Michigan
How to Get a Michigan Death Certificate (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited June 14, 2026). · 5 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
You can get a Michigan death certificate from the MDHHS Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics or from the county clerk where the death occurred. Anyone may request a certified copy with a written application. The first certified copy costs $34, and each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $16.
How Do You Get a Death Certificate in Michigan?
You get a Michigan death certificate from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, or from the county clerk in the county where the death occurred. Both issue certified copies.
The state office holds Michigan death records dating back to 1867. For a recent death, the local county clerk is often the fastest option because copies are usually available there within a few days of the death being registered.
There are several ways to request a copy. You can order online, by mail, or in person.
Order online through VitalChek, the state-authorized vendor linked from the MDHHS vital records website. A credit or debit card is required, and expedited shipping options are available.
Order by mail by sending a completed Application for a Certified Copy (Michigan Death Record), a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee to the state office in Lansing.
Order in person by dropping your sealed application, ID copy, and payment in the drop box in the main lobby at 333 S. Grand Ave., Lansing, MI 48933, open Monday through Friday. You can also visit the county clerk where the death occurred.
Who Is Eligible to Request a Michigan Death Certificate?
Anyone is eligible to request a certified copy of a Michigan death record. Death records in Michigan are treated as public for certified-copy purposes, so you do not need to prove a family relationship or a specific legal interest.
To complete the request, you must submit it in writing on the proper application and prepay the required search fee. You also need to provide a copy of valid government-issued photo identification, such as a driver license or state ID.
This open access is one way death records differ from Michigan birth records, which are restricted and generally available only to the person named, a parent, an heir, a legal guardian, or a legal representative.
Michigan Death Certificate Cost and Processing Time
The first certified copy of a Michigan death certificate costs $34, which includes the search of the records. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $16.
The $34 search fee is non-refundable even if no record is found, because it pays for the staff search rather than the document itself. Order extra copies up front to save money, since families often need several copies to settle an estate, close accounts, and claim benefits.
Regular processing at the state office takes roughly 4 to 5 weeks. Expedited (rush) service is available for an additional $12 and takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Neither timeframe includes mailing time or the few days needed for payment processing.
County clerks generally process certified copies much faster for deaths that occurred in that county, often the same day or within a few days when you order in person.
Certified vs Informational Copy in Michigan
Michigan issues certified copies of death records, which are official documents bearing the state or county seal. A certified copy is what banks, insurers, courts, and the probate process accept as legal proof of death.
Unlike some states, Michigan does not publish a separate informational or non-certified death certificate for general public use. When you order from the state or a county clerk, you receive a certified copy.
If you only need to confirm details for genealogy, older historical death records may be searched, but for any legal or financial purpose you will want the certified copy.
How to Get Additional or Replacement Copies
To get additional or replacement copies, submit a new written application to MDHHS Vital Records or the county clerk and pay the applicable fee. There is no special process for replacements; each copy is ordered the same way as the first.
If you order extra copies at the same time as your original request, you pay the discounted $16 rate per additional copy. If you come back later for more, you pay the full $34 first-copy fee again because it triggers a new search.
For a lost certified copy, order a fresh certified copy the same way. Michigan does not reissue a previously printed certificate; it prints a new certified copy from the registered record.
| Item | Michigan |
|---|---|
| Issuing office | MDHHS Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; county clerk where death occurred |
| First certified copy fee | $34 (includes record search) |
| Each additional copy (same time) | $16 |
| Processing time | Regular 4 to 5 weeks; expedited 2 to 3 weeks (plus mailing) |
| Eligibility | Anyone, with a written application and prepaid fee |
Disclaimer: This page provides general information, not legal advice. Fees, processing times, and procedures can change. Confirm current details with the MDHHS Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics or the appropriate county clerk before ordering.
Sources
This page is based on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics and the federal CDC where-to-write vital records guidance.
Related: Michigan Death Records and Death Records by State.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Michigan death certificate?
The first certified copy of a Michigan death certificate is $34, which includes the record search. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $16. Expedited (rush) service costs an extra $12.
How long does it take to get a Michigan death certificate?
Regular state processing takes about 4 to 5 weeks, and expedited service takes about 2 to 3 weeks, not counting mailing time. County clerks can often provide certified copies the same day or within a few days for deaths that occurred locally.
Who can get a Michigan death certificate?
Anyone may obtain a certified copy of a Michigan death record. You simply submit a written application, provide a copy of valid photo ID, and prepay the fee. No proof of family relationship is required.
Can I get a Michigan death certificate online?
Yes. You can order a certified Michigan death certificate online through VitalChek, the state-authorized vendor linked from the MDHHS vital records website. A credit or debit card is required, and expedited shipping is available.
What is the difference between a certified and informational copy in Michigan?
A certified copy is an official document with the state or county seal that is accepted for estates, insurance, and other legal uses. Michigan issues certified copies and does not publish a separate informational (non-certified) death certificate for general public use.
How do I get extra copies of a Michigan death certificate?
Order additional copies on the same application to pay $16 each. If you request more copies later, you submit a new application and pay the $34 first-copy fee again because it triggers a new record search.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Michigan Compiled Laws
§ 333.2882Issuance of certain certified copies; request; fee; request of adopted adult or confidential intermediary; phrase to be marked on certificate provided under subsection (2) or (3)In forcecited in 10 of our articles
(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 2890, on receipt of a written request and payment of the prescribed fee, if any, the state registrar or local registrar shall issue the appropriate 1 of the following: (a) A certified copy of a live birth record, an affidavit of parentage filed after June 1, 1997, or a certificate or other record of stillbirth filed after June 1, 2003 to 1 of the following: (i) The individual who is the subject of the record. (ii) A parent named in the record. (iii) An heir, a legal representative, or a legal guardian of the individual who is the subject of the record. (iv) A court of competent jurisdiction. (b) If the live birth record is 100 or more years old, a certified copy of the live birth record to any applicant. (c) A certified copy of a death record, including the cause of death, to any applicant. (d) A certified copy of a marriage or divorce record to any applicant, except as provided by rule. (e) A certified copy of a fetal death record that was filed before September 30, 1978, to any applicant.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legislature.mi.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 1991
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Swickard v. Wayne County Medical Examiner (Michigan Supreme Court 1991, 438 Mich. 536)“…0X1).] Death certificates are made public records by MCL 333.2882; MSA 14.15(2882). The Legislature has n…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Are Cause of Death Records Public? How to Find One, Free or Paid, Michigan Adoption Records: Original Birth Certificates and Registry Clearance, Michigan Birth Certificate: Fees, Wait Times and Who Can Order One
Sources and References
- MDHHS Vital Records - Order a Copy of a Vital Record(michigan.gov).gov
- MDHHS Vital Records - Certified Copies Eligibility(michigan.gov).gov
- MDHHS Application for a Certified Copy - Michigan Death Record(michigan.gov).gov
- MDHHS Vital Records - Order a Record by Mail(michigan.gov).gov
- CDC - Where to Write for Vital Records: Michigan(cdc.gov).gov