Farmington Hills Death Index Database

Farmington Hills death index records are split between two offices depending on when the death occurred. The Farmington Hills City Clerk maintains records for deaths registered in the city from July 1973 to the present. For deaths before July 1973, you need to contact the Oakland County Clerk or the Michigan state vital records office. This split is common in Michigan cities that incorporated or expanded after statewide death registration was already established, and knowing which office to contact can save you time and effort.

Farmington Hills City Clerk Death Records

The Farmington Hills City Clerk maintains death records for the city starting from July 1973. This is when the city took over vital records registration from the county for deaths within its boundaries. The clerk's office is at City Hall on W. Eleven Mile Road. You can call, visit in person, or check their website for request instructions. Staff can look up deaths by name and issue certified copies.

The city clerk's office handles death certificates for all deaths that occurred within Farmington Hills city limits from July 1973 onward. This covers a large portion of the modern death index for the city. Under MCL 333.2885, death records are public and the city clerk is authorized to issue copies to anyone who requests them with valid payment and basic information about the deceased.

Fees for certified copies at the city clerk are $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. This is consistent with the Oakland County rate and is among the lower fees in the region.

Pre-1973 Farmington Hills Death Records

For deaths that occurred before July 1973 in the area that is now Farmington Hills, you need to contact the Oakland County Clerk. The county has maintained vital records for Oakland County since 1867, which predates the city's current form. The county clerk's main office is in Pontiac, and they also have a branch office in Troy that may be more convenient for some Farmington Hills residents.

The Oakland County Clerk at oakgov.com has a searchable death index going back to 1900 and death records available online from 1942 onward. For very old records going back to the mid-1800s, contact the county clerk directly or use the research tools at Michiganology and FamilySearch.

Note: If you are not sure whether a death was registered through the city or the county, contact the Farmington Hills City Clerk first. They can quickly tell you if the record is in their system and direct you to the county if not.

State Vital Records for Farmington Hills Deaths

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services maintains statewide death records through its vital records office. The MDHHS Vital Records portal covers deaths registered anywhere in Michigan, including Farmington Hills. The state is a secondary option if local offices are unavailable, but for most requests, the city or county clerk is faster.

The MDHHS page explains how to order a certified death certificate online, by mail, or in person at the state office in Lansing. State records cover deaths from 1897 onward at the central level, though county records go back further.

For genealogy research on older Farmington Hills death records, the state's GENDIS database covers 1971 through 1996. Michiganology and FamilySearch both have free indexes for historical Michigan death records and can fill gaps not covered by GENDIS.

Requesting Farmington Hills Death Certificates

For deaths from July 1973 to the present, contact the Farmington Hills City Clerk at (248) 871-2410. You can request in person at City Hall or by mail. Bring or include a valid ID, the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your relationship to the decedent. Payment of $15 for the first certified copy and $5 for each additional is required at the time of request.

For deaths before July 1973, contact the Oakland County Clerk. The county accepts requests in person at their Pontiac or Troy locations, by mail, and online. Their death records page at oakgov.com has full instructions. The county fee is the same: $15 for the first copy, $5 for additional copies.

Under MCL 333.2843, both city and county clerks are authorized to issue certified copies of vital records and collect the applicable fees. The law is clear that these records are public and available to any requester who pays the fee and provides basic identifying information about the record they need.

Nearby Cities

These Michigan cities are close to Farmington Hills and each has a death index page with local request details.

Oakland County Death Index

Farmington Hills is in Oakland County. The county clerk holds death records for all of Oakland County going back to 1867, including deaths in Farmington Hills before July 1973. For county-wide details, see the Oakland County death index page.

View Oakland County Death Index