Best Detroit Divorce Attorneys

When a marriage ends, divorce lawyers in Detroit handle the paperwork, the negotiations, and any hearings that follow. They work out how to divide the house, retirement accounts, and debts. They also set parenting time and support. Some couples settle within a few months. Others fight over a business or a move out of state and go to trial. The list below mixes solo practitioners with larger firms across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

Listed Detroit Divorce Lawyers are ranked by one score, applied the same way to every firm. It draws on public signals, including:

  • Client satisfaction and overall online reputation
  • The volume and consistency of client feedback
  • How established the firm is
  • Peer recognition within the legal community and across the web

Ranked listings are ordered by our independent score. Featured listings are paid placements shown separately. See how we rank law firms.

Top-Rated Metro Detroit Family Law Firms for Custody & Asset Division

Screenshot of the McAvoy & Reid Website
42180 Ford Road, Suite 102, Canton, MI 48187, USA

McAvoy & Reid is a Canton family law and bankruptcy firm. It has served Wayne County clients since 2003. People from Plymouth, Ann Arbor, and nearby towns can meet in person or by Zoom.

Attorney Christopher McAvoy leads the divorce work, including custody and support cases. He favors practical solutions over drawn-out fights. Christina M. Reid focuses on probate, trust administration, and estate planning.

That mix helps when a divorce touches other legal needs, such as debt relief or a new will. The firm has worked on thousands of cases. If a matter falls outside its practice, the team refers the client to another attorney.

Screenshot of the Shimek Law Firm, PLLC Website
20300 Superior Rd Ste 123, Taylor, MI 48180, USA

Kory Shimek leads Shimek Law Firm, a Downriver practice based in Taylor. The firm represents clients in Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, and Monroe counties.

Its attorneys handle contested and uncontested divorces, parenting time disputes, and adoptions. Bankruptcy and probate work help when a split strains family finances.

Whenever possible, the team settles disputes through negotiation and other low-cost options. If talks fail, it takes the case to trial. Clients can meet in the office, by phone, or by video. They can also reach the firm by text.

Screenshot of the FasTrack Divorce Website
28806 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA

FasTrack Divorce is a Royal Oak firm built for couples who want to stay out of court. A second office in Birmingham serves more of Oakland County.

Lead attorney Mary Anne sees divorce as a reorganization of the family, not its destruction. The FasTrack method aims for an early agreement under a qualified flat fee. Mediation is available, but couples who settle on their own can skip it.

Services include uncontested divorce, legal separation, and alimony agreements. The firm is upfront that its process is not for everyone. Spouses set on a courtroom battle are not the right fit.

Screenshot of the The Nunley Law Group, PLLC Website
21929 Harper Ave, St Clair Shores, MI 48080, USA

Royce A. Nunley earned Super Lawyers Rising Star honors for family law from 2019 through 2024. He founded The Nunley Law Group, a St. Clair Shores family law firm.

The firm serves Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. It takes contested divorces, paternity cases, and post-judgment disputes. Clients work directly with their attorney.

Attorney Nunley speaks fluent Spanish, so Spanish-speaking families can work with him directly. The practice also covers criminal defense, injury claims, and Social Security Disability.

Screenshot of the The Mitten Law Firm, PLC Website
13615 Northline Rd, Southgate, MI 48195, USA

The Mitten Law Firm is a Downriver practice in Southgate serving Wayne and Monroe counties. Its attorneys take divorce, bankruptcy, and estate planning cases. The team also handles spousal support and the division of property.

Clients come from Wyandotte, Trenton, Riverview, Grosse Ile, and nearby towns. The firm has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, and the New York Post. Every first consultation is free.

Screenshot of the Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Website
600 S Adams Rd # 100, Birmingham, MI 48009, USA

Few family law firms in the Detroit area are run entirely by women. Eisenberg & Spilman is one. Its Birmingham attorneys have taken on complex divorces for more than 25 years.

Judges regularly appoint Laura E. Eisenberg as guardian ad litem in difficult custody cases. Amy M. Spilman also handles appeals. The firm works with forensic accountants and private investigators to uncover hidden assets. It also takes gray divorce cases and disputes with international ties.

Screenshot of the Hermiz Law Website
5960 Livernois Rd, Troy, MI 48098, USA

Madana Hermiz is a Troy divorce attorney and the founder of Hermiz Law. Clients get a direct line to her throughout the case. She has litigated heated family, real estate, and business disputes. Attorney Hermiz has also won 99% of her criminal trials.

Her divorce clients include business owners and high-net-worth individuals. She also offers divorce representation geared toward men. Her work covers the split of debt and retirement assets and the enforcement of court orders.

Screenshot of the The Gucciardo Law Firm Website
30700 Telegraph Rd #1580, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA

Renée K. Gucciardo spent five years as an Oakland County prosecutor before switching to family law. Her Bingham Farms firm has handled only family cases since 2001. A second office operates in Clarkston.

She and colleague Ron Tolbert resolve cases through arbitration or in the courtroom. The practice also covers step-parent adoption, paternity, and fathers' and mothers' rights. Attorney Gucciardo holds an AV Preeminent rating and Super Lawyers honors.

Screenshot of the The Law Firm of Hauer & Snover Website
6905 Telegraph Rd, Suite 350, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, USA

The Law Firm of Hauer & Snover is a Bloomfield Hills family law practice. It has served clients across Michigan for more than 50 years.

Partners Harvey Hauer and Mark Snover call their team litigators first. They seek a favorable settlement but go to court when that serves the client better. Cases include complex property division, business valuations, and child relocation. Clients range from high-profile individuals to homemakers.

Screenshot of the Kizy Law Website
29100 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48034, USA

Kizy Law works from offices in Southfield and Sterling Heights. It represents clients in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties. Principal attorney Channelle Kizy-White leads a team that covers family law and criminal defense.

That pairing helps when a divorce involves a personal protection order. The firm also takes school choice disputes, change of domicile cases, and prenuptial agreements.

Screenshot of the Jackman & Kasody PLLC Website
30800 Telegraph Rd #2715, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA

Wade P. Jackman and Patricia A. Kasody-Coyle are seasoned family law trial lawyers. Together, they bring more than 60 years of experience. Their firm, Jackman & Kasody, works from Bingham Farms and Northville.

They bring in psychologists and business valuation experts when a case calls for it. The firm also advises unmarried parents and grandparents seeking visitation.

Screenshot of the Clos, Russell & Wirth, P.C. Website
35330 Nankin Blvd #702, Westland, MI 48185, USA

Clos, Russell & Wirth has practiced law in Westland since 1994. Its family law work includes contested and collaborative divorces and cases involving same-sex marriage. The firm also takes probate, business, and criminal cases.

Screenshot of the Pitler Family Law & Mediation, P.C. Website
418 N Main St Ste. 242, Royal Oak, MI 48067, USA

Randall Pitler is a metro Detroit divorce lawyer based in Royal Oak. He pioneered amicable divorce in Michigan. He once served as president of the Collaborative Practice Institute of Michigan. He is also a court-approved mediator. Couples can choose mediation, collaborative divorce, or one shared lawyer.

Screenshot of the Elkouri Heath PLC Website
39555 Orchard Hill Pl #215, Novi, MI 48375, USA

Susan Elkouri and Symantha Heath have served southeast Michigan families for more than 30 years. Both are certified collaborative lawyers and divorce mediators at their Novi firm. They also take military divorce cases.

Screenshot of the Haas & Prokopec Website
21 Kercheval Ave #270, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236, USA

Haas & Prokopec is a Grosse Pointe Farms firm that practices family law exclusively. Trish Oleksa Haas and Dawn M. Prokopec appear in Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair counties. They also take appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Jeanne M. Frazee Website
31540 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, MI 48150, USA

Livonia attorney Jeanne M. Frazee brings over 30 years of family law experience. She runs a solo practice and bases her advice on Michigan law and local rulings. She also helps spouses sort out how much of a family business is marital property.

Screenshot of the Sikorski Law Firm, PLLC Website
33300 7 Mile, Livonia, MI 48152, USA

Sikorski Law Firm is a western Wayne County practice with offices in Garden City, Livonia, and Taylor. Lukas and Katherine Sikorski offer set fees for uncontested divorces and also handle bankruptcy.

Screenshot of the James E. Brittain PLC Website
20600 Eureka Rd #620, Taylor, MI 48180, USA

Taylor attorney James E. Brittain takes divorce, injury, and criminal cases across four southeast Michigan counties. Clients work with him directly from intake to resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Detroit?

Most bill hourly. Detroit family law attorneys usually require an upfront retainer and bill against it. Some offer flat fees for uncontested cases. Michigan ethics rules generally bar contingency fees in divorce.

How long does a divorce take in Michigan?

At least 60 days. Michigan requires a 60-day wait after filing when there are no minor children. With children, the wait is six months, though a judge can shorten it for hardship. Contested cases often take a year or longer.

What are the residency rules for filing in Wayne County?

Six months in Michigan, 10 days in the county. One spouse must have lived in Michigan for 180 days before filing. One spouse must also have lived in the filing county for at least 10 days. Detroit residents file with the Third Circuit Court's Family Division.

Is Michigan a no-fault divorce state?

Yes. You only need to show the marriage has broken down with no reasonable chance of saving it. You do not have to prove cheating or abuse. Fault can still affect how a judge divides property or sets spousal support.

How is property divided in a Michigan divorce?

Fairly, not always equally. Michigan follows equitable distribution. Judges often start near a 50/50 split and adjust for things like each spouse's earning power and contributions. Separate assets, such as an inheritance kept apart, may stay with one spouse.

How do Michigan courts decide custody?

By the child's best interests. Judges weigh 12 factors under state law. These include each parent's bond with the child, home stability, and willingness to support the other parent's relationship. The Friend of the Court often investigates and makes a recommendation.

Types of Divorce and Family Law Cases in Detroit

Uncontested Divorce. Both spouses agree on property, debts, and parenting. A lawyer drafts the judgment and handles the filing. These cases cost less and finish faster.

Contested Divorce. The spouses disagree on one or more major issues. The case moves through discovery, negotiation, and sometimes trial. Expect more hearings and higher legal fees.

High-Asset Divorce. Business interests, stock options, and real estate portfolios need careful valuation. Attorneys often bring in forensic accountants. Hidden income is a common dispute.

Child Support. Michigan sets support with the Michigan Child Support Formula. It looks at both parents' incomes, overnights, and child care costs. The Friend of the Court collects payments and enforces orders.

Alimony. Michigan has no fixed formula for spousal support. Judges look at the length of the marriage, each spouse's income, and the ability to pay. Support usually ends if the recipient remarries, unless the judgment says otherwise.

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements. These contracts set how assets and debts are split if the marriage ends. Full financial disclosure is key. An agreement signed under pressure may not hold up in court.

Post-Judgment Modifications. Custody, parenting time, and support can change after the divorce. The parent seeking a change must usually show a change in circumstances. Enforcement actions handle missed payments or ignored orders.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer in Detroit

Match the lawyer to your court. Detroit cases go through Wayne County, while suburban filings land in Oakland or Macomb County. A lawyer who appears there often knows the local judges and procedures.

Ask about their approach to settlement. Some attorneys push for negotiation and mediation. Others build every case for trial. Pick the style that fits how much conflict you expect.

Look for financial depth in complex cases. If you own a business or have large retirement accounts, ask who handles valuations. Find out which experts the firm works with.

Get the fee terms in writing. Ask about the retainer, the hourly rate, and who on staff bills for what. Ask how often youwill receive invoices.

Check their standing with the State Bar. The State Bar of Michigan lists each attorney's license status and any public discipline.

What Affects the Outcome of a Michigan Divorce Settlement

No two settlements look alike. The length of the marriage, both spouses' incomes, and the value of shared assets carry the most weight. Children change the picture, since parenting time drives child support. Fault, such as hiding money or abuse, can shift the property split. A local divorce attorney can review your situation and explain a realistic range.

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