User:Mindistevens/Sandbox/MichiganDeaths

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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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record:


 * Deaths before 1867
 * Deaths from 1867 thru 1897
 * Deaths from 1897 thru 1920
 * Deaths from 1921 thru 1952
 * Deaths after 1952 to the present
 * I don't know when the death is


 * }

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.

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: For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1897 thru 1920
The state of Michigan began recording deaths in 1867.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information
For deaths that exist during this 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: For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

'''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 1970
With an exact date (from your records or the index 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: For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

Restrictions for persons born who died within the last 50 years: To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:


 * The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate
 * The spouse of the person on the certificate
 * The child or grandchild of the person on the certificate
 * The sibling of the person on the certificate
 * Funeral director
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

'''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

Related Wiki Articles

 * How to Find United States Birth Records
 * Learn more about U.S. Death Records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * United States Birth Records
 * United States Marriage Records