Livingston County Death Records

Livingston County death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Howell and date back to 1867. The clerk's office provides an online portal for ordering death certificates, which has become a popular option. Livingston County also accepts credit cards and has extended weekday hours compared to most county clerks. This page explains how to get Livingston County death records, what fees apply, and what resources are available.

Livingston County Clerk Office

The Livingston County Clerk is located at 200 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell at the Historical Courthouse. The office manages vital records for the county and offers multiple ways to request certified death certificates. An online ordering portal and credit card acceptance make Livingston County more accessible than many rural Michigan counties.

The office is open until 5:00 PM on weekdays, which is an extra hour compared to most county clerks in Michigan. In-person requests are typically handled the same day. Online portal orders are filled within 24 hours. Mail requests take 3 business days to process plus 7-10 business days for USPS delivery.

How to Get Livingston County Death Records

Livingston County death certificates are available in person, by mail, through the county's online portal, or through VitalChek. The online portal at livingstonlive.livgov.com/VitalRecords is a direct county option that fills orders within 24 hours. In-person same-day service is available during office hours. Mail processing takes 3 business days.

Under MCL 333.2882, Michigan death records are public. Any person can request a certified copy. No family relationship or legal reason is required. This open-access rule applies in Livingston County the same as across all 83 Michigan counties.

For mail requests, write a letter that includes the full legal name of the deceased, the date or year of death, and the city or township in Livingston County where the death occurred. Include payment by check, money order, or credit card authorization, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.

Death Certificate Fees in Livingston County

Livingston County charges $25 for the first certified death certificate. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, cost $10 each. These rates are higher than most Michigan counties. Payment is accepted in cash, by check, by money order, and by credit card. Make checks payable to Livingston County Clerk.

Online orders through the county portal are filled within 24 hours. If you need the record quickly and cannot visit in person, the online portal is the next fastest option. For multiple copies, order them all at once to get the $10-per-copy rate rather than paying $25 again on a separate request.

What You Need to Request a Death Record

Whether you request online, by mail, or in person, the Livingston County Clerk needs accurate identifying information to locate the right record. Provide the most specific name and date information you have available.

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 older records from the 1800s, information on the certificate may be limited. Per MCL 333.2895, original death records are not open for public inspection. The county issues only certified copies, which carry the official seal and are the accepted legal form of proof for any official purpose.

Online Resources for Livingston County Death Records

Livingston County provides a direct online vital records portal for ordering certified copies. Orders placed through this portal are filled within 24 hours. This is a county-run option, separate from VitalChek, and avoids any third-party convenience fee.

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

The portal also connects to VitalChek for Livingston County, which accepts online credit card orders. A convenience fee applies on top of the county's standard rate. The county's own portal at livingstonlive.livgov.com may be the more direct option.

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

Michigan's free GENDIS index covers over 460,000 records from 1867 to 1897 and lets you confirm a record exists before placing a formal request.

Michigan Death Record Laws

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

MCL 333.2882 makes death records public. Any person may request a certified copy. No proof of family relationship or legal reason is required. This open-access policy is consistent across all Michigan counties.

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

MCL 333.2895 bars public inspection of original death records. The county issues only certified copies, which carry the official seal and are legally valid for any purpose requiring proof of death.

Cities in Livingston County

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

Nearby Counties

Deaths in neighboring counties are recorded by each county's own clerk. Contact the right office based on where the death took place.