Get a Birth Certificate in Kalkaska County, MI
Here's what to expect at the County Clerk — fees, what to bring, and where to go.
Kalkaska 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 — and who is allowed to ask
- Photo identification. A Michigan birth record is restricted: MCL 333.2882(1)(a) lets the registrar issue a certified copy only to the person named on it, a parent named in the record, an heir, legal representative or legal guardian, or a court — so you will be asked to prove which of those you are.
- Proof of relationship if you are not the subject. A parent who is not named on the record, and a sibling, grandparent or cousin, are not on the statutory list; an heir or legal representative brings the document that makes them one.
- The name at birth, the date, and the county of birth. The clerk holds records for births that happened in this county.
- Payment in a form this office takes — several Michigan clerks are cash, check or money order only at the counter.
A birth record 100 or more years old is open to anyone under MCL 333.2882(1)(b), so genealogy requests that far back need no relationship at all.
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 (231) 258-3349 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 ($14.00 if you are 65+ requesting your own record), $12.00 per extra year searched, $16.00 per additional copy, $12.00 to expedite.
This page shows the best information we have for Kalkaska County. Fees and hours may vary — call ahead to confirm before visiting.