Macomb Township Obituaries and Death Records
Macomb Township obituary and death records are held by the Macomb County Clerk in Mount Clemens. The township sits in Michigan's third most populous county, and records go back well over a century. This page covers how to search for death certificates and obituary indexes specific to Macomb Township and the broader Macomb County area.
Macomb Township Overview
Macomb County Clerk Death Records
The Macomb County Clerk handles all death record requests for Macomb Township. Their office in Mount Clemens maintains an online searchable death database that covers records going back many decades. You can search the database on the Macomb County Clerk website before making a formal request for a certified copy.
Macomb County is Michigan's third most populous county, with well over 800,000 residents spread across its townships and cities. Macomb Township itself has grown rapidly in recent decades, adding tens of thousands of residents as suburban development pushed outward from the Detroit metro area. That growth means the clerk's office handles a large volume of records, and the online search tool reflects that depth. Death certificates for township residents go through the same clerk office that serves all of Macomb County.
The county's online death database is searchable at no charge. If you need a certified copy, the fee is $17. Under MCL 333.2882, anyone can request a death certificate in Michigan regardless of their relationship to the deceased. You do not need to show a family connection or legal interest to get a copy.
| Office | Macomb County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Mount Clemens, MI |
| Online Search | clerk.macombgov.org |
| Fee | $17 per certified copy |
Mount Clemens Library Obituary Index
The Mount Clemens Public Library maintains one of the most useful obituary research tools in Macomb County. Their Macomb County Obituary Index has more than 20,000 entries covering records from 1880 to the present. This index is hand-compiled and covers the full county, making it a strong resource for anyone researching Macomb Township families.
The library's collection includes newspaper clippings, scanned obituaries, and index cards created over many decades by librarians and volunteers. For Macomb Township residents who died in the mid-to-late 20th century, the index is often the fastest way to locate an obituary. The entries note the deceased person's name, date of death, and the publication source. From there, library staff can help you locate the original notice if it is available in their holdings.
The screenshot below shows the Michiganology GENDIS search interface, a free state tool useful for finding early Macomb County death records.
The GENDIS database at michiganology.org/gendis provides free early death records from across Michigan, including Macomb County entries going back to the 1800s.
Note: The Mount Clemens Public Library obituary index is a county-wide resource, so it covers all Macomb County townships and cities, not just Mount Clemens itself.
Macomb Township Obituary Research Tools
The Macomb County Genealogy Group supports researchers working on Macomb County family history, including death and obituary records. They hold meetings, share databases, and connect researchers with local sources that go beyond what is available online. For Macomb Township specifically, the group can be a useful contact when you are stuck on a hard-to-find record.
For older death records, the state provides two free tools. The Michiganology site covers death records from 1897 to 1952 at no charge. That range covers a critical era for Macomb Township, when the area was still largely agricultural and smaller in population. The Archives of Michigan at michigan.gov/archivesofmi also holds historical death records and microfilm collections that cover this period.
Public Act 194 of 1867 required counties and townships across Michigan to begin registering deaths with the state. Records from that era forward are in the state system, though coverage varies by county and year. Macomb County's records from the late 1800s are often found through both the county clerk and the Michiganology database. For post-1952 records, the county clerk is the right first stop.
Public Act 73 of 2006 limits online access to death record images that are less than 75 years old. That means images of recent records are not freely viewable online. For those, you need to order a certified copy through the Macomb County Clerk or through MDHHS in Lansing.
State Death Certificate Orders for Macomb Township
You can also order Macomb Township death certificates through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in Lansing. This is useful if you prefer a central state process or if the county clerk cannot locate the record. The MDHHS address is 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, and their phone is 517-335-8666.
The state fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can also order online through VitalChek, which adds a $12.95 service fee. For free death record images covering 1897 to 1952, the Michiganology GENDIS database is a good place to start before paying for anything.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Archives site, which holds historical death records for the state including early Macomb County materials.
The Michigan Archives at michigan.gov/archivesofmi holds microfilmed death records, county histories, and genealogy materials for Macomb County going back to the 19th century.
Macomb County Death Records
Macomb Township is part of Macomb County. All death filings for the township go through the Macomb County Clerk in Mount Clemens. For full county-level details on fees, search tools, and records access, visit the Macomb County obituary and death records page.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities are also in the Macomb County area. Death records for all of them are held by the Macomb County Clerk.