Clinton Township Death Records

Clinton Township obituary and death records are filed through the Macomb County Clerk and searchable through the Clinton-Macomb Public Library's local history collection. With about 100,000 residents, Clinton Township is one of the larger communities in Macomb County. The Macomb County Clerk maintains an online death database at clerk.macombgov.org, and the Clinton-Macomb Public Library holds the Donald W. Green Local History Room with over 2,000 volumes on the township's history.

Macomb County Clerk Death Records

Death records for Clinton Township residents go through the Macomb County Clerk at clerk.macombgov.org. The clerk maintains a searchable online death database that covers all Macomb County communities including Clinton Township. Under MCL 333.2882, any person can order a certified death certificate without showing a family relationship. The fee in Macomb County is $17 per certified copy.

The online database at the clerk's website allows basic name searches for death records across Macomb County. For historical records not yet digitized, in-person or mail requests to the clerk's office may be needed. Staff can assist with both searches and certified copy requests. Clinton Township has been part of Macomb County throughout its history, so all records are held in the county system rather than a separate township archive.

Clinton-Macomb Public Library Local History Room

The Clinton-Macomb Public Library is the primary library serving Clinton Township and maintains the Donald W. Green Local History Room. This collection holds over 2,000 volumes on the history of Clinton Township and Macomb County. The local history room contains historical newspapers, obituary files, genealogy reference works, and community records that support death record research going back through the township's history. The CMPL is free to use and open to all residents and researchers.

The Donald W. Green Local History Room has materials covering Clinton Township from its early settlement through the suburban growth era. Clinton Township was part of the Clinton River and Kalamazoo Canal history in the 19th century, and those early records are preserved in the collection. For genealogy research on families who lived in the township before it became one of Macomb County's largest communities, the local history room is the best starting point. Visit cmpl.org for branch locations and current hours.

The library also provides access to subscription genealogy databases including Ancestry.com for in-library use at no cost. This gives Clinton Township researchers access to statewide and national death records beyond what the local collection holds on its own. Combining the local history room materials with Ancestry's Michigan death records gives a broad picture for most genealogy research needs.

The Clinton-Macomb Public Library shown above holds the Donald W. Green Local History Room with over 2,000 volumes covering Clinton Township and Macomb County history, supporting obituary and death record research.

Note: The local history room at CMPL operates on a separate schedule from the main library branches. Contact the library at cmpl.org to confirm research appointment availability.

Clinton Township History and Death Records

Clinton Township's historical identity is tied to the Clinton and Kalamazoo Canal project from the 1830s, which shaped early settlement patterns in the township. The Greater Clinton Township Historical Society holds records and materials from this early era. For death records research involving families from the canal and early settlement period, the historical society's collections and the CMPL local history room together provide the best coverage.

Selfridge Air National Guard Base is located in Clinton Township, and military death records for base personnel may be held at the federal level. The National Archives in Chicago holds military service records for many periods, and family members of veterans who died while stationed at Selfridge may need to request records through the federal system in addition to the state and county resources. MDHHS in Lansing at 517-335-8666 handles civilian death certificates, but military deaths may have separate federal documentation as well.

Public Act 73 of 2006 puts a 75-year restriction on free online death record images in Michigan. For deaths within that window, certified copies from the Macomb County Clerk are the appropriate channel. For older deaths, the free Michiganology database at michiganology.org covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952. Public Act 194 of 1867 established the statewide registration system that these records come from. The GENDIS system at michiganology.org/gendis covers earlier records.

Statewide Death Record Access for Clinton Township

Michigan's free death record databases at Michiganology cover Clinton Township deaths from 1897 to 1952. For more recent deaths, contact the Macomb County Clerk at clerk.macombgov.org or MDHHS in Lansing. MDHHS is at 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, and charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for additional copies. VitalChek at vitalchek.com processes online orders with a $12.95 service fee added to state fees. The Mount Clemens Public Library at mtclib.org holds the Macomb County obituary index with over 20,000 entries from 1880 to the present.

Macomb County Death Records

Clinton Township is in Macomb County. All death records for Clinton Township residents go through the Macomb County Clerk. For full county-level fees, procedures, and resources, visit the Macomb County obituary records page.

View Macomb County Death Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby Macomb County cities also have death records and obituary resources.