Shiawassee County Death Records

Shiawassee County death records are held by the County Clerk in Corunna and date back to 1867. The clerk's office issues certified death certificates for all deaths that occurred within the county. Shiawassee County charges higher fees than most Michigan counties and has specific procedures for genealogy requests. This page covers how to get Shiawassee County death records, what fees apply, and what resources are available.

Shiawassee County Clerk Office

The Shiawassee County Clerk is located at 208 N. Shiawassee Street, 2nd Floor, in Corunna. The office maintains vital records for the county, including certified death certificates. Walk-in requests require a photo ID. Mail requests require a signed, dated letter and a copy of your photo ID. Credit and debit cards are accepted for all payments. The clerk can be reached by phone or email on weekdays.

The office is open weekdays with a lunch break from noon to 1:00 PM. Note that CPL and marriage license applications are not processed between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM, or after 4:30 PM. Death record requests do not have these restrictions, but plan your visit before 4:30 PM. Death record indexes are available for viewing at the office before you decide to order a certified copy.

How to Get Shiawassee County Death Records

Shiawassee County death certificates are available in person, by mail, or through VitalChek online. In-person visits to the office are the fastest option. A photo ID is required at the counter. Mail requests take additional business days and require a signed, dated letter with a copy of your photo ID. A flat-rate postage fee of $3.00 is added to all mail requests.

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

For genealogy requests covering records from 1932 or earlier, the clerk charges an additional $10 search fee per name. This is on top of the standard copy fee. If you are not sure whether the record exists, you can view death record indexes at the office at no charge before ordering a certified copy.

Death Certificate Fees in Shiawassee County

Shiawassee County charges $25 for the first certified death certificate. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost $10 each. Mail requests include a flat $3.00 postage fee. Genealogy requests for records from 1932 or prior include an additional $10 search fee per name. Payment is accepted in cash, by check, by money order, or by credit or debit card.

These rates are higher than most Michigan counties. Order all copies you need in one request to avoid paying the $25 first-copy fee again on a second request. Make checks payable to Shiawassee County Clerk.

What You Need to Request a Death Record

The Shiawassee County Clerk needs accurate information to locate the right death record. A photo ID is required for all request types. Signed, dated letters are required for mail requests.

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 (plus $3.00 postage for mail requests)
• A copy of your government-issued photo ID (required)

The office has death record indexes available for viewing, which can help you confirm a record exists before ordering. Per MCL 333.2895, original death records are not open for public inspection. Only certified copies are issued. These carry the official seal and are legally valid for any purpose requiring proof of death.

Online Resources for Shiawassee County Death Records

Michigan's free GENDIS genealogical death index covers over 460,000 records statewide from 1867 to 1897. Search by name and year to help confirm a record before placing a formal request with the Shiawassee County Clerk.

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

The portal also connects to VitalChek for Shiawassee County, which accepts online orders by credit card. A convenience fee applies on top of the county's standard rate.

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

Michigan Death Record Laws

Shiawassee 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. No proof of family relationship or legal reason is required. This policy applies uniformly across all Michigan counties.

MCL 333.2888(1) exempts vital records from FOIA. A Freedom of Information Act request is not how you get 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. Only certified copies are issued. These carry the official seal and are legally valid wherever proof of death is required.

Cities in Shiawassee County

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

Nearby Counties

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