Search the Wayne County Death Index

Wayne County death index records go back to 1867 and are held by the Wayne County Clerk in Detroit, Michigan. As the most populous county in Michigan, Wayne County handles a high volume of death records, including all Detroit city records that were transferred from the Detroit Vital Records Division when it closed in December 2013. Certified copies cost $24 for the first copy and $12 for each additional copy. In-person visits require an appointment. This page covers how to search the Wayne County death index and how to get certified copies from the clerk's office.

Wayne County Clerk Death Records Office

The Wayne County Clerk manages death records for Michigan's largest and most populated county. The office is at 400 Monroe Street, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226. The phone number is (313) 224-5522. In-person visits to the clerk's office require an appointment. Walk-in service is not available. You can schedule an appointment through the clerk's website or by calling the office directly.

The Wayne County Clerk death certificates page has current details on all ordering methods. Online ordering is available through VitalChek, which is the fastest option for many requestors who do not need to visit Detroit in person. Certified copies cost $24.00 for the first copy and $12.00 for each additional copy of the same record. These fees are higher than most Michigan counties, which reflects the county's administrative scale.

Mail requests to the Monroe Street office are also accepted. Send a completed request form, a copy of your valid photo ID, payment by check or money order made payable to the Wayne County Clerk, and a stamped return envelope. The clerk processes mail requests in the order received. Processing times vary based on current volume at the office.

Under MCL 333.2885, Michigan death records are public. Anyone can request a copy regardless of their relationship to the deceased.

The Wayne County Clerk's death certificates page shows the current process for all request methods.

The Wayne County Clerk website at waynecountymi.gov provides current fee information, appointment scheduling, and instructions for ordering death certificates both in person and by mail.

Detroit City Records Now at Wayne County

Before December 2013, the City of Detroit maintained its own Vital Records Division, which issued death certificates for deaths occurring within Detroit city limits. That office closed in December 2013. All Detroit death records from 1897 through 2013 were transferred to the Wayne County Clerk. Any request for a death that occurred in Detroit, whether before or after 2013, should go to the Wayne County Clerk at the Monroe Street office.

This is an important point for anyone researching deaths in Detroit. You will not find a separate Detroit city vital records office. All records are now housed at Wayne County. This includes the full range of Detroit city death registrations going back to 1897, when the city began its own separate registration system. Deaths in Detroit from 1867 to 1897 were registered through the county system and are also held by the Wayne County Clerk.

Note: If you are researching a death in Detroit before 1897, check the Wayne County records directly. The county system predates the city's own registration office.

How to Search the Wayne County Death Index

The free GENDIS database from Michigan MDHHS covers Wayne County deaths from 1867 through 1897. GENDIS is searchable by name at no cost and returns basic identifying data. For a large county like Wayne, GENDIS has thousands of entries from this early period. It is the best starting point for any research covering the late 1800s.

For deaths between 1897 and 1952, Michiganology.org provides free access to digitized Wayne County death records. Wayne County is one of the most heavily indexed counties on Michiganology given its population. Both GENDIS and Michiganology together give you roughly 85 years of free death index coverage for Wayne County without any contact with the clerk's office.

For deaths from 1952 to present, use the Wayne County Clerk. Online ordering through VitalChek is available for those who do not want to schedule an in-person appointment. The Michigan MDHHS office is a third option for ordering certified copies if you prefer going through the state.

What Wayne County Death Records Include

A certified death certificate from Wayne County shows the deceased's full name, date and place of death, age, and cause of death. It also lists the physician or medical examiner, the informant's name, and the place of burial or cremation. These details are needed for probate, estate settlement, insurance claims, pension applications, and genealogy research.

For deaths before 1867, Wayne County records are limited. Church records, early cemetery files, and probate documents are the best sources for that period. FamilySearch.org has some pre-registration Michigan records that may include early Wayne County entries from the territorial period and early statehood. The county's long settlement history going back to the early 1800s means there is a broader historical record beyond the official death index.

Michigan Death Index Resources for Wayne County

The Michigan MDHHS vital records office holds state copies of all Wayne County death records from 1867 forward. MDHHS also holds the Detroit city records that were transferred to the county in 2013. You can order certified copies from MDHHS as an alternative to the county clerk. Check the MDHHS website for current fees and online ordering options through VitalChek.

Under MCL 333.2843, Michigan has required timely death registration for well over a century. Wayne County's records are extensive and well-maintained, which is expected for the state's most populous county. The integration of Detroit's city records into the county system in 2013 makes the Wayne County Clerk a single point of access for all deaths in and around Detroit going back to 1867.

Cities in Wayne County

Wayne County includes Detroit and many other communities. Death records for all Wayne County residents are filed with the county clerk in Detroit.

Nearby Counties

Wayne County borders several southeast Michigan counties. If you are unsure which county filed a specific death, check neighboring jurisdictions as well.