Find Lansing Death Records

Lansing death records are issued by the Ingham County Clerk, not by the City of Lansing. The Ingham County Clerk has two office locations, including one in downtown Lansing at 124 W. Michigan Avenue. The office maintains certified death certificates for all deaths that occurred in Ingham County going back to 1867. This page covers where to go, what to bring, what to pay, and how to search Lansing death records using free online databases before filing a formal request.

Ingham County Clerk Office

The Ingham County Clerk is the official source for Lansing death certificates. The clerk has two locations. The main office is at 341 S. Jefferson Street in Mason, the county seat about 15 miles south of Lansing. The Lansing branch office is at 124 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 800, which is more convenient for city residents. Both locations handle vital records requests. Call ahead to confirm which services are available at each site on the day you plan to visit.

The Ingham County Clerk stays open until 5:00 PM, which is later than many other Michigan county offices. This gives Lansing residents more time to make in-person requests after a standard workday. The Lansing City Clerk at 124 W. Michigan Avenue (same building, different office) handles other city functions but does not issue death certificates.

How to Get Lansing Death Records

Ingham County death certificates are available in person, by mail, and through an online portal. In-person visits are the fastest method. Most same-day requests are processed before the office closes. The Lansing branch office at 124 W. Michigan Avenue is often the more practical choice for city residents compared to driving to Mason.

Under MCL 333.2882, Michigan death records are public. Any person can request a certified copy regardless of their relationship to the deceased or their reason for requesting. This open-access rule is the same across all 83 Michigan counties, including Ingham.

For mail requests, write a letter and include the full legal name of the deceased, the date or year of death, and the location within Ingham County where the death occurred. Add a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID, a check or money order for the fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to the main office at 341 S. Jefferson Street, Mason, MI 48854, or confirm whether mail is also accepted at the Lansing branch.

Ingham County also offers an online portal for death record requests. Check the clerk's website at clerk.ingham.org for the current portal link and accepted payment methods. VitalChek is also available for Ingham County and accepts credit card payments online. A convenience fee is added by VitalChek on top of the county's standard rate.

Death Certificate Fees in Ingham County

Ingham County charges more than most Michigan counties for death certificates. The fee is $30 for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $15 each. Expedited processing is available for $45 when you need the record quickly. Payment is accepted by check or money order made payable to the Ingham County Clerk. Cash is not typically accepted.

These fees are higher than the statewide norm. Many Michigan counties charge $15 for the first copy and $5 for additional copies. Ingham County's rates are roughly double. If you need multiple copies for an estate, insurance claim, or pension, order all of them together. Three copies would cost $60 total ($30 plus two at $15 each). That is still less than ordering them separately.

Expedited service at $45 applies to a single copy. If you need an expedited record and additional copies, ask the clerk about the combined cost when you call or visit. Plan your budget before you go. There are no refunds once the clerk processes your request.

What You Need to Submit a Request

The Ingham County Clerk needs certain details to find the right death record. Give as much information as possible. Incomplete requests get returned, which adds days to the process.

Include all of the following:

• Full legal name of the deceased (middle name if known)
• Date of death, or the year if the exact date is not available
• City or township in Ingham County where the death occurred
• Your name and current mailing address
• Payment by check or money order in the correct amount
• A photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID
• A self-addressed stamped envelope for return (mail requests)

Per MCL 333.2895, original death records are not available for public review. The Ingham County Clerk issues certified copies only. Those copies carry the official seal and are legally valid for estate, insurance, financial, and government purposes.

Online Search Tools for Lansing Death Records

Two free tools are worth checking before you contact the Ingham County Clerk. Michigan's GENDIS genealogical death index covers statewide death records from 1867 to 1897. Search by name to see whether a record exists in the system. GENDIS shows basic index data, not the full certificate. But confirming the record is in the index before you pay the fee is a useful first step, especially for older records.

The Ingham County Clerk's website is shown below. The portal at clerk.ingham.org provides current office hours, fee schedules, and links for online requests.

For records from 1897 through 1952, Michiganology provides free digitized death certificates managed by the Archives of Michigan. Many Ingham County records from that era are available without any fee or formal request to the clerk.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records page also covers the state's record-keeping system and links to county clerks and ordering options statewide.

Michigan Death Record Laws

Lansing death records are governed by Michigan's Public Health Code. The statutes below define who can get these records and how the county clerk handles them.

MCL 333.2882 establishes that death records in Michigan are public. No proof of kinship or stated purpose is required to request a certified copy from the Ingham County Clerk. The record is available to any member of the public who pays the fee.

MCL 333.2888(1) removes vital records from the scope of the Freedom of Information Act. You cannot get a death certificate through a FOIA request. Use the county clerk's vital records process under the Public Health Code instead.

MCL 333.2895 bars direct public inspection of original death records. What the clerk provides is a certified copy with the official county seal, which carries the same legal weight as the original for all practical and legal purposes.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

Deaths that occurred in another city are recorded by the county clerk where that death took place. Use the links below to find record information for nearby Michigan cities.