Search Roscommon County Death Index

The Roscommon County Clerk in Roscommon, Michigan maintains death index records dating back to 1874. You can search these records in person or submit a mail request to get certified death certificates. The clerk's office processes both recent deaths and older historical entries, making it the main local source for Roscommon County death records.

Roscommon County Clerk Vital Records Office

The Roscommon County Clerk is the primary office for death index records in the county. Located at 500 Lake Street in Roscommon, the office serves as the local registrar for all vital records, including death certificates filed from 1874 through today. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone: 989-275-5923. Fax: 989-275-8640. Email inquiries can be sent to clerk@roscommoncounty.net.

Walk-in requests are welcome during office hours. Bring a valid photo ID and your payment. The clerk accepts cash and check. If you are requesting records for a deceased person you are not related to, be ready to explain your interest. The clerk staff can help you determine what documentation you need based on your relationship to the deceased and the age of the record.

Mail requests are processed with a completed request form, a copy of your ID, and payment by check or money order payable to the Roscommon County Clerk. Send mail requests to 500 Lake Street, Roscommon, MI 48653. Include a return address and contact phone number. Processing times vary by workload, but most mail requests are fulfilled within two to three weeks.

Fees for Roscommon County Death Certificates

Roscommon County charges $15 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10. These fees are set by the county and apply to all request methods including in-person and mail. Payment must be included with all requests. The clerk does not issue records without payment.

Under MCL 333.2885, certified copies of death records are available to immediate family members, legal representatives, and anyone who can show a tangible interest. Genealogy researchers can generally access records that are more than 25 years old. Death certificates issued to qualified requesters will include the cause of death. Some requesters may receive a version with that section removed if eligibility is not established.

If you need a death certificate for legal purposes such as probate, insurance, or Social Security, ask for a certified copy. Plain copies are not accepted by most agencies. The clerk can issue multiple certified copies in one transaction, which is more efficient than making separate requests.

Note: Additional copies ordered at the same time as the first copy cost $10 each, which is a higher rate than some other Michigan counties.

Michigan Death Index - Statewide Search Tools

The Michigan MDHHS vital records portal is available to help you find death records from Roscommon County and across the state. The screenshot below shows the statewide MDHHS records page, which includes forms and ordering information for counties throughout Michigan including Roscommon.

The MDHHS vital records page lets you order certified copies of Michigan death certificates by mail or through a third-party provider. For free genealogy research, the GENDIS death index at the state's vital statistics site is a searchable database covering decades of Michigan deaths. Michiganology offers additional historical records and is free to use.

Roscommon County Death Records for Family Research

Roscommon County death records go back to 1874, which gives genealogy researchers a solid base for tracing family histories in north-central Michigan. The county clerk holds the original registration records and can assist with searches when you provide a name and approximate date of death. Older entries may require in-person visits or patience with mail requests, as some pre-1900 records are fragile or incomplete.

FamilySearch has indexed many Michigan death records including entries from Roscommon County. The site is free and searchable by name, year, and county. The GENDIS index at vitalstats.michigan.gov is another free tool maintained by the state that lets you find basic death information online before ordering a physical copy. For older records, the State Archives of Michigan in Lansing holds collections that may include Roscommon County materials not available through the clerk's office.

The Library of Michigan also holds microfilm and digitized records for many Michigan counties. Their Michiganology project at michiganology.org continues to expand its collection with vital records and historical newspapers from counties across the state. Roscommon County obituaries from local papers can also help fill in gaps when formal records are missing.

Michigan Law Governing Death Record Access

Michigan death records fall under the Public Health Code, specifically MCL 333.2843, which governs vital records registration and access. Death certificates are public records in Michigan, but access to certain fields (such as cause of death) may depend on the requester's relationship to the deceased. County clerks act as local registrars under this law and are required to maintain accurate records and issue certified copies to qualified individuals.

The MDHHS serves as the state-level repository and holds copies of all Michigan death records. Both the county clerk and the state office can issue certified copies. If the county cannot locate a record, the state office may have it. For records older than 100 years, some may be found only through the State Archives of Michigan.

Nearby Counties

These counties neighbor Roscommon County in north-central Michigan. Each county clerk maintains death records for their own jurisdiction.