Get a Death Certificate in Jackson County, MI
Here's what to expect at the County Clerk — fees, what to bring, and where to go.
Jackson County does not publish its own certified-copy fee. $34.00 is the statutory maximum, not this county's price. MCL § 333.2891(4) sets $34.00 for a search including one certified copy and $16.00 for each additional identical copy ordered at the same time, and § 2891(18)(a) lets the governing body adopt fees “less than or equal to” those. Forty-eight of Michigan's 83 counties publish a figure and not one of them charges the cap — they run from $10.00 (Missaukee, Chippewa, Delta, Baraga, Gogebic, Leelanau, Mecosta, Montmorency, Ontonagon) to $30.00 (Ingham and Livingston), with $15.00 the commonest by a wide margin. Expect to pay less than $34.00 here too. Call to confirm before you travel.
What to bring
- The name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death occurred.
- Photo identification for yourself. Unlike a birth record, a Michigan death record is NOT restricted — MCL 333.2882(1)(c) has the registrar issue a certified copy "to any applicant", cause of death included — but the office will still identify you and record the request.
- Payment in a form this office takes — several Michigan clerks are cash, check or money order only at the counter.
If you need several copies, ask for them in one visit: the additional-copy rate is lower than the first-copy rate everywhere it is published.
Births and deaths in Michigan are held by the county where the event happened, and the county clerk acts as local registrar (MCL § 333.2815). The state registrar in Lansing can also issue a copy by post for $34.00, so the counter is usually cheaper and faster. Call 517-788-4268 to confirm.
This is the STATE postal application. Your County Clerk can usually issue a copy over the counter for less — try there first. Fees on this form: $34.00 base, $12.00 per extra year searched, $16.00 per additional copy, $12.00 to expedite.
This page shows the best information we have for Jackson County. Fees and hours may vary — call ahead to confirm before visiting.