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.

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Next Step: When did the death occur?

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 * 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


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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:

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.

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.

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:

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 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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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:

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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