Farmington Hills Death Records Search

Farmington Hills death records can be obtained directly from the Farmington Hills City Clerk for deaths that occurred in the city from July 1973 to the present. This is unusual in Michigan; most cities do not issue their own death certificates. For deaths before July 1973, or for deaths anywhere else in Oakland County, contact the Oakland County Clerk. This page explains both options, the fees involved, and how to find free historical death record indexes to support your search.

Who Issues Farmington Hills Death Certificates

Farmington Hills is one of the few cities in Michigan where the City Clerk issues certified death certificates directly. Most Michigan cities refer all death record requests to the county clerk. Farmington Hills maintains its own records for deaths that took place within the city limits starting in July 1973.

If the death occurred in Farmington Hills in July 1973 or later, the Farmington Hills City Clerk is the right office to contact. For deaths before that date, or for deaths that occurred elsewhere in Oakland County, go to the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac instead.

The City Clerk office is open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In-person and mail requests are both accepted. There is no online ordering through VitalChek for the city clerk; for online ordering, use the Oakland County Clerk's VitalChek portal instead. The county's records overlap with the city's, so Oakland County is always an option for Farmington Hills deaths regardless of year.

Oakland County Clerk: The Alternative Option

Even for deaths that occurred in Farmington Hills after July 1973, you can also request certified copies from the Oakland County Clerk. Michigan's system registers deaths at both the city level and county level when a city maintains its own records. For deaths before July 1973, or for any other Oakland County death records, the county is your only option.

The Oakland County Clerk handles walk-in requests with no appointment needed at the main Pontiac office. Online orders go through VitalChek and carry a convenience fee. Mail orders go directly to the Pontiac address. Oakland County's records date back to 1867, so for older genealogical research, the county is the right starting point.

How to Get Farmington Hills Death Records

For deaths in Farmington Hills from July 1973 to the present, you have two options: go to the Farmington Hills City Clerk in person or mail your request. The city clerk does not use VitalChek. For online ordering or for older records, use Oakland County.

Under MCL 333.2882, Michigan death records are public. Any person can request a certified copy. You do not need to be a family member or give a legal reason. This applies at both the city and county level. Farmington Hills follows the same open-access rules as every other Michigan jurisdiction.

For a mail request to the city, write a letter with the full legal name of the deceased, the date of death, and confirmation that the death occurred in Farmington Hills. Include your payment, a copy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336.

For a mail request to Oakland County, include the same information and mail to 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. Make payments to Oakland County Clerk for county requests.

Death Certificate Fees in Farmington Hills

Both the Farmington Hills City Clerk and the Oakland County Clerk charge $15 for the first certified death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $5. These rates match the standard Michigan county fee structure.

The Farmington Hills City Clerk accepts cash, check, and money order. Make checks payable to Farmington Hills City Clerk. The Oakland County Clerk accepts cash, check, and money order payable to Oakland County Clerk. Online orders through VitalChek carry an extra convenience fee charged by VitalChek.

Order multiple copies at once if you need the record for several purposes. Each extra copy at $5 is much less than filing a new request later at the $15 base rate. Insurance claims, probate proceedings, Social Security, and bank accounts often each need their own original certified copy.

What to Include in Your Request

Giving complete information speeds up your request. Missing details may result in your request being returned or delayed. Include everything you can about the deceased and the death event.

Here is what to include:

• Full legal name of the deceased
• Date of death or approximate year
• City or location of death (Farmington Hills, MI)
• Your full name and mailing address
• Number of certified copies you need
• Payment for the applicable fee
• A photocopy of your government-issued photo ID
• A self-addressed stamped envelope (for mail requests)

Per MCL 333.2895, original death records are not available for public inspection. Only certified copies are issued. A certified copy carries the official seal and is the accepted legal form of proof for courts, financial institutions, and insurance companies. Do not expect to view or photograph the original document.

Online Resources for Farmington Hills Death Record Searches

Before submitting a formal request, check free online tools to verify that a record exists and to confirm exact details like spelling and date of death. Michigan offers several free historical indexes that can save you time.

The state's GENDIS genealogical death index is free and covers over 460,000 Michigan death records from 1867 to 1897. You can search by name and year. GENDIS does not provide certified copies, but it confirms whether a record is on file. Farmington Hills did not exist as a city in that era, but deaths in that part of Oakland County would appear under Farmington Township or nearby designations.

The Michigan MDHHS portal at michigan.gov/mdhhs explains statewide vital records ordering and connects users to county options and VitalChek.

For records from 1897 through 1952, Michiganology gives free access to digitized Michigan death certificates from the Archives of Michigan. Oakland County deaths from those years are included in the collection.

For records after 1952, contact the Farmington Hills City Clerk (for deaths in Farmington Hills from July 1973 forward) or the Oakland County Clerk (for all Oakland County records including those before July 1973). Online free indexes do not cover recent records.

Michigan Death Record Laws

Farmington Hills death records fall under Michigan's Public Health Code, the same legal framework that governs death records across the state. Three statutes are most relevant to how you can access these records.

MCL 333.2882 makes death records public. Any person may request a certified copy without proving family status or legal purpose. Farmington Hills and Oakland County both follow this open-access rule.

MCL 333.2888(1) exempts vital records from FOIA. A Freedom of Information Act request will not result in a death certificate. Use the city or county clerk's vital records request process under the Public Health Code. FOIA and death certificates operate under separate legal frameworks.

MCL 333.2895 prohibits public inspection of original death records. Both the city and the county issue certified copies only. A certified copy with the official seal is the legally accepted form of proof required by courts, insurance companies, probate proceedings, and financial institutions.

Nearby Cities

These nearby Oakland County cities also have death records held at the county or city level. Use the links below to find the right office for each location.