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How to order a Michigan birth certificate

Who holds it: MDHHS Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics (from 1867); local registrars may also issue1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Fees
  3. Who may order and what is restricted
  4. Older records and indexes
  5. More details
  6. Related records in Michigan
  7. How Michigan handles it
  8. Birth certificates in Michigan counties with a full guide
  9. Official warnings
  10. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  11. Sources

Fee

$34.00 search including one certified copy2

Who may order

Subject, parent named on record, legal heir, court-appointed guardian, POA that specifically grants vital records access, licensed attorney for subject or parents1

Processing time

Regular 10 - 12 Weeks; expedited 8 - 10 Weeks1

How to search and order

Online ordering
VitalChek is the only authorized online provider1
How to order
Mail, online, phone, drop box, or in-person appointment at 333 South Grand Avenue, Lansing1

Fees

Online fee
Standard record: $34 search fee plus $14 online processing fee1
Senior fee
$14.00 for own record at 65 or older1
Local fees
Local units may charge less; a charter county over 1,500,000 may charge more2
Other state fees
Additional authenticated copies ordered at the same time $26.00 each; verification of facts $18.00; expedited search for an authenticated copy $25.002

Who may order and what is restricted

Restrictions
Restricted unless 100 or more years old3

Older records and indexes

Additional years
$12.00 per additional year searched2

More details

Local issuance
State registrar or local registrar issues3
Authenticated
Authenticated copy $42.00 (MDHHS: Apostille/Exemplified Record, for use outside the USA)2
Additional copies
$16.00 each additional identical copy ordered at the same time2
Expedited
$12.00 expedited search2
Death certificates: who holds it
MDHHS Vital Records from 1867; local registrars may issue1
Death certificates: fee
$34.00 search including one certified copy2
Older records: birth historical
Birth records: timeline shows 1919 as latest researcher access year4
Older records: birth genealogy time
MDHHS birth genealogy orders: regular 12 - 16 weeks1

How Michigan handles it

  • Charter county fee differences (vital records). Charter county over 1,500,000 may charge more for vital records, capped at cost2

Birth certificates in Michigan counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Allegan CountyCounty Clerk - Vital Records Office5—$10 for first copy; $4 for each additional6
Bay CountyBay County Clerk7—$15.00 first copy; $5.00 each additional; free in person for Bay County residents 60 and over8
Calhoun CountyClerk and Register of Deeds, Vital Records9—First copy $20.00; seniors 60+ $10.00; each additional $5.009
Clinton CountyCounty Clerk's Office10—$15 first certified, $5 each additional; 65 and over $7 first, $5 each additional11
Eaton CountyCounty Clerk's Office12—$20 first copy, $10 each additional13
Genesee CountyCounty Clerk - Vital Records Division14—$25.00 first copy, $10.00 each additional same record; $5.00 for own record at 65+15
Grand Traverse CountyCounty Clerk Vital Records16—$15 first copy; $5 each additional at the same time; age 65+ for own record $717
Ingham CountyIngham County Clerk18—Certified copy fee: $30.00 first copy; $15.00 additional copies of the same record; $45.00 expedited postage; credit card minimum $2.00 service fee19
Jackson CountyJackson County Clerk - Vital Records, Elections20—$15 first certified copy, $5 each additional; age 65+: $7 first, $3 each additional21
Kalamazoo CountyClerk / Register of Deeds: Vital Records22—$20 first copy; $7 each additional same record; online +$10.00 convenience fee (fees effective January 1, 2025)23
Kent CountyCounty Clerk's Office24—$10 first copy; $3 each additional copy of the same record; convenience fee online25
Lapeer CountyLapeer County Clerk (records of births, deaths and marriages occurring in Lapeer County)26——
Lenawee CountyCounty Clerk Vital Records27—$16.00 first copy; $6.00 each additional27
Livingston CountyCounty Clerk – Vital Records28—Certified copy fee: $30.00; additional copies of the same record at the same time $15.00 each; age 65+ own birth record $14.0029
Macomb CountyClerk's Office Vital Records Department30—$15 one certified copy; $5 each additional copy of the same record30
Midland CountyMidland County Clerk31—$14.00 first certified copy; $6.00 each additional of same record at same time32
Monroe CountyCounty Clerk, Vital Records window33—$12 first copy; $5 each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time33
Muskegon CountyMuskegon County Clerk - Vital Records34—$20 first certified copy, $10 each additional copy of the same record at the same time34
Oakland CountyClerk/Register of Deeds - Vital Records Division35—$15 first copy; $10 first copy for seniors 65+ (own record); $5 each additional copy36
Ottawa CountyCounty Clerk & Register of Deeds, Vital Records Division37—$15 first copy; $6 additional copies same record, same day38
Saginaw CountySaginaw County Clerk39—In person $15 first copy and $7 each additional; mail/drop box $16 first and $7 additional; online starts at $2640
St. Clair CountySt. Clair County Clerk's Office41—$15.00 for one copy and $6.00 each additional copy42
Washtenaw CountyClerk / Register: Vital Records Division43—$15 first copy; $5 each additional same record same time; $5 senior (65+) own certificate44
Wayne CountyWayne County Clerk - Birth & Death Records Division / Vital Statistics Records Office45—$24 first certified copy, $7 each additional; seniors 65+ own record $2 first, $3 additional46

For any other county, see the county list on the Michigan guide.

Official warnings

  • VitalChek only authorized online vendor (authorization statement, not a scam alert). MDHHS names VitalChek as the only authorized online provider (MDHHS)1

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Michigan office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: birth certificates in every state. Everything else in Michigan: Michigan public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Order Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce RecordsMDHHSchecked November 4, 2026
  2. 333.2891 Search for vital record; request; fee; official statement if record not locatedMichigan Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  3. 333.2882 Issuance of certain certified copies; request; fee; request of adopted adult orMichigan Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  4. Vital Records: History of Michigan's Vital Records (Michiganology)Archives of Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  5. County Clerk - Vital Records Office | Allegan County, MIAllegan Countychecked November 7, 2026
  6. Fee Schedule | Allegan County, MIAllegan Countychecked November 7, 2026
  7. Bay County, MI home pageBay County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  8. Birth CertificatesBay County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  9. Calhoun County, MICalhoun County, Michiganchecked November 7, 2026
  10. Vital Records Search | Clinton County, MIClinton County, Michiganarchived copychecked November 7, 2026
  11. Birth Records | Clinton County, MIClinton County, Michiganarchived copychecked November 7, 2026
  12. County Clerk's OfficeEaton County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  13. Vital Records - Birth, Marriage, DeathEaton County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  14. County Clerk & Register of DeedsGenesee County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  15. Certified Copies of Birth, Death and Marriage RecordsGenesee County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  16. Vital Records & Elections OfficeGrand Traverse County, Michiganchecked November 7, 2026
  17. Birth Record FeesGrand Traverse County, Michiganchecked November 7, 2026
  18. Ingham County - Vital RecordsIngham County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Ingham County - Birth CertificatesIngham County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  20. County ClerkJackson County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Birth RecordsJackson County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  22. Vital RecordsKalamazoo County Governmentchecked November 4, 2026
  23. Birth RecordsKalamazoo County Governmentchecked November 4, 2026
  24. Vital RecordsKent County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  25. Order Birth CertificatesKent County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  26. ClerkLapeer Countychecked November 7, 2026
  27. Certified Vital RecordsLenawee County, Michiganchecked November 7, 2026
  28. Vital RecordsLivingston County, MIchecked November 4, 2026
  29. Birth RecordsLivingston County, MIchecked November 4, 2026
  30. Birth recordsMacomb County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  31. County DepartmentsMidland County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  32. Birth RecordsMidland County Clerkchecked November 4, 2026
  33. Certified Copies | Monroe County, MIMonroe County, Michiganchecked November 7, 2026
  34. Birth, Death, & Marriage RecordsMuskegon Countychecked November 4, 2026
  35. Life Events & ServicesOakland County Clerk/Register of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  36. Birth RecordsOakland County Clerk/Register of Deedschecked November 4, 2026
  37. Vital Records Division | Ottawa County, MIOttawa Countychecked November 4, 2026
  38. Birth Certificates | Ottawa County, MIOttawa Countychecked November 4, 2026
  39. County of Saginaw home pageSaginaw County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  40. Birth CertificatesSaginaw County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  41. Birth Certificate Request -St. Clair County, Michiganchecked November 6, 2026
  42. Angie Waters, County Clerk/Register of DeedsSt. Clair County, Michiganchecked November 6, 2026
  43. Vital RecordsWashtenaw County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  44. Birth CertificatesWashtenaw County, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  45. General Office (Clerk)Charter County of Wayne, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026
  46. Birth CertificatesCharter County of Wayne, Michiganchecked November 4, 2026