Chippewa County Death Index

The Chippewa County Clerk in Sault Ste. Marie is the official source for death index records and certified death certificates in this Upper Peninsula county. Records go back to 1869, and requests can be made in person, by mail, or through VitalChek. This page explains who can access Chippewa County death records, what ID you need, how fees work, and where to find historical records for genealogy research.

Chippewa County Clerk Vital Records Office

The Chippewa County Clerk office at the county courthouse handles vital records including death certificates. The office is in Sault Ste. Marie, which sits at the eastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A dedicated vital records email (vitalrecords@chippewacountymi.gov) handles requests separate from general clerk inquiries. This split helps speed up processing for people who just need a death or birth record.

Death records in Chippewa County are available to immediate family members for newer records. Older records follow different rules. Under Michigan law, records that are at least 75 years old are open for public genealogical research. The county's marriage index goes back to 1827, which is an unusually deep collection for a county this far north in the state.

For in-person visits, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The clerk may ask you to show your ID to confirm your identity and your relationship to the deceased, especially for recent records. Plan to come during the office's regular hours, which run weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Chippewa County Clerk website shows the office layout and the vital records section where death certificate requests are handled.

The Chippewa County Courthouse is at 319 Court Street in Sault Ste. Marie, the largest city in the Upper Peninsula by population.

How to Request Chippewa County Death Records

In-person requests require a valid photo ID. Bring it with you to the courthouse. Staff will verify your identity and process the request. If you are an immediate family member of the deceased, say so when you make your request. For records under 75 years old, the clerk may ask about your relationship to the person named on the certificate. Older records are open to anyone doing research.

For mail requests, you need to complete the death record request form, include a copy of your photo ID, and enclose a check or money order made out to the Chippewa County Clerk. Send everything to the courthouse address at 319 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Do not send cash by mail. Allow a few business days for the office to process your request and mail the certificate back to you.

Online ordering is also available through VitalChek. VitalChek is a third-party platform that Michigan authorizes for vital records requests. You pay with a credit card, and the certificate is mailed to your address. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the county fee.

State law under MCL 333.2885 sets out who can access death records and under what conditions. Records 75 years or older are publicly available for genealogical research. Younger records have tighter access rules tied to family relationship or legal purpose.

Chippewa County Death Certificate Fees

A certified death certificate from Chippewa County costs $10.00 for the first copy. Each additional copy is $5.00. Michigan's vital records fee framework under MCL 333.2843 allows counties to set their own rates within state guidelines. The $10 first-copy fee in Chippewa County is on the lower end compared to many other Michigan counties.

If you need several copies, order them all at once. That way you pay the lower additional copy rate ($5) rather than placing a new order for each one. Estate settlement, insurance claims, and Social Security changes are common reasons people need multiple certified copies at the same time.

Note: Online orders through VitalChek carry an additional service fee. Check the VitalChek site for current charges before placing your order.

Historical Death Records and Genealogy Research

Chippewa County has records going back to 1869. For the period from 1869 to 1971, the county clerk's office and older genealogy indexes are your main options. The Michiganology.org site, funded by the State of Michigan, has digitized historical vital records including death records. It is free to search and often covers older Chippewa County records that are not in newer digital indexes.

The state's GENDIS database at vitalstats.michigan.gov covers Michigan deaths from 1971 through 1996. It is a free search tool maintained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. For deaths after 1996, you typically go directly to the county clerk or the statewide vital records office at michigan.gov/mdhhs. FamilySearch.org also has indexed Michigan death collections available for free research.

Nearby Counties

Chippewa County is in the eastern Upper Peninsula. These are neighboring counties in the region.