How to Find Michigan Birth Records

How to Find United States Births Michigan Michigan Births

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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 required more effective record keeping and was generally complied with by 1915.

Next Step: When did the birth occur?	Birth Records Choose a time period: Before 1867 1853 thru 1912 1913 thru 1930 1931 thru 1969 After 1969 to present Birth year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Birth Records

Births before 1867

Before 1867, births were not recorded formally by the county or the state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Records that give birth information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers	Church Records Census Military Records

Michigan Births Databases - Includes Index Only
Try
	{https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1675348 1775-1995	Free at FamilySearch: Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995; Name index only to birth, baptism and christening records; Incomplete for all counties. Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 18-- thru 19--

• 18-- - Michigan law required counties to record births
• Michigan was created from the state of ------ in ----
• From 18-- - 18,
• 19-- - Michigan Statewide birth registration began

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.

For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.

Michigan Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	Michigan Division of---------	Free;
Try 2nd:
	18-- - 19-- - At FamilySearch.org	Free;
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 19-- thru 19--

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Michigan Department of Health office.

Michigan Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
		Free;
Try 2nd:
	1-- 3-19-- - At FamilySearch.org	Free; not all counties are complete to 1930:
Next try:
Ancestry database: Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	18-- -19-- - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	18-- -19--  - use your own 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 State Office.
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

PART A: You know the exact date of birth

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

To Order Birth Certificates
From County of Birth		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

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

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

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

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:
For a fee, the Ohio Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

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

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 19-- thru 19--

Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Michigan Vital Registration office.

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

Ancestry Database: Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	18-- -19-- - use Ancestry Institution at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	18-- -19-- - 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 State Office.
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

PART A: You know the exact date of birth

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

To Order Birth Certificates
From County of Birth		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

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

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

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

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:
For a fee, the Michigan Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

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

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births after 19-- to the Present

PART A: You know the exact date of birth

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

To Order Birth Certificates
County From County of Birth		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

Michigan Birth Records#Restrictions_for_Obtaining_Birth_Records|list of restrictions]] for ordering birth records

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

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

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:
For a fee, the [Ohio Department of Health office] will do a 3 year search.

See list of restrictions for ordering birth records

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

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Restrictions for Obtaining Birth Records

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born in Michigan the following restrictions may apply. State law restricts who may obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate. A certified copy may be issued to:

• The person named on the record
• The current spouse of the person named on the record
• The current domestic partner of the person named on the record
• A parent of the person named on the record
• A sibling of the person named on the record
• A child of the person named on the record
• A grandparent of the person named on the record
• A person authorized in writing by one of the above. The written authorization must accompany the request and the relationship of the authorizing party to the subject of the record must be clearly explained.
• A person who can demonstrate that the record is required to protect a personal or property right.
• If you do not meet one of the above criteria, you cannot receive a certified copy of a birth certificate.
• An uncertified copy of a birth certificate is available to anyone who applies. An uncertified copy will contain the same information as a certified copy but will not be acceptable for legal purposes, such as obtaining identification.

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

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

Michigan

Michigan Online Genealogy Records

Michigan Vital Records

• Learn more about U.S. birth records
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• How to find U.S. marriage records
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• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Death Records
• United States Marriage Records [[Category:How_to_arti

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