Dickinson County Death Index

Dickinson County death index records and certified death certificates are available through the County Clerk in Iron Mountain, with records going back to 1891. In-person requests are processed while you wait, and the office also accepts mail, fax, and online requests. This page explains the request process, fees, what payment methods are accepted, and how to find older records from before Dickinson County maintained its own registry.

Dickinson County Clerk Office

The Dickinson County Clerk handles death records for the county from its office in Iron Mountain. The Dickinson County Clerk page has details on how to request records, what fees apply, and the hours the office is open. Death certificates are public records in Dickinson County, which means anyone can request a copy without having to show a family relationship or state a particular legal reason.

One of the more convenient features of this office is that in-person requests are processed while you wait. You do not have to come back later or wait for the mail. If you walk in during business hours with the name and date of death, staff can issue a certified copy before you leave. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Dickinson County's death records begin in 1891. Before that year, records for deaths that occurred in the area were filed with Menominee County or with the state. If you are looking for a pre-1891 death in the Dickinson County area, you may need to check Menominee County records or contact the Michigan MDHHS vital records office. Online access has been available since April 2021.

The Dickinson County Clerk page shows the office's web presence and the vital records section where death certificates are requested.

The Dickinson County Clerk is at 705 S. Stephenson Avenue in Iron Mountain, with a P.O. Box 609 mailing address for those sending requests by mail.

How to Get Dickinson County Death Records

In-person requests are the fastest option. Go to 705 S. Stephenson Avenue in Iron Mountain during business hours. Staff processes your request while you wait, so you leave with the certificate. Bring the full legal name, date of death, and payment. Accepted payment methods include cash, local Dickinson County checks, money orders, and MasterCard or Visa credit cards.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 609, Iron Mountain, MI 49801. Include the name of the deceased, date of death, your return mailing address, and payment by money order or Dickinson County check. Out-of-county checks may not be accepted, so use a money order if you are mailing from outside the area. Fax requests can be sent to (906) 774-4660, which is useful for sending a written request quickly when you cannot visit in person.

Online requests have been available since April 2021. Check the county clerk website for the current online request portal. If you do not know the exact year of death, the office offers a 10-year search for $5.00. That search can help you narrow down the date before ordering a full certified copy. Under MCL 333.2885, records 75 or more years old are open for public genealogical use.

Dickinson County Death Certificate Fees

Dickinson County charges $20.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $15.00 for each additional copy. If you do not know the year of death, a 10-year search costs $5.00 to run. These fees are among the higher ones you will find in Michigan, but they are set at the county level within the structure of MCL 333.2843. Accepted payment methods are cash, local Dickinson County checks, money orders, and MasterCard or Visa.

If you need multiple certified copies, order them all at once. At $15 per additional copy, ordering extras during the same visit or request costs less than placing a new order each time. Estate settlement typically requires three to five certified copies for various agencies.

Note: The 10-year search fee applies when you do not know the exact year of death. This fee pays for the clerk's time to search a 10-year window. If you find the record, you then pay the copy fee separately to get the certified certificate.

Pre-1891 Records and Genealogy Tools

Dickinson County's own records go back to 1891. For deaths before that year, records were kept by Menominee County or by the state. If you are researching a death that occurred in the Dickinson County area before 1891, check the Menominee County Clerk or the Michigan MDHHS vital records office. State records may include copies of early vital registrations submitted to Lansing before the county started its own system.

The GENDIS database at vitalstats.michigan.gov is a free state genealogy death index covering Michigan deaths from 1971 through 1996. It can help you confirm a record and its county before you place a formal request. For older Dickinson County records, Michiganology.org has digitized historical Michigan vital records going back to the 1800s. FamilySearch.org also has indexed Michigan death collections that are free to search.

Nearby Counties

These Upper Peninsula counties border Dickinson County. Each clerk office handles death records for its area.