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? |
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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: | ||
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 for free | |||
| Can't access Ancestry? | 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.