Access Gogebic County Death Records

Gogebic County death records are held by the County Clerk in Bessemer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The office maintains death certificates for all deaths that occurred in the county going back to 1867. These records are public under Michigan law. This page explains how to request a certified copy, what the fees are, and what other resources are available for Gogebic County death records.

Gogebic County Clerk Office

The Gogebic County Clerk is located at 200 N. Moore Street in Bessemer. The office serves the county by maintaining vital records including death certificates. You can contact them by phone or fax during regular weekday hours. Both walk-in and mail requests are accepted.

The office is open weekdays until 4:00 PM. If you are driving to Bessemer, plan to arrive before 3:30 PM. For those outside the area, mail requests are a practical alternative and result in the same certified document.

How to Get Gogebic County Death Records

Gogebic County death certificates are available in person or by mail. Visiting the Bessemer office is the fastest route to getting a certified copy, with most in-person requests handled the same day. Mail requests take additional days for transit and processing. VitalChek also offers online ordering for those who prefer that option.

Under MCL 333.2882, death records in Michigan are public. Any person can request a certified copy. No family relationship or court order is needed. This open-access policy is consistent across all 83 Michigan counties.

For mail requests, include a letter with the full legal name of the deceased, the date or year of death, and the city or township in Gogebic County where the death occurred. Enclose a check or money order payable to Gogebic County Clerk, a photocopy of your government-issued ID, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

Death Certificate Fees in Gogebic County

The fee for a certified death certificate in Gogebic County is $15 for the first copy. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, cost $5 each. The clerk accepts cash, check, and money order. Make checks payable to Gogebic County Clerk.

If you think you will need more than one copy, order all of them at the same time. Extra copies added to one request cost only $5 each. A second separate request later will require paying the full $15 first-copy fee again. Ordering ahead saves both time and money.

What You Need to Request a Death Record

The Gogebic County Clerk needs specific information to find the correct record. Providing accurate details speeds up your request and helps avoid delays or returned orders. Give the exact legal name and death date when possible.

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

Older records from the 1800s may have limited detail. Per MCL 333.2895, original death records are not open to public inspection. The county issues only certified copies, which are the legal form accepted for insurance, probate, and other official purposes.

Online Resources for Gogebic County Death Records

Michigan's GENDIS genealogical death index is a free resource covering over 460,000 death records from 1867 to 1897. The index is searchable by name and year of death. Use it to confirm a record exists before submitting a formal request to the Gogebic County Clerk.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records portal is shown below. The portal at michigan.gov/mdhhs provides guidance on state-level ordering and links to certified copy options from both county and state offices.

This portal connects to VitalChek for Gogebic County, which accepts online orders by credit card. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the county's standard copy rate.

For records from 1897 through 1952, Michiganology offers free access to digitized Michigan death certificates maintained by the Archives of Michigan.

Michigan Death Record Laws

Death records in Gogebic County are governed by Michigan's Public Health Code. Three key statutes define access and use.

MCL 333.2882 makes death records public in Michigan. Any person can request a certified copy. No proof of family relationship or legal interest is required. This open-access rule is the same in Gogebic County as in every other Michigan county.

MCL 333.2888(1) keeps vital records outside the scope of FOIA. You cannot obtain a death certificate through a Freedom of Information request. The proper method is the vital records request process under the Public Health Code.

MCL 333.2895 bars public inspection of original records. The county issues only certified copies, which carry the official seal and are legally accepted wherever proof of death is needed.

Cities in Gogebic County

Gogebic County's county seat is Bessemer. No cities in Gogebic County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All death record requests are handled by the Gogebic County Clerk for deaths that occurred anywhere in the county.

Nearby Counties

If the death occurred in an adjacent county, contact that county's clerk. Each Michigan county maintains its own death records separately.