The state of Michigan has been collecting birth records since 1867, and any Michigan birth record can be retrieved by anyone if the date on it is more than 100 years old. You just need to put in a request to the Vital Records office. But for those records more recent than 100 years, there are a few restrictions.
You can access the record with little trouble if you are the person on it, or the person's parents. If the person on the record is now deceased, then you can also get a copy if you are a descendant. Along with your application forms, you will have to provide a copy of your own photo ID to prove your relationship to the person on the birth record, as well as proof of their death (if required). When looking for a Michigan birth record for a current legal issue, then these restrictions do not apply.
If you are in Lansing and wish to put in your application in person, you can go to the Vital Records office at 201 Townsend Street, Capitol View Building, 3rd Floor, Lansing MI, 48913 USA. They are open typical office hours and if you arrive with your forms and fee before 3pm, you can get same-day service (thought not necessarily while you wait).
When not coming in person, you can also just mail in the forms to Vital Records Requests, PO Box 30721, Lansing MI 48909 USA. When sending by mail, you will have to enclose a photocopy of your own identification and your fee will have to be as a check or money order. The average wait time for a mailed-in Michigan birth record request is about 5 weeks.
You can pay your fee with cash or credit card when doing it in person, otherwise it has to be a check or money order made out to the "State of Michigan". Currently, the fee for one copy is $26 USD and an additional $12 for extra copies of the same record. Add another $10 to that if you want rush service. If the record you want is not found, your money is only refunded if you paid extra for additional copies. The initial fee of $26 is not returned.
Michigan birth records are only issued as certified long-form documents. They don't issue any wallet cards or any other type of document.
You can get the proper forms for a Michigan birth records request from their website (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/birthapp_6360_7.PDF), and all of the current rules, regulations and fees are printed on the forms so you can make sure you are following the right procedure. The form requires the name, birth date, place of birth and parent's names in order to accurate find the record you want. You will also have to identify yourself as well.
The office has a good collection of records between 1867 and 1915 but they may not be complete. If you are unable to find a Michigan birth record between these years, you will want to get in touch with the local county office to see if they have any additional records that the state does not have.
How to request Michigan birth certificates:
Step 1.
If you have determined that you are eligible to request Michigan birth records, you will need to start by filling out an application for a Michigan Birth Certificate.
Step 2.
You will need to include a photocopy of your photo ID with your request for a record, unless the record is over 100 years old.
Step 3.
Return your identification and application to the Vital Records office along with the appropriate fees. Standard searches cost $26, with additional copies and expedited services costing extra.
For more information on how to access Michigan birth records, you can contact the office below:
Michigan Department of Community Health
Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-8666
How To Order Michigan Birth Records By Mail
Ordering Michigan birth records by mail is a fairly simple process. Processing time for mailed orders is approximately five weeks for standard orders and three weeks for rushed ones.
Methods For Ordering
Making a request by mail is the most common and easiest way to request Michigan birth records. However, for rushed orders, you can order the certificates online through an independent service provider. Rush fees do apply for this service.
Access Is Restricted
Michigan birth records are not part of the public record, and therefore, there is a limited number of people authorized to access the record. Only persons listed on the birth record itself can make a request. For example, you cannot request a Michigan birth record for your spouse, but parents can request one for their children. However, once a birth record is over 100 years old, it is no longer considered confidential and can be accessed by anyone who makes a request and pays the appropriate fees.
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