Keweenaw County Death Records

Keweenaw County death records are held by the County Clerk in Eagle Harbor on Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula in the 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 Keweenaw County death records, what fees apply, and what resources can assist with your search.

Keweenaw County Clerk Office

The Keweenaw County Clerk is located at 5095 4th Street in Eagle Harbor. Keweenaw is Michigan's smallest county by population and sits at the northern tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The office handles vital records for the county including certified death certificates. Walk-in visits and mail requests are both accepted.

The office is open weekdays until 4:00 PM. Because of the county's remote location on the Keweenaw Peninsula, many people find mail requests to be the more practical option. The same certified document is produced either way.

How to Get Keweenaw County Death Records

Keweenaw County death certificates can be requested in person at the Eagle Harbor office or by mail. In-person visits are processed the same day for most requests. Mail requests take additional days for transit and processing. VitalChek also offers remote online ordering for those who cannot visit in person.

Under MCL 333.2882, Michigan death records are public. Any person can request a certified copy. No family connection or legal reason is needed. This open-access policy is the same in Keweenaw County as in every other Michigan county.

For mail requests, write a letter with the full legal name of the deceased, the date or year of death, and the location in Keweenaw County where the death occurred. Enclose a check or money order payable to Keweenaw County Clerk, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.

Death Certificate Fees in Keweenaw County

Keweenaw County charges $15 for the first certified death certificate. 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 Keweenaw County Clerk.

Order all copies you need in one request. Extra copies cost only $5 each when added to the same order, compared to paying the full $15 first-copy fee again on a separate request. This matters if you need the record for insurance, estate proceedings, or multiple financial accounts.

What You Need to Request a Death Record

To find the right record, the Keweenaw County Clerk needs accurate identifying information. Providing complete and precise details reduces delays and helps avoid returned requests.

Here is what to include in your request:

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

Older records from the copper mining era in the 1800s may have limited information. Per MCL 333.2895, original death records are not available for public inspection. The county issues only certified copies, which carry the official seal and are legally valid for any purpose requiring proof of death.

Online Resources for Keweenaw County Death Records

Michigan's free GENDIS genealogical death index covers over 460,000 death records statewide from 1867 to 1897. Keweenaw County had significant mining activity during this period, so many records are included in the index. Search by name and year before placing a formal request with the clerk.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records portal is shown below. The portal at michigan.gov/mdhhs provides guidance on state-level death record ordering and connects to certified copy options.

The portal connects to VitalChek for Keweenaw County, which accepts online orders by credit card. A convenience fee applies 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

Keweenaw County death records are governed by Michigan's Public Health Code. Three key statutes define access and how records are issued.

MCL 333.2882 makes death records public. Any person may request a certified copy without proving a family relationship or legal reason. This open-access rule applies in Keweenaw County just as it does in all other Michigan counties.

MCL 333.2888(1) exempts vital records from the Freedom of Information Act. A FOIA request is not the way to get a death certificate in Michigan. Use the county clerk's vital records request process under the Public Health Code instead.

MCL 333.2895 bars public inspection of original records. Only certified copies are issued, and these are legally accepted wherever proof of death is required.

Cities in Keweenaw County

Keweenaw County's county seat is Eagle Harbor. No cities in Keweenaw County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. For death records from anywhere in the county, contact the Keweenaw County Clerk directly.

Nearby Counties

Deaths in neighboring Houghton County are recorded by that county's clerk. Keweenaw County is a peninsula county with Houghton as its only land neighbor.