Antrim County Death Index

Antrim County death index records are maintained by the County Clerk in Bellaire, Michigan, with records dating back to 1867. You can request certified death certificates in person, by mail, or online through AllPaid.com. The clerk's office also supports genealogy research on-site. This page explains how to find and obtain Antrim County death records and what free databases are available for research.

Antrim County Clerk Vital Records

The Antrim County Clerk's office at 208 East Cayuga Street in Bellaire handles vital records including death certificates. The clerk's office keeps records for all deaths that occurred in Antrim County, a northern lower peninsula county on the shore of Lake Michigan. Death records here go back to 1867, when Michigan first required statewide death registration. This is among the earliest possible start dates for any Michigan county.

Death records in Michigan are public under MCL 333.2885. Anyone can request a copy. Birth records have restrictions, but death records do not. You need to include a copy of your driver's license or state ID when making a written request. This is the county's standard process for identifying requestors, though the record itself is available to anyone who asks.

Genealogy research is available on-site at the Antrim County Clerk's office. If you want to look through older records yourself, you can come in during business hours and ask staff for assistance. This is useful when you are searching for an ancestor and may not have an exact name or date.

The vital records page at antrimcountymi.gov shows the current process and online ordering options for Antrim County death certificates.

How to Get Antrim County Death Certificates

Antrim County offers three ways to order a certified death certificate. You can visit the office, send a mail request, or order online through AllPaid.com, which is a third-party payment platform the county uses for online orders. AllPaid adds a 2.99% processing fee on top of the $10 base fee.

For in-person requests, go to 208 East Cayuga Street in Bellaire. Bring your driver's license or state ID. The fee is $10 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy requested at the same time. The office processes these requests during regular business hours.

Mail requests need a written request that includes the decedent's name, date of death, and your relationship to the person. Include a copy of your driver's license or state ID. Send a check or money order payable to Antrim County Clerk to P.O. Box 520, Bellaire, MI 49615. Allow extra time for transit both ways.

The AllPaid.com online option is convenient for those who prefer to order from home. Visit the county clerk's website at antrimcountymi.gov for a link to the online ordering portal. You will need the decedent's name and approximate death date to complete the order. The 2.99% fee is added at checkout.

Note: All three methods produce the same certified copy with a raised seal. The difference is time and convenience.

Antrim County Death Index Record Contents

Michigan death certificates cover specific information about the person who died. For records in the Antrim County death index from 1898 onward, the standard Michigan certificate shows the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death as given by the physician, age, sex, race, marital status, occupation, and birthplace. The names and birthplaces of both parents are also listed, along with the funeral director's information and burial location.

For older records from 1867 to 1897, the information is less complete. These records were kept in ledger format and are accessible through the GENDIS database. GENDIS is a free state database containing over 460,000 Michigan death records from this period. It gives the decedent's name, father's last name, and year of death. Cause of death is missing from most GENDIS entries after 1885 because it was not captured in the old ledgers. Still, GENDIS is often enough to confirm that someone died in Antrim County during that era.

For deaths from 1897 through the 1940s, actual certificate images are available free on Michiganology. You can view and download the full certificate without any login. This can save you the cost of ordering a copy if you only need to see the record for research purposes.

Free Online Tools for Antrim County Death Records

If you are doing genealogy research or just trying to verify a death before ordering an official copy, several free databases cover Antrim County.

GENDIS handles the 1867 to 1897 window. Search by name and use wildcards for uncertain spellings. The system returns basic facts and helps confirm whether a record exists from this era. It is a product of the state's Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics, based on transcribed microfilm records.

Michiganology picks up at 1897 and covers certificate images through approximately 1943, with indexing through 1952. It is free, no login required, and organized by county. Antrim County records should be searchable directly.

FamilySearch holds additional Michigan death collections that may fill gaps. The Library of Michigan in Lansing also holds microfilm death indexes from 1867 to 1914, which covers Antrim County's full early period. If you plan a trip to Lansing, this is worth a visit for deep genealogy work.

Death Record Access and Michigan Law

Antrim County death certificates are available to anyone under MCL 333.2885. This section of Michigan's Public Health Code classifies death records as public and removes the need to demonstrate a specific reason or family connection to get a copy. This is the standard for all Michigan counties, including Antrim.

The process that generates the records is governed by MCL 333.2843. This law requires the funeral director in charge of a body to file a death certificate with the local registration district within 72 hours. The funeral director collects personal details from the family and arranges for the cause of death to be certified by a physician or medical examiner. The completed certificate goes to the Antrim County Clerk's office.

Michigan vital records are not subject to FOIA. They fall entirely under Part 28 of the Public Health Code. The statewide agency overseeing the system is MDHHS Vital Records in Lansing. The state office holds copies of all Michigan death records and can issue certified copies for $34 per copy, which is more than the Antrim County fee of $10.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Antrim County in northern lower Michigan. Each has its own clerk for death records.