How to Find Michigan Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Michigan Deaths

Michigan was admitted into the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. Death records for each county, with copies also sent to the state, began no later than January 1867, although registration of all vital records was certainly not enforced. A 1905 law was much more effective, and was generally complied with by 1915.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Death Records Choose a time period: Deaths before 1867 Deaths from 1867 thru 1897 Deaths from 1897 thru 1920 Deaths from 1921 thru 1952 Deaths after 1952 to the present Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1867

Before 1867, deaths were not recorded formally by the county or state. However, approximately 10,000 deaths between 1800 and 1867 are indexed in the following database:

Michigan Deaths Database - Includes Index only
	1800-1995 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; dates vary by county.

If your ancestor's death was not found in this database, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1867 thru 1897

The state of Michigan began recording deaths in 1867. There are no restrictions on Death records for Michigan.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Michigan Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1867-1897 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; name index and images of Michigan statewide death registration entries
Next try:
Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1867 - 1897 Michigan Dept. of Health	Free; (full index seems to end circa 1885/1886 with only a few entries from 1887-1897)
	1800-1995 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; name index to death and burial records from the state of Michigan
Ancestry Database: Includes Index Only
	1867 - 1995 use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1867-1995 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available for free through your local public library.
	Can't access Ancestry?	Go to Step Two Part B listed below. You may be able to order the birth record for your ancestor from the Michigan Department of Health.
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

Part A: You know the exact date of death

With an exact date of death (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From MI Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

There are no restrictions for ordering death records in Michigan.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of death

If you do not know the exact date or place of death, the fee paid to the Michigan State Department of Health includes a 1 year search. Searches for additional years are available for an additional fee.

There are no restrictions for ordering death records in Michigan.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1897 thru 1920

The state of Michigan began recording deaths in 1867. There are no restrictions on Death records for Michigan.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Michigan Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1897 - 1920 SeekingMichigan.org	Free; name index and images of Michigan statewide death registration entries
Next try:
Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1800-1995 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; name index to death and burial records from the state of Michigan
	1897 - 1920 use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1897 - 1920 use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
	1867 - 1995 use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1867-1995 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
	Can't search the index listed above?	Try searching other records for death information.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From MI Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
The fee paid to the Michigan State Department of Health includes a 1 year search. Searches for additional years are available for an additional fee.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1921 thru 1952

The state of Michigan began recording deaths in 1867. There are no restrictions on Death records for Michigan.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Michigan Deaths Databases - Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1921-1952 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; index of death records from the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics in Lansing.
	1800-1995 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; name index to death and burial records from the state of Michigan
	1867 - 1995 use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1867-1995 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
	Can't search the index listed above?	Try searching other records for death information.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From MI Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
The fee paid to the Michigan State Department of Health includes a 1 year search. Searches for additional years are available for an additional fee.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1952 thru 1995

The state of Michigan began recording deaths in 1867. There are no restrictions on Death records for Michigan.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Michigan Deaths Databases - Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	1800-1995 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; name index to death and burial records from the state of Michigan
	1867-1995 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
	1971 - 1995 use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1971 - 1995 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
	1971-1996 - At FamilySearch.org]	Free; index of deaths from the Michigan Department of Vital and Health Records in Lansing.
	Can't search the index listed above?	Try searching other records for death information.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From MI Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
The fee paid to the Michigan State Department of Health includes a 1 year search. Searches for additional years are available for an additional fee.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1995

There are no restrictions on Death records for Michigan. With an exact date (from your records or the indexes above), you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From MI Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
The fee paid to the Michigan State Department of Health includes a 1 year search. Searches for additional years are available for an additional fee.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

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• Learn more about U.S. Death Records
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