Branch County Death Records

Branch County death records are kept by the County Clerk in Coldwater. The office holds death certificates for all deaths that occurred within Branch County going back to 1867. Records are public under Michigan law. This page explains how to request a certified copy, what the fees are, and what information you need to provide when making a request.

Branch County Clerk Office

The Branch County Clerk is located at 31 Division Street in Coldwater, the county seat. The clerk's office manages all vital records for the county including death certificates. You can contact the office by phone, fax, or email during regular business hours. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday.

The office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. If you are driving to Coldwater, plan to arrive by 3:30 PM to ensure there is time to process your request. Staff handle both in-person and mail requests.

How to Get Branch County Death Records

Branch County death certificates are available in person and by mail. The in-person option at the Coldwater office is typically the fastest, with most requests processed the same day. Mail requests add several days for transit and processing time. Both methods result in the same official certified copy.

Michigan's MCL 333.2882 classifies death records as public. Any person can request a certified copy. You do not need to show a family relationship to the deceased or give a reason. The process is the same for family members, attorneys, genealogists, and anyone else who needs the record.

To request by mail, write a letter identifying the deceased by full name, give the date or year of death, and note the city or township where the death occurred. Include a check or money order payable to Branch County Clerk, a photocopy of your ID, and a stamped envelope addressed to yourself for the return of the certificate.

Death Certificate Fees in Branch County

Branch County charges $15 for the first certified copy of a death record. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, cost $5 each. Payment is accepted in cash, by check, or by money order. Make checks payable to Branch County Clerk.

Ordering multiple copies at once is the smart approach if you need the record for more than one purpose. Once you submit a single request, each extra copy costs only $5. Going back later for another copy means paying the full $15 first-copy fee again. Think about how many copies you might need before you submit.

What You Need to Request a Death Record

To locate the right death record, the Branch County Clerk needs accurate identifying information. If details are missing or incorrect, your request may be delayed or returned without the record. Giving the full legal name and exact date of death is the most important part of the request.

Here is what to include in your request:

• Full legal name of the deceased
• Date of death (or approximate year)
• City or township where the death occurred
• Your name and mailing address
• Payment for the applicable fee
• A photocopy of your government-issued ID

For genealogy requests involving old records from the late 1800s, keep in mind that details like cause of death or birthplace may be limited. Per MCL 333.2895, only certified copies are issued. Original documents are not open for public viewing.

Online Resources for Branch County Death Records

Michigan's free GENDIS genealogical death index includes over 460,000 records from 1867 to 1897. The index lets you search by name and year of death to confirm a record exists. You can then use the information found to complete a formal request to the Branch County Clerk for a certified copy.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records portal is shown below. The portal at michigan.gov/mdhhs covers the state's ordering process and provides guidance on getting certified copies from both county and state offices.

The state portal also connects to VitalChek for Branch County, which provides online ordering with a credit card. VitalChek charges a convenience fee on top of the county's standard copy fee.

For records more than 75 years old, Michiganology offers free access to digitized death certificates. The archive covers 1897 through 1952 and is a useful starting point for genealogical research before requesting certified copies.

Michigan Death Record Laws

Michigan's Public Health Code governs how death records are created, stored, and accessed in Branch County and across the state.

MCL 333.2882 makes death records public. Any person can request a certified copy regardless of relationship to the deceased. This is unlike birth records, which have more restrictions. Death records in Michigan are open to anyone who follows the proper request process.

MCL 333.2888(1) exempts vital records from FOIA. If you want a death certificate, you must use the vital records request process rather than a Freedom of Information request. The Public Health Code provides its own set of rules for accessing vital records, and FOIA does not override those rules.

MCL 333.2895 limits access to original records. Only certified copies are issued by the county clerk. Original death record documents on file are not made available for inspection. This protects the accuracy and security of the original records while still making information accessible through certified copies.

Cities in Branch County

Branch County's largest city is Coldwater, which serves as the county seat. No cities in Branch County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. For death records, contact the Branch County Clerk for any death that occurred anywhere in the county.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred outside Branch County, the clerk in the county where the death took place holds the record. Contact that county directly.