Search Hillsdale County Death Index

Hillsdale County death index records are held by the County Clerk in the city of Hillsdale. The office has death certificates going back to 1867, with some earlier records predating statewide registration. You can request a certified copy in person, by mail, or through VitalChek. This page explains the process, the fees, and where to find older death records not in the clerk's active files.

Hillsdale County Clerk Vital Records

The Hillsdale County Clerk handles all vital records for the county including the death index. The office is located at 29 N. Howell Street in Hillsdale. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone number is (517) 437-3391. Staff can assist with name searches and record retrieval during business hours.

Hillsdale County was organized in 1835, which makes it one of the older counties in Michigan. It predates statewide death registration by 32 years. That is a notable gap. Death records from 1835 to 1866 do not exist in the standard county clerk system because mandatory registration had not yet started. The clerk's formal death index begins in 1867 when the state required counties to record vital events. For earlier deaths, you would need to look at church records, cemetery transcriptions, and probate files from that era.

The county clerk website at co.hillsdale.mi.us has information on requesting records and the services the office provides.

The Hillsdale County Clerk website at co.hillsdale.mi.us shows office details, hours, and vital records services for the county.

This page from the clerk's site lists how to request a Hillsdale County death certificate and what information you need to include with your request.

Requesting Hillsdale County Death Records

The fee for a certified death certificate from Hillsdale County is $15 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. This is a standard fee in line with many Michigan counties. Payment is accepted in person by cash, check, or money order. Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to Hillsdale County Clerk.

To request in person, go to the office at 29 N. Howell Street during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Tell the clerk the full name of the person who died and the approximate date and year of death. If you have the case number from a prior search, bring that too. The clerk can often find the record quickly and issue a certified copy the same day.

Mail requests take longer. Write a letter with the deceased's full name, date of death, and your relationship to them. Include your return address and a check for the right amount. Send it to the Hillsdale County Clerk at 29 N. Howell Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242. VitalChek also serves Hillsdale County for online and phone orders. VitalChek adds a service fee but is convenient if you need the record mailed to you.

Michigan law at MCL 333.2885 makes death certificates public records in the state. You do not need to be a family member to get a copy, though some cause-of-death details may have limited access for non-family requesters.

What the Hillsdale County Death Index Contains

Each death certificate in Hillsdale County includes the full legal name, date and place of death, age, and cause of death. The record also shows the name of the attending physician or medical examiner. Most certificates list the informant, who is the person who reported the death. This is often a spouse, child, or funeral home director. The place of burial or cremation is recorded as well. Older records from the 1800s may have less detail than modern ones.

The death index is the summary-level record. It has names, dates, and registration numbers without the full certificate text. Researchers often use the state index at GENDIS to locate a record and get its registration number before ordering from the county. GENDIS is free to search online and covers Michigan deaths from 1867 forward. Once you have the registration number, the county request goes faster because staff can pull the exact file.

Note: The GENDIS index may have a lag for the most recent years. For deaths within the last few years, contact the clerk directly rather than relying on the online index.

Historical Death Records in Hillsdale County

Hillsdale County's 1835 founding date makes it a rich target for genealogy work in southern Michigan. Families settled the area in the 1830s and 1840s, and many early records exist in sources outside the county clerk's office. For deaths between 1835 and 1866, look at cemetery records, church burial registers, and probate court files. The Hillsdale County Probate Court holds estate records that often note a death date and surviving heirs.

The state archives hold Michigan death records from 1867 onward at the state level. For very early records and pre-registration deaths, the Michiganology.org site has digitized historical Michigan records including some Hillsdale County entries. The site is run by the Library of Michigan and is free to search. FamilySearch.org also holds Michigan vital records collections including some Hillsdale County death records that are free to search and view online.

Newspaper obituaries are another useful source for this county. Local papers like the Hillsdale Daily News have published obituaries for over a century. Many older issues are available through library digitization projects and genealogy databases. If you cannot find a formal death record, an obituary can fill in the gap with dates and family names.

The Michigan MDHHS vital records office holds state copies of death certificates from 1867 forward. You can order from them directly as an alternative to the county clerk.

Nearby Counties

Hillsdale County shares borders with several counties in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. Check these neighboring clerks if you need records from communities near the county line.