Search Luce County Death Index

Luce County death index records are filed with the County Clerk in Newberry and go back to 1887. You can request certified death certificates in person or by mail. This page covers how to get Luce County death records, the fees involved, and which state and national tools help with genealogy research for this Upper Peninsula county.

Luce County Clerk Vital Records

The Luce County Clerk in Newberry handles all death records for the county. The office is at 407 West Harrie Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Note that the office closes from noon to 1:00 PM for lunch, so plan your visit around that break. Records go back to 1887 when Luce County was established.

Luce County is one of the smaller counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The clerk's office handles a modest volume of requests compared to larger counties. That can mean faster turnaround when you go in person. Mail requests are also accepted. Include a copy of your photo ID with mail requests, as the office requires ID for mail-in orders. Phone the office at (906) 293-5521 if you have questions before submitting.

Under MCL 333.2885, the county clerk is the local registrar for Luce County. All death certificates filed within the county are maintained here. The state MDHHS office in Lansing also holds copies and can issue certified records for Luce County deaths.

How to Get a Luce County Death Certificate

In-person requests are handled at 407 West Harrie Street in Newberry. Walk in during office hours, give staff the name and approximate date of death, and pay the fee. The first certified copy costs $15. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $5. Bring payment in the form of cash, check, or money order.

For mail requests, include a copy of your photo ID along with your written request and payment. Send it to the Luce County Clerk at 407 West Harrie Street, Newberry, MI 49868. Processing time depends on the clerk's workload, but plan for at least one to two weeks from the date they receive your request. If you need the record quickly, call ahead to see if there is a faster option.

Luce County does not appear to offer an online ordering portal, so in-person or mail are the main ways to get records directly from the county. You can also order from the state MDHHS office at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The state office accepts mail and online orders and holds copies of Luce County death records as well.

Note: Photo ID is required for mail requests at the Luce County Clerk office.

Michigan Death Index Tools for Luce County Research

The Michigan MDHHS Vital Records page is the statewide source for ordering certified death certificates and learning about access rules.

The page has links to the online ordering system and explains who qualifies to request records from the state office.

For free research, use the GENDIS Michigan death index. GENDIS lets you search by name and find the county and year of death at no cost. Luce County records appear in the database for years covered by the index. Michiganology and FamilySearch are also free and have older Michigan death collections that can help with Upper Peninsula genealogy research going back to the late 1800s.

Luce County Death Records - What They Include

A certified death certificate from Luce County shows the full name, date of death, place of death, and cause of death as reported by the attending physician or medical examiner. It also lists the deceased person's age, birthplace, and parents' names. Spouse's name appears on certificates for married individuals. Social security numbers are included on certificates from the mid-twentieth century onward.

Older records from the late 1800s and early 1900s tend to have less detail. The oldest Luce County records, from around 1887, may show only basic facts. Michigan death record forms changed several times over the decades, so the amount of information on a certificate depends on when the death was recorded. For genealogy research on older deaths, plan to use GENDIS, Michiganology, and FamilySearch alongside any certified copy you request. Under MCL 333.2843, access to certified copies is subject to state rules, though the GENDIS index is open to everyone.

Nearby Counties

Luce County is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. These surrounding counties each maintain their own death records at their respective clerk offices.