Genesee County Death Index

Genesee County death index records are handled by the Vital Records Division of the County Clerk in Flint, with records from 1867 to the present and a searchable online database covering 1934 onward. A dedicated genealogy research room is open Fridays. Fee waivers are available for low-income residents. This page covers how to request Genesee County death records, what it costs, and how the online search tools work.

Genesee County Vital Records Division

The Genesee County Clerk runs a dedicated Vital Records Division at 1101 Beach Street in Flint. The Vital Records Division page covers the request process, fees, and hours for the division. A separate vital records phone line at (810) 257-3225 handles calls specifically about death certificates and other vital documents. The main clerk number is (810) 257-3060. Email for vital records goes to vitalrecords@geneseecounty.org.

Genesee County has a genealogy research room at the clerk's office, open Fridays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This room gives researchers direct access to county death records and related materials. If you are doing in-depth genealogy work, the Friday research room is a better option than a standard in-person records request. You can look through indexes and records at your own pace. Staff can help you with searches during that session.

The county adopted a fee waiver policy in July 2023 for low-income residents. If you qualify, you may be able to get a certified copy at reduced or no cost. Ask about the waiver process when you contact the office. This benefit is especially important for people who need death certificates for estate or benefit purposes but have limited financial resources.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records office works alongside county-level offices as the statewide holder of vital records. The image below shows the MDHHS page that covers Michigan's death registration system.

MDHHS at michigan.gov/mdhhs is the statewide vital records authority and can issue certified death certificates for Michigan residents including those in Genesee County.

Genesee County Death Records Online Search

Genesee County has a Death Records Search Database covering 1934 to the present. You can use the Self-Service Web Portal to search by name and see basic record details. This tool does not give you a certified copy, but it helps you confirm a record exists and find the exact date of death before you order. For records from 1867 to 1933, you need to contact the Vital Records Division directly or visit the genealogy research room on a Friday.

The Self-Service Web Portal is linked from the Vital Records Division page on the county website. Online orders can also be placed through the portal for certified copies. Note that mail requests to Genesee County must include a money order only. The office does not accept personal checks for mail-in requests. This is an important detail to get right before you send your request, since a check will cause delays.

Under MCL 333.2885, Michigan death records 75 or more years old are available for public genealogical research. Most of the 1934 to 1950 records in Genesee County's online database fall within that window and are openly accessible.

Genesee County Death Certificate Fees

Certified death certificates from Genesee County cost $25.00 for the first copy. Each additional copy is $10.00. Non-certified copies cost $10.00. These are among the higher fees you will find in Michigan, reflecting the county's administrative costs for one of the state's more populous counties. Fee structure in Michigan is set within the framework of MCL 333.2843.

Mail requests require payment by money order only. No personal checks are accepted. In-person and online payments likely accept other methods, but confirm with the office. Low-income residents may apply for a fee waiver under the county's July 2023 policy. Ask about the waiver application when you contact the Vital Records Division at vitalrecords@geneseecounty.org or by phone at (810) 257-3225.

Order all certified copies you need at once. At $10 each for additional copies, buying extras in one transaction is cheaper than placing a new order. Estate settlement typically requires multiple certified originals for different agencies.

Genealogy Research Tools for Genesee County

Beyond the county's own database, several free tools can help with Genesee County death records research. The GENDIS database at vitalstats.michigan.gov covers Michigan deaths from 1971 through 1996. It is maintained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and is free to search. For Genesee County deaths in that range, GENDIS is a useful supplement to the county's own database.

Michiganology.org has digitized historical Michigan vital records going back to the 1800s and is free to search. FamilySearch.org has indexed Michigan death collections also at no cost. If you need a certified copy after finding a record in these indexes, contact the Genesee County Vital Records Division or the MDHHS vital records office.

Cities in Genesee County

Genesee County includes Flint, the county seat and largest city. Death records for all cities in the county are handled through the Vital Records Division at 1101 Beach Street in Flint.

Nearby Counties

Genesee County is in east-central Michigan. These counties border it and each has its own clerk handling death records.