Find Death Index Records in Clare County

Clare County death index records are held by the County Clerk in Harrison, with coverage starting from 1871 when the county was officially organized. In-person and mail requests are the primary ways to obtain certified death certificates from this office. This page covers how to request Clare County death records, what to include in your request, and how to use state and genealogy databases to supplement your search.

Clare County Clerk Vital Records

The Clare County Clerk in Harrison handles vital records for the county, including certified death certificates. Clare County was organized on March 13, 1871, and death record registration began that same year. The county is in the central Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The clerk's office is at 225 West Main Street in Harrison, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 438, Harrison, MI 48625.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you need to call ahead to ask about a specific record or to confirm what you need to bring, the phone number is (989) 539-7131. There is no dedicated vital records email listed for Clare County, so phone and in-person contact are the best ways to get answers quickly.

For older records, Clare County's archive goes back to 1871. That means the county holds over 150 years of death registration data. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at michigan.gov/mdhhs is the state-level counterpart that holds copies of many of these same records and can issue certified copies for records it has on file.

The state fallback image below shows the Michigan MDHHS vital records page, which is the state agency that oversees death registration statewide.

The MDHHS vital records office at michigan.gov/mdhhs can issue certified death certificates for records it holds in its statewide database.

How to Request Clare County Death Certificates

In-person requests are the fastest way to get a death certificate from Clare County. Go to 225 West Main Street in Harrison during business hours. Bring the full legal name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. Staff will search the index and issue a certified copy if the record is found. Payment is due at the time of the request.

Mail requests are accepted as well. Write out your request with the name of the deceased, the date of death, your return address, and why you need the record. Include a check or money order for the fee. Send everything to P.O. Box 438, Harrison, MI 48625. Do not include cash. Mail requests take longer than in-person service, so plan for at least a week or two for the certificate to arrive back to you. If you need it sooner, call the office first to ask about turnaround times.

Under MCL 333.2885, death records that are 75 years or older are available to the public for genealogical research purposes. Newer records have more limited access tied to your relationship with the person on the certificate. If you are an immediate family member, say so when you make your request.

For online orders, the Michigan MDHHS vital records office at michigan.gov/mdhhs works with VitalChek for statewide death certificate ordering. VitalChek charges a processing fee on top of any state or county fee.

Clare County Death Certificate Fees

The fee for a certified death certificate from Clare County is $15.00 for the first copy. This is the standard rate for many Michigan counties. State law under MCL 333.2843 sets the structure for vital records fees in Michigan. If you need additional copies, ask the clerk about the per-copy rate when you place your request.

Payment by check or money order is standard for mail requests. In-person requests may accept cash as well. Do not send cash in the mail. If you have questions about what forms of payment the office accepts, call ahead at (989) 539-7131 before mailing your request.

State Death Index Tools for Clare County Research

The GENDIS database at vitalstats.michigan.gov is a free genealogy death index covering Michigan deaths from 1971 through 1996. Run by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, GENDIS lets you search by name and see basic details. It does not give you a certified copy, but it can confirm a record exists and point you to the right county. For Clare County deaths in that window, GENDIS is a good starting point.

For older records, Michiganology.org is a free state-funded site with digitized historical Michigan vital records. It includes death records going back to the 1800s and is searchable by name and county. FamilySearch.org has additional indexed Michigan death collections contributed by volunteers, also free to search. Both sites can help you find and confirm records before you contact the Clare County Clerk or MDHHS for certified copies.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Clare County in central Michigan. Each county clerk office maintains its own death records.