Livingston County Death Index

Livingston County death index records are held by the County Clerk in Howell. The office has records going back to 1867. You can get certified death certificates in person, by mail, or online through the county's ordering system. This page covers how to search Livingston County death records, what it costs, and where to find older records for genealogy research.

Livingston County Clerk - Death Records Office

The Livingston County Clerk handles death records for the county. The office is at 304 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Records go back to 1867. The clerk's office processes walk-in requests, mail orders, and online requests. The county website at milivcounty.gov has details about all three methods.

Livingston County is one of the more populous Michigan counties south of Lansing. The clerk processes a high volume of vital records requests each year. For recent deaths, the clerk's office is the fastest source. For very old records, the state archive and digital indexes can help fill in what may be missing or damaged in county files. Under MCL 333.2885, the county clerk serves as the local registrar and is authorized to issue certified copies of all death records on file.

The MDHHS Vital Records office in Lansing also holds Livingston County death records and can issue certified copies. Either office can fulfill your request.

How to Get Livingston County Death Certificates

Livingston County offers three ways to request death records. You can walk in, mail a request, or start an order online through the county website. The county website has a link to "Start an Order" directly from the death records page at milivcounty.gov. That online option is useful if you are not close to Howell.

In-person visits are the fastest route. Bring a completed request form and payment to 304 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell. The clerk staff can usually process your request the same day if records are on hand. Mail requests take longer. Send your completed application, a copy of your ID if needed, and a check or money order to the same address. Mail processing adds time on both ends, so expect at least one to two weeks total.

The fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Livingston County's fees are higher than some other Michigan counties. If you are ordering multiple copies, ordering them together saves money on extra copies.

Note: Confirm payment methods with the clerk's office before sending your request, as policies can change.

Michigan Death Records - State Resources

The Michigan MDHHS vital records page provides information about ordering death certificates from the state office and explains the access rules for Michigan death records.

The state page explains who qualifies to request a certified copy and which records are open for genealogy research.

For free online research, the GENDIS death index covers deaths across Michigan and is searchable by name. You can use it to confirm a Livingston County death before ordering a certified copy from the clerk. Michiganology and FamilySearch are also free and hold older Michigan death records useful for genealogy. These tools save you the cost of a certified copy when you just need to confirm basic facts.

Who Can Get Livingston County Death Records

Michigan death records are not fully public in the same way as some other record types. Under MCL 333.2843, certified copies are issued to qualified applicants. These include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or legal representative of the deceased, as well as others with a proven legal interest. Genealogy access to older records opens up after 25 years from the date of death.

If you are researching family history and the death occurred more than 25 years ago, you can request a certified copy without proving a relationship. For more recent deaths, be prepared to show your ID and explain your connection to the deceased when you submit your request to the Livingston County Clerk.

The GENDIS index at vitalstats.michigan.gov is open to all users without restriction and is a good starting point for any Livingston County death search.

Nearby Counties

Livingston County is in southeastern Michigan. These neighboring counties each have their own clerk offices for death records.