Farmington Hills Death Records and Obituaries
Farmington Hills obituary and death records are maintained by the Oakland County Clerk, which provides a free online death record search from 1900 onward. Farmington Hills also has strong local genealogy resources, including the Farmington Genealogical Society's Thayer-Rock Funeral Home index with more than 10,000 records and the Farmington Community Library's Heritage Room. This page covers all the key places to search.
Farmington Hills Overview
Free Oakland County Death Record Search
Oakland County provides a free online death record database through the Oakland County Clerk website. The search covers records from 1900 onward and is available to anyone at no cost. Farmington Hills residents and researchers can use this tool to confirm whether a specific death record exists before paying for a certified copy.
The free search shows index-level information for matching records. Certified copies cost $15 for the first and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Under MCL 333.2882, any person can request a Michigan death certificate without proving a family connection or legal interest. The Oakland County Clerk main office is in Pontiac; a satellite office in Troy is also available for southern Oakland County residents.
Note: Public Act 73 of 2006 restricts free online access to death record images less than 75 years old. For recent records, you need to request a certified copy through the clerk's office or through MDHHS.
Farmington Genealogical Society and Funeral Home Index
The Farmington Genealogical Society has been active for more than 50 years and maintains one of the most specific obituary resources in Oakland County. Their Thayer-Rock Funeral Home index contains 10,667 records from a local funeral home that served the Farmington Hills area for many decades. This index is a unique resource because it comes directly from funeral home records rather than newspapers or government filings.
Funeral home records often include information that does not appear in newspaper obituaries or official death certificates. They may list the names of pallbearers, clergy, burial location, family members present, and other details. The Thayer-Rock index is particularly useful for researchers who know a family member used this funeral home but do not have a specific death date. The Farmington Genealogical Society can assist with queries related to this index.
The society also connects researchers with the Oakland County Genealogical Society, which maintains broader county-wide death record indexes and obituary databases. Between the two organizations, Farmington Hills researchers have access to considerable depth in local genealogy materials. The society has knowledge of the area's Quaker heritage and connections to Governor Fred Warner, whose family history is woven into Farmington area records.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Archives website, which is useful for locating older Farmington Hills death records predating modern county databases.
The Archives of Michigan holds historical death records, county histories, and microfilm collections covering Oakland County going back to the 19th century.
Farmington Community Library Heritage Room
The Farmington Community Library has a Heritage Room with hand-compiled obituary and death record indexes. These local indexes cover the Farmington and Farmington Hills area and are the result of years of work by local historians and librarians. For obituaries from local newspapers and other area publications, this is often a faster resource than searching county or state databases.
The Heritage Room materials include hand-written cards, clippings, and compiled lists that reflect decades of volunteer effort. Some of these records cover deaths from before the official county database starts. This is especially useful if you are researching a family that lived in Farmington Hills when it was still Farmington Township. The library staff can guide you through the collection and help you understand its scope and organization.
The library may occasionally have access issues or limited hours for special collections. It is worth calling ahead at the main library number before visiting specifically for Heritage Room materials. The online catalog at farmlib.org can give you current information on library hours and genealogy services available.
State Death Certificate Orders
Farmington Hills death certificates can be ordered from MDHHS in Lansing at 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, phone 517-335-8666. State fees are $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional. Online ordering is available through VitalChek with a $12.95 service fee on top.
For free historical records, the Michiganology GENDIS database covers Michigan death records from 1897 to 1952. Public Act 194 of 1867 mandated statewide death registration in Michigan, so state records from that point forward cover deaths in what is now Farmington Hills. For older research, the Michigan Archives and the Oakland County Genealogical Society are the best starting points.
The screenshot below shows the GENDIS search interface at Michiganology, a free tool for early Farmington Hills and Oakland County death records.
The GENDIS database at michiganology.org/gendis offers free death record searches covering Michigan from 1897 to 1952, including Oakland County entries for the Farmington Hills area.
Oakland County Death Records
Farmington Hills is in Oakland County. All death filings for the city go through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac. For full county-level information on fees, the free online search, and other resources, visit the Oakland County page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Farmington Hills in Oakland County. All use the Oakland County Clerk for death record requests.