-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MCQDkrqkLRpFM+TgdbIcVWTmT/lD/UNWrNzEg1F/9+QV9FDpctyHEcA7p37Mqmjc
 lSN6o8jQFB7VNcmrjHdHKQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000905729-05-000073.txt : 20050207
<SEC-HEADER>0000905729-05-000073.hdr.sgml : 20050207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050207164800
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000905729-05-000073
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050207

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019612
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				382022454
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 E MAIN ST
		CITY:			MIDLAND
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48640
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5176313310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILROY JAMES R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015752
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08185
		FILM NUMBER:		05581020

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		823 RIVERVIEW DR
		CITY:			BENTON HARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6169272251

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		823 RIVERVIEW DR
		STREET 2:		C/O SHORELINE BANK P O BOX 1248
		CITY:			BENTON HARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019612</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHFC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILROY JAMES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>333 EAST MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48640</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. Vice President and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>860.756</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.19</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8013</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15797</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By wife in trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Between 10/1/04 and 1/31/05 the reporting person acquired 46.006 shares of Chemical Financial Corporation stock under the Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person disclaims any beneficial ownership of all shares owned by his wife.  The filing of this statement shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or for any other purpose, the beneficial owner of the securities owned by his wife.  All amounts reported have been adjusted to reflect 5% stock dividend paid January 28, 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James R. Milroy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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