Birth

Michigan law required the registration of births with the state, starting in 1867. Some birth records, particularly those prior to 1906, were not filed with the state, but they may be available at the county level.

Michigan law restricts the viewing of birth records less than 100 years old to the individual named on the certificate, either parent named on the record, a legal guardian, a legal representative of an eligible person, or any heir. To be considered an heir you must be related to the person whose record you are requesting and that person must be deceased. Anyone is eligible to receive a birth record if that birth occurred more than 100 years.

Birth records can be ordered from the Michigan Department of Community Health or county clerk offices.

Some birth records are available on MIGenWeb sites. The Early Michigan Births Database, a project of the Michigan Family History Network, has also birth information submitted by genealogists.

For more information about birth records, see Chapter 3 of Michigan Genealogy.

A companion site for the book Michigan Genealogy.
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