Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 552 / R.S. of 1846
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.6 (2026)

Complaint for divorce; filing; grounds; answer; judgment.

✓ current as of July 2026
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Revised Statutes of 1846


R.S. of 1846


552.6 Complaint for divorce; filing; grounds; answer; judgment.

Sec. 6.

    (1) A complaint for divorce may be filed in the circuit court upon the allegation that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. In the complaint the plaintiff shall make no other explanation of the grounds for divorce than by the use of the statutory language.

    (2) The defendant, by answer, may either admit the grounds for divorce alleged or deny them without further explanation. An admission by the defendant of the grounds for divorce may be considered by the court but is not binding on the court's determination.

    (3) The court shall enter a judgment dissolving the bonds of matrimony if evidence is presented in open court that there has been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved.

History: R.S. 1846, Ch. 84 ;-- Am. 1847, Act 105, Eff. May 16, 1847 ;-- Am. 1848, Act 150, Imd. Eff. Mar. 30, 1848 ;-- Am. 1851, Act 64, Eff. July 5, 1851 ;-- CL 1857, 3227 ;-- CL 1871, 4738 ;-- How. 6228 ;-- CL 1897, 8621 ;-- CL 1915, 11397 ;-- CL 1929, 12728 ;-- CL 1948, 552.6 ;-- Am. 1971, Act 75, Eff. Jan. 1, 1972

PopularName Notes:

No-Fault Divorce
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 58 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1952–2026 · leading case: Sparks v. Sparks, 485 N.W.2d 893 (Mich. 1992).
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Sparks v. Sparks, 485 N.W.2d 893 (Mich. 1992). · cites it 12× “[16] 1971 PA 75 , MCL 552.6; MSA 25.86. [17] See Papatriantafyllou v Papatriantafyllou, 432 Mich 921 ; 442 NW2d 139 (1989) (LEVIN, J.”
Houghton v. Keller, 662 N.W.2d 854 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 7× “Defendant also contends that MCL 552.6 reserves the power to dissolve a marriage exclusively to the parties to that marriage and that MCR 3.”
Nat'l Pride at Work, Inc v. Governor, 748 N.W.2d 524 (Mich. 2008). · cites it 4× “See MCL 552.6 (one must file a complaint for divorce in order to dissolve a marriage); OSE policy (domestic partners must "jointly share[] the same .”
Tkachik v. Mandeville, 790 N.W.2d 260 (Mich. 2010). · cites it 2× “34 See MCL 552.6 (divorce) and MCL 552.7 (separate maintenance).”
King v. Nash (In Re Est. of Erwin), 921 N.W.2d 308 (Mich. 2018). · cites it 2× “” MCL 552.6(1). Nothing more is required. 9 MCL 700.”
State Bar v. Cramer, 249 N.W.2d 1 (Mich. 1976). · cites it 4× “Honigman, What "No-Fault" Means to Divorce, 51 Mich St B J 16, 17 (1972).”
In re Burnett Est., 834 N.W.2d 93 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “A similar argument was rejected in Houghton, 256 Mich App at 338 -339: Defendant appears to be suggesting that if the Legislature intended to provide for actions by a guardian, the Legislature would have expressly provided for this in MCL 552.6. However, the converse argument…”
Ryan v. Ryan, 677 N.W.2d 899 (Mich. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “In the complaint the plaintiff shall make no other explanation of the grounds for divorce than by the use of the statutory language.”
Waite v. Waite, 64 S.W.3d 217 (Tex. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “17 (West 2000); Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 552.6 (West 2001).”
Souden v. Souden, 844 N.W.2d 151 (Mich. Ct. App. 2013). “” Estes v Titus, 481 Mich 573, 582-583 ; 751 NW2d 493 (2008) (quotation marks and citation omitted); see also MCL 552.6. Third parties can be joined in a divorce action only if they are alleged to have conspired with one spouse to defraud the other spouse.”
Tokar v. Albery, 671 N.W.2d 139 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “A judgment of divorce cannot be entered unless there is evidence and a corresponding finding by the trial court “that there has been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable…”
Chrystler v. Heslar (In Re Heslar), 16 B.R. 329 (Bankr. W.D. Mich. 1981). · cites it 2× “While the Michigan divorce statute no longer requires an allegation of fault, Mich.Comp. Laws § 552.6 [Mich.Stat.Ann. § 25.”
Show all 58 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.6(1) — 16 cases
King v. Nash (In Re Est. of Erwin), 921 N.W.2d 308 (Mich. 2018). “” MCL 552.6(1). Nothing more is required. 9 MCL 700.”
Sparks v. Sparks, 485 N.W.2d 893 (Mich. 1992). “[16] 1971 PA 75 , MCL 552.6; MSA 25.86. [17] See Papatriantafyllou v Papatriantafyllou, 432 Mich 921 ; 442 NW2d 139 (1989) (LEVIN, J.”
Biondo v. Biondo, 809 N.W.2d 397 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011).
McCormick v. McCormick, 562 N.W.2d 504 (Mich. Ct. App. 1997).
Formicola v. Formicola, 189 N.W.2d 21 (Mich. Ct. App. 1971).
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.6(3) — 11 cases
Sparks v. Sparks, 485 N.W.2d 893 (Mich. 1992). “[16] 1971 PA 75 , MCL 552.6; MSA 25.86. [17] See Papatriantafyllou v Papatriantafyllou, 432 Mich 921 ; 442 NW2d 139 (1989) (LEVIN, J.”
Tokar v. Albery, 671 N.W.2d 139 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “A judgment of divorce cannot be entered unless there is evidence and a corresponding finding by the trial court “that there has been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable…”
Grotelueschen v. Grotelueschen, 318 N.W.2d 227 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982).
Hall v. Hall, 341 N.W.2d 206 (Mich. Ct. App. 1983).
Kretzschmar v. Kretzschmar, 210 N.W.2d 352 (Mich. Ct. App. 1973).
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