Death Index Records in Cheboygan County

Cheboygan County death index records are kept at the County Clerk's office in Cheboygan, with coverage going back to 1867. The clerk handles certified death certificate requests in person, by mail, and through VitalChek. A free onsite search of death records is also available at no charge. This page covers how to find and request Cheboygan County death records, what fees to expect, and where to access historical indexes.

Cheboygan County Clerk and Register of Deeds

The Cheboygan County Clerk and Register of Deeds office handles death records for the county. The Cheboygan County Clerk website has details on vital records services, forms, and contact info. The clerk and register of deeds functions are combined in one office, so this is also the place for property records, marriage licenses, and other county documents.

One thing that stands out about this office is that onsite searching of death and marriage records is available at no charge. If you want to look up a record yourself without ordering a certified copy, you can do that in the office for free. This is useful for genealogy research or when you just need to confirm that a record exists before ordering a certified copy. Naturalization records from prior to the 1930s are also available here.

The office also has access to the MIGenWeb Cheboygan County Death Index, which covers deaths from 1867 through 1933. That index is a good place to start when researching older records before contacting the clerk for a certified copy.

Visit the Cheboygan County Clerk and Register of Deeds page to see how the office is organized and what services are offered for death records.

The clerk is located in Room 204 at 870 South Main Street, Cheboygan, and is open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Requesting Cheboygan County Death Certificates

You can request a certified death certificate from Cheboygan County three ways. In-person visits to the office at 870 South Main Street are the most direct option. Bring the name and date of death for the person you are looking for. Staff can search the records and issue a certified copy while you are there. Office hours are weekdays 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Mail requests should go to P.O. Box 70, Cheboygan, MI 49721. Include the full legal name of the deceased, the date of death, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash through the mail. Allow extra time for mail requests compared to in-person service. If you have questions about what to include, call the office at (231) 627-8808 before sending your request.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek. This third-party service is authorized by Michigan to process vital records requests. VitalChek charges an additional processing fee. You pay by credit card, and the certificate is mailed to your address. It is the most convenient option for people outside the county or state.

Under MCL 333.2885, death records that are 75 years or older are available for public genealogical research. Newer records may have access restrictions depending on your relationship to the deceased.

Death Certificate Fees in Cheboygan County

The fee for a certified death certificate from Cheboygan County is $10.00 for the first copy. State law under MCL 333.2843 provides the framework for vital records fees in Michigan. The $10 rate is among the lower fees you will find across Michigan counties. If you need multiple copies, ask the clerk about the cost for each additional copy when you place your request.

Note: VitalChek adds its own service charge on top of the county fee. If cost is a concern, an in-person or mail request avoids that extra charge.

Cheboygan County Death Index Historical Resources

For genealogy research in Cheboygan County, there are several tools beyond the clerk's office. The MIGenWeb Cheboygan County Death Index covers 1867 through 1933. That is a free online index you can search by name. It is a volunteer-compiled resource and may not be complete for every year, but it covers the early decades of registration well. Search it first to find names and dates before ordering a certified copy.

The state death index at GENDIS covers Michigan deaths from 1971 to 1996. GENDIS is run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is free to use. It gives you basic details to confirm a record exists before you order from the clerk. For deaths outside that window, the clerk's office and the older MIGenWeb index fill in the gaps.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at michigan.gov/mdhhs handles statewide vital records and can also supply certified death certificates for records it holds. Michiganology.org is a free state-funded site with historical Michigan vital records digitized for research, and FamilySearch.org includes indexed Michigan death collections you can search at no cost.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cheboygan County in northern Michigan. Each handles death records through its own county clerk office.