Michigan Death Certificates - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Michigan

What is in the Collection?
The collection consists of an index to death records from the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics in Lansing for the years 1921 to 1952. These records are also available on the Seeking Michigan website.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
The records usually contain the following information:


 * Name of deceased
 * Death date and place
 * Birth date and place
 * Age
 * Marital status
 * Names of parents
 * Name of spouse
 * Race
 * Gender
 * Residence
 * Name and relationship of informant

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor.
 * The date of death.
 * The place of death.
 * The names of family members and their relationships.

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in the requested information on the initial search page. Look at the list of entries created by your search. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information on about more than one person to find your ancestor. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.

Be aware that search returns may include a GS Film Number. This is not a searchable Family History Library microfilm number and will not lead you to images for your ancestor. The full record can be obtained from Michigan Department of Community Health.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s death record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Make a photocopy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * Use the names and relationships as a basis for compiling family groups.
 * Use the names, date, and residence or place to locate the individual or family in the census.
 * Use the names and places to locate additional records about the individual or family such as church and land records.
 * Look for burial and probate records in the same location.
 * The informant is often a close relative.
 * If no birth date is given, use age listed to determine an approximate birth date.
 * If the deceased is a child, look for records of the parents.
 * Be aware that search returns may include a GS Film Number. This is not a searchable Family History Library microfilm number and will not lead you to images for your ancestor. The full record can be obtained from Michigan Department of Community Health.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities.
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor.
 * There is also the possibility that a family was missed in the census.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Top of Page