MichiganRadio

Courts Test Lawyer-Free Divorces ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Some Michigan couples who want to get a divorce will be able to do it without a lawyer.

The Michigan Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to Gratiot and Clinton counties for a three-year test of lawyer-free divorces.

Michelle Rick is a 29th Circuit Court judge. She's taking part in the pilot project.

Rick says not everyone will qualify.

"They'd have to be low income," Rick says. "They didn't have real property. They didn't have pensions or retirement accounts, life insurance policies. They also didn't have any allegations of domestic violence or abuse or neglect."

Rick says the couples will meet with the judge three times to discuss child custody and other issues.

She says its hoped the program will help ease the court docket,and make divorce more accessible to people who can't afford an attorney.
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