How to Find Michigan Birth Records: Difference between revisions

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:<span style="font-size:120%">'''Birth Records'''</span>  
{{Block indent|1=<span style="font-size:120%">'''Birth Records'''</span> |2=1}}
:<span style="font-size:120%">Choose a time period:</span>
{{Block indent|1=<span style="font-size:120%">Choose a time period:</span>|2=1}}


:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Michigan Birth Records#Births_before_1867|Before 1867]]'''</span>  
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Michigan Birth Records#Births_before_1867|Before 1867]]'''</span> |2=1}}
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Michigan Birth Records#Births_from_1867_thru_1911|1867 thru 1911]]''' </span>  
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Michigan Birth Records#Births_from_1867_thru_1911|1867 thru 1911]]''' </span> |2=1}}
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Michigan Birth Records#Births_from_1912_thru_Present|1912 thru Present]]'''</span>  
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Find Michigan Birth Records#Births_from_1912_thru_Present|1912 thru Present]]'''</span> |2=1}}
:*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Birth Information|Birth year unknown]]'''</span>
{{Block indent|1=*<span style="font-size:120%">'''[[How to Estimate United States Birth Information|Birth year unknown]]'''</span>|2=1}}


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:[[Michigan Vital Records#State_Records_of_Births_and_Deaths|Death Records]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Vital Records#State_Records_of_Births_and_Deaths|Death Records]] }}
:[[Michigan Cemeteries|Cemetery Records]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Cemeteries|Cemetery Records]] }}
:[[Michigan Newspapers|Newspapers]]
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Newspapers|Newspapers]]}}


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:[[Michigan Church Records|Church Records]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Church Records|Church Records]] }}
:[[Michigan Census|Census]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Census|Census]] }}
:[[Michigan Military Records|Military Records]]
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Military Records|Military Records]]}}


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:[[Michigan Vital Records#State_Records_of_Births_and_Deaths|Death Records]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Vital Records#State_Records_of_Births_and_Deaths|Death Records]] }}
:[[Michigan Cemeteries|Cemetery Records]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Cemeteries|Cemetery Records]] }}
:[[Michigan Newspapers|Newspapers]]
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Newspapers|Newspapers]]}}


| width="35%" |  
| width="35%" |  
:[[Michigan Church Records|Church Records]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Church Records|Church Records]] }}
:[[Michigan Census|Census]]  
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Census|Census]] }}
:[[Michigan Military Records|Military Records]]
{{Block indent|[[Michigan Military Records|Military Records]]}}


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'''''Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:'''''<br> To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born in Michigan the following restrictions may apply. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">State law restricts who may obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate. A certified copy may be issued to:</span>  
'''''Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:'''''<br> To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born in Michigan the following restrictions may apply. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">State law restricts who may obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate. A certified copy may be issued to:</span>  


:*The person named on the record.  
{{Block indent|*The person named on the record. }}
:*A parent named on the record.  
{{Block indent|*A parent named on the record. }}
:*A legal guardian of the person named on the record.  
{{Block indent|*A legal guardian of the person named on the record. }}
:*A legally licensed representative of the person named on the record.  
{{Block indent|*A legally licensed representative of the person named on the record. }}
:*An heir if the person on the record is deceased.  
{{Block indent|*An heir if the person on the record is deceased. }}
:*A court of competent jurisdiction.
{{Block indent|*A court of competent jurisdiction.}}


If you do not meet one of the above criteria, you cannot receive a certified copy of a birth certificate.  
If you do not meet one of the above criteria, you cannot receive a certified copy of a birth certificate.  
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[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Michigan_Vital_Records Michigan Vital Records]  
[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Michigan_Vital_Records Michigan Vital Records]  


:*[[How to Find United States Birth Records#Tips_about_Searching_United_States_Birth_Records|Learn more about U.S. birth records]]  
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Birth Records#Tips_about_Searching_United_States_Birth_Records|Learn more about U.S. birth records]] }}
:*[[How to Find United States Birth Records|How to find U.S. birth records]]  
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Birth Records|How to find U.S. birth records]] }}
:*[[How to Find United States Marriage Records|How to find U.S. marriage records]]  
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Marriage Records|How to find U.S. marriage records]] }}
:*[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to find U.S. death records]]  
{{Block indent|*[[How to Find United States Death Records|How to find U.S. death records]] }}
:*[[United States Record Finder|United States Record Finder ]]  
{{Block indent|*[[United States Record Finder|United States Record Finder ]] }}
:*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]]  
{{Block indent|*[[U.S. Vital Records Overview|U.S. Vital Records Overview]] }}
:*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]]  
{{Block indent|*[[United States Vital Records|United States Vital Records]] }}
:*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]]  
{{Block indent|*[[Locating United States Vital Records|Locating United States Vital Records]] }}
:*[[United States Death Records|United States Death Records ]]  
{{Block indent|*[[United States Death Records|United States Death Records ]] }}
:*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]
{{Block indent|*[[United States Marriage Records|United States Marriage Records]]}}


{{Michigan|Michigan}}[[Category:Michigan_Vital_Records]] [[Category:How-To Articles]]
{{Michigan|Michigan}}[[Category:Michigan_Vital_Records]] [[Category:How-To Articles]]

Latest revision as of 15:30, 19 August 2025

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? [edit | edit source]

Birth Records
Choose a time period:

Learn more about U.S. Birth Records

Births before 1867[edit | edit source]

Before 1867, births were not recorded formally by the county or the state. However, FamilySearch Historical Records includes an index of some pre-1867 births.

Michigan Births Databases - Includes Index Only
Try
1775-1995-At FamilySearch Free; Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995; Name index only to birth, baptism and christening records; Incomplete for all counties.


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

Records that give birth information:
Return to top: Choose another birth year


Births from 1867 thru 1911[edit | edit source]

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]


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

For births which occurred during this time period, try the following databases.

Michigan Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try
1775-1995-At FamilySearch Free; Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995; Name index only to birth, baptism and christening records; Incomplete for all counties.
Try:
1867-1917, index & images. Free; Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917
1867 - 1902 - At FamilySearch Free; Michigan Births, 1867-1902: Name index & images of Michigan statewide birth registration entries.
Try:

1867 -1911 - At Ancestry.com Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Michigan, Births and Christenings Index, 1867-1911; Indexes to Michigan birth, baptism and christening records.Find your local FamilySearch Center OR use your own Ancestry.com account.
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[edit | edit source]

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
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, 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.

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 1912 thru Present[edit | edit source]

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]

Currently there are no indexes to Michigan births later than 1911. To locate your ancestor's birth you must search substitute records for birth information.

Records that give birth information:

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate[edit | edit source]

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
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, 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.

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[edit | edit source]

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.
*A parent named on the record.
*A legal guardian of the person named on the record.
*A legally licensed representative of the person named on the record.
*An heir if the person on the record is deceased.
*A court of competent jurisdiction.

If you do not meet one of the above criteria, you cannot receive a certified copy of a birth certificate.

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[edit | edit source]

Michigan

Michigan Online Genealogy Records

Michigan Vital Records