Lansing Obituaries and Death Records
Lansing death records and obituaries are available through multiple state and local resources concentrated in the capital city. As Michigan's state capital, Lansing is home to the MDHHS vital records office, the Library of Michigan, and the Michigan History Center and Archives of Michigan, making it the single richest location in the state for death record research. The Ingham County Clerk, the Capital Area District Library, and the Ingham County Genealogical Society all provide additional local access to obituaries and death records.
Lansing Overview
Ingham County Clerk Death Records
Lansing death records go through the Ingham County Clerk. The main clerk office is at 341 S. Jefferson, Mason, MI 48854, and there is also a branch at 313 W. Kalamazoo in Lansing itself. The phone number is 517-676-7201, and the website is clerk.ingham.org. The fee for the first certified copy of a death certificate in Ingham County is $30, with additional copies at $15 each when ordered at the same time. Under MCL 333.2882, any person can order a death certificate in Michigan without needing to show a family relationship.
The Lansing branch of the clerk's office at 313 W. Kalamazoo is more convenient for city residents than the main office in Mason. Staff there can handle death certificate requests, record searches, and other vital record matters. For genealogy research that goes beyond certified copies, the CADL and ICGS resources described below offer much deeper historical access.
| Office | Ingham County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Main Address | 341 S. Jefferson, Mason, MI 48854 |
| Lansing Branch | 313 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing |
| Phone | 517-676-7201 |
| Website | clerk.ingham.org |
| First Copy Fee | $30 |
| Additional Copies | $15 each |
The Ingham County Clerk website shown above at clerk.ingham.org is the official source for certified death certificates covering Lansing and all of Ingham County.
Capital Area District Library Genealogy Collection
The Capital Area District Library has Lansing State Journal microfilm from 1855 to the present. The Lansing State Journal is the region's paper of record and has carried detailed obituary notices throughout its history. This is one of the most important resources for Lansing obituary research, especially for deaths in the mid-20th century and earlier. The CADL's genealogy resources are free to use at branch locations and support in-depth local history research.
The LSJ microfilm collection at CADL gives researchers access to over 165 years of Lansing-area obituary notices. The paper covered state government figures, university professionals, auto workers, and ordinary families throughout the region. For Lansing genealogy that touches state government or Michigan State University connections, the LSJ archives are particularly strong. Visit cadl.org for branch locations and genealogy collection details.
The CADL genealogy collection shown above includes Lansing State Journal microfilm from 1855 to the present, the primary newspaper source for Lansing obituary research.
Note: CADL offers a Library of Michigan card to Michigan residents at no cost, which gives additional access to statewide genealogy databases and digital collections beyond what the local branches hold.
Library of Michigan and MDHHS Vital Records
Lansing is home to both the Library of Michigan and the MDHHS vital records office, which makes it unique among Michigan cities for death record access. The Library of Michigan at michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan holds extensive genealogy collections and is free for Michigan residents. State residents can get a free Library of Michigan card that provides access to statewide genealogy databases. The library is near the State Capitol and has staff who specialize in Michigan genealogy and death record research.
MDHHS is located at 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, phone 517-335-8666. This is the state-level vital records office that holds death certificates going back to the start of statewide registration under Public Act 194 of 1867. Anyone in Michigan who needs a certified death certificate can request it from MDHHS. The fee is $34 for the first copy and $16 for additional copies. Lansing residents have the advantage of being able to visit MDHHS in person, which can speed up requests that would otherwise require mail. You can also order through vitalchek.com for a $12.95 service fee.
Public Act 73 of 2006 sets a 75-year restriction on free online images of death records. For deaths after 1952, you need a certified copy from either the county clerk or MDHHS. For earlier records, the free Michiganology database at michiganology.org and the GENDIS system at michiganology.org/gendis cover Michigan deaths from 1897 forward.
The Library of Michigan shown above in Lansing is a free resource for Michigan residents and holds extensive genealogy collections for death and obituary research statewide.
Ingham County Genealogical Society Records
The Ingham County Genealogical Society at icgsweb.org maintains the Area Deaths Database along with burial permits from 1873 through 2008. The burial permit database is a remarkable local resource because it predates many of the digitized sources and covers deaths that may not appear in newspaper obituaries or the state registration system. This kind of granular county-level record is what makes the ICGS collection valuable for Lansing genealogy research.
The ICGS has been building its database for decades through volunteer transcription of physical records held at local cemeteries, churches, and government offices. The Area Deaths Database draws from multiple sources including burial records, funeral home ledgers, and newspaper death notices. For deaths in Lansing from the late 1800s through the 20th century, the ICGS database is a strong supplement to the LSJ microfilm at CADL and the state records at MDHHS and Michiganology.
The Michigan History Center and Archives of Michigan, also located in Lansing, hold physical record collections that extend beyond what the ICGS and CADL have digitized. The Archives of Michigan is the official repository for state government records and holds historical vital records series not available elsewhere. Researchers working on Lansing death records from the 19th and early 20th centuries may find unique material there.
Ingham County Death Records
Lansing is the county seat of Ingham County. All death records for Lansing residents go through the Ingham County Clerk. For full county-level procedures, fees, and additional resources, visit the Ingham County obituary records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Michigan cities also have death records and obituary resources.