needs to state that the marriage has broken down to the point that there is no reasonable chance it can be repaired.
Custody decisions follow the Michigan Child Custody Act, MCL 722.21 et seq., which directs courts to decide custody and parenting time based on the best interests of the child. Courts weigh a specific set of statutory factors, not the preferences of either parent alone. This standard applies whether parents were married, are divorcing, or were never married to each other.
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What to Do if You Have an Upcoming Case
If you have an upcoming filing or hearing in Wayne County’s Family Division, a few practical steps can help:
- Confirm your case number and hearing location before you go, since the courthouse handles many types of cases in one building.
- Gather documents and records related to income, parenting time, and any existing custody or support orders.
- Ask whether the Friend of the Court is involved in your case and what that means for the next steps.
- Speak with a trusted family law attorney about your specific situation before agreeing to any settlement or signing any order.
How Clarity Law Firm Can Help You
Our attorneys have direct experience with the Third Judicial Circuit Court’s Family Division. Hanadi Faraj previously served as a Judicial Attorney to a judge in this same division, giving her a first-hand view of how the court reviews cases from both sides of the bench. Ali Chokr founded Clarity Law Firm to help families in Dearborn and Metro Detroit move forward with a clear understanding of their options, not legal jargon that leaves them more confused.
Clarity Law Firm offers free consultations because we believe cost should not stand between a family and the guidance they need. Give us a call today at (313) 513-1919.
Family Division hearings are held at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226.
The Friend of the Court is an office within the Third Circuit that supports child support, parenting time, and custody matters. If your case involves children, the FOC is often involved in some way.
Michigan law sets a minimum waiting period before a divorce can be finalized, and it takes longer if minor children are involved. Contested cases generally take longer than uncontested ones. An attorney can give you a more specific timeline on how long a divorce takes in Wayne County.
You are not required to have one, but family cases involve legal standards and paperwork that can affect your parenting time, support, and finances long after the case closes. Many families choose to have an attorney review their situation before filing or agreeing to any terms.
