You must live in Michigan for 180 days before you file your complaint for divorce. You must reside in the county in which you file for at least ten days before you file. The out of state spouse is simply given a bit more time, an additional week, to respond to the Summons and Complaint. Quite often divorces settle out of court. There are many reasons for this.
Cost is a factor.
Mediation is often successful in bringing the parties to an agreement. And almost no one wants their future, the future of their children and their property rights determined by a third party. A very good exercise is to actually sit in on a court session conducted by your divorce judge. No, not in Michigan. An attorney can have only one employer.