Michigan Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One

Michigan is an open-record state for death certificates. Under the Public Health Code, a certified copy of a Michigan death record, including the cause of death, may be issued to any applicant who completes a signed application and pays the fee. There is no waiting period before death records become public.

Are Death Records Public in Michigan?

Yes. Michigan is an open-record state for death certificates. Anyone may request a certified copy of a Michigan death record, regardless of their relationship to the deceased.

This is set out in the Michigan Public Health Code, Act 368 of 1978. Under MCL 333.2882(1)(c), the state issues a certified copy of a death record, including the cause of death, to any applicant.

Unlike Michigan birth records, which are restricted to the person named or close family, death records carry no eligibility limit. The only requirements are a completed and signed application plus prepayment of the search fee.

There is also no waiting period. Some states close death records for 25, 50, or 75 years before they become public. Michigan does not. A death record is available to any applicant as soon as it is filed.

This open framework is a state matter. As the CDC National Center for Health Statistics explains, there is no national death-records database. Each state issues and controls its own vital records.

Who Can Request a Michigan Death Record?

Any applicant can request a certified Michigan death certificate. You do not need to prove a family relationship or a legal interest in the record.

To order, you complete the official MDHHS application, sign it, and pay the fee. With a mailed request, you must include a photocopy of your own valid government-issued photo ID. In-person requests at the state office also require ID.

The applicant provides the decedent details needed to locate the record. This generally includes the full name at death, the date of death, and the place of death (city or county), which helps the office search efficiently.

Because eligibility is open, funeral directors, attorneys, insurers, genealogists, and members of the public can all obtain certified copies. This is different from many states that limit certified death certificates to immediate family.

How to Get a Michigan Death Certificate

Michigan death certificates are issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, in Lansing. You can order by mail, online through the state authorized vendor, or in person.

The fee is $34.00 for the record search and the first certified copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $16.00. Mail requests can add a $12.00 expedited search fee for faster processing.

For mail orders, send the signed application, a photocopy of your ID, and payment by check or money order payable to the State of Michigan to:

Vital Records Request, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909.

Standard mail processing runs roughly 4 to 6 weeks of in-office time, depending on volume. Online orders placed through the state authorized vendor are typically faster, and in-person visits to the Lansing office can often be handled the same day.

Many Michigan county clerks also issue certified copies of deaths that occurred in their county, which can be a quicker local option. Always confirm current fees and turnaround with the office before you send payment.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Michigan?

Yes. In Michigan, the cause of death is printed on the standard certified copy and is available to any applicant. It is not treated as confidential or sold separately.

MCL 333.2882(1)(c) specifically authorizes a certified copy of a death record, including the cause of death, to any applicant. This makes Michigan more open than states that mask cause of death on public copies.

This matters for probate, insurance claims, and genealogical research, where the medical cause of death is often the reason the record is requested. For more on how states treat this data, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?.

Related death-investigation records, such as a medical examiner autopsy report, are governed by separate rules and are not part of the vital-records certificate. See Are Autopsies Public Records? for how those documents are handled.

How Far Back Do Michigan Death Records Go?

The MDHHS state office holds Michigan death records filed since 1867, according to the CDC where-to-write guidance. Some early records, especially pre-1897 deaths, were never filed with the state.

For deaths not on file at the state level, the county clerk where the death occurred may hold the record. Older genealogical death indexes for Michigan are also maintained through the state archives and library systems.

For nationwide research, the Social Security Death Index is a common starting point. Note that the public Social Security Death Master File excludes deaths within the most recent three calendar years under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, so very recent deaths will not appear there.

To compare access rules in other states, see Death Records by State. You may also want Are Birth Certificates Public Records? for the related restricted-record framework.

Michigan Death Records at a Glance

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about public-records access in Michigan, not legal advice. Vital-records rules, fees, and processing times change. Always verify the current requirements with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or the relevant county clerk before ordering.

Sources

This article cites the Michigan Public Health Code, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Vital Records office, the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, and the Social Security Administration; full source links are listed below.