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Death certificates

Death certificates in Michigan

In Michigan, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $34 from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $16. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.

Last checked on the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.

How to order in Michigan

Ordering a certified copy of a death certificate in Michigan
OfficeMichigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics
First certified copy$34
Each extra copy, same order$16

The $34 fee covers a one-year search and one copy. Rush processing adds $12. VitalChek online and phone orders add a $14 processing fee.

Who can orderDeath records are not restricted in Michigan. Anyone can order a certified copy.
ID you needThe office says a photo ID is not required for a death record request.
Ways to orderOnline, by mail or in person.

The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee.

At the state office in Lansing by appointment only, Tuesdays and Thursdays. A lobby drop box and VitalChek Will Call pickup are also available.

How long it takesThe office currently lists 10 to 12 weeks for regular orders and 8 to 10 weeks for expedited orders.

Do funeral homes order the first copies?

Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.

For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.

Questions people ask

How much is a death certificate in Michigan?
$34 for the first certified copy from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, and $16 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The $34 fee covers a one-year search and one copy. Rush processing adds $12. VitalChek online and phone orders add a $14 processing fee.
Who can order a death certificate in Michigan?
Death records are not restricted in Michigan. Anyone can order a certified copy.
How do I order a death certificate in Michigan?
You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. The office says a photo ID is not required for a death record request.

Sources

  1. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics: www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/vitalrecords/order-a-copy-of-a-vital-record
  2. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics: www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Folder1/Folder3/deathapp.pdf
  3. CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
  4. FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)