Southfield Obituaries and Death Records
Southfield obituary and death records are held by the Oakland County Clerk, which offers a free online death record search from 1900 onward. Southfield is also home to the Detroit Jewish News, which has published in the city for over 90 years and provides a unique regional obituary archive for the Jewish community of greater Detroit. This page covers how to search Southfield death records through county, local, and state sources.
Southfield Overview
Free Oakland County Death Record Search
Oakland County provides a free online death record search through the Oakland County Clerk website. The database covers death records from 1900 onward and is available to anyone without a fee. Southfield residents and researchers can search by name and confirm whether a death record exists before paying for a certified copy.
The search tool shows index-level information for matching records. A certified copy of the actual death certificate costs $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 serves the southern part of the county and is accessible for Southfield residents as well.
Oakland County is one of Michigan's most populous counties, with over 1.3 million residents. Southfield sits in the southern part of the county near the Wayne County border. Death records for Southfield go through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac, not Wayne County. Make sure you are searching the correct county system when researching Southfield deaths.
Note: Public Act 73 of 2006 restricts free online access to death record images less than 75 years old. Recent records require a paid certified copy from the clerk's office or MDHHS.
Detroit Jewish News Digital Archives
The Detroit Jewish News is published in Southfield and has been serving the Detroit-area Jewish community for more than 90 years. The paper's digital archives are a unique and locally specific obituary resource for Southfield and the surrounding area. Obituaries published in the Detroit Jewish News cover many Southfield residents, given the city's substantial Jewish population that grew significantly during the mid-20th century suburban expansion from Detroit.
The digital archives allow researchers to search for obituary notices that may not appear in other databases. The paper has covered births, deaths, marriages, and community events across many decades, making it a rich source for family history research in the Southfield area. For Jewish families who settled in Southfield after leaving Detroit, the Detroit Jewish News archives may be the most complete obituary record available.
The Oakland County Genealogical Society supports researchers working on death and obituary research across all of Oakland County, including Southfield. Their collection includes obituary indexes and death record databases that complement what the county clerk holds. The society can also point you to resources specific to different communities within the county.
Southfield Library and Genealogy Resources
The Southfield Public Library at southfieldlibrary.org is the local library serving Southfield residents. The library provides access to genealogy databases and local history materials. For Southfield-specific obituary research, the library may hold local newspaper archives or community records that complement the county clerk and state databases. Note that the library site may have periodic access issues, so it is worth calling ahead before visiting specifically for genealogy research.
For older Southfield death records, the free Michiganology GENDIS database covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952. Southfield was part of Southfield Township before its incorporation as a city, so deaths from the 1800s and early 1900s may be indexed under the township name. Public Act 194 of 1867 mandated statewide death registration, so records from that period forward are in the state system.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Archives site, a useful resource for historical Southfield death records and Oakland County genealogy materials.
The Archives of Michigan holds microfilm, county records, and historical genealogy materials relevant to Southfield and the broader Oakland County area.
Ordering Southfield Death Records from MDHHS
State-level death certificates for Southfield can be ordered from MDHHS at 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, phone 517-335-8666. The state fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional. Online orders are available through VitalChek with a $12.95 service fee. For free historical records from 1897 to 1952, the Michiganology site is the right starting point.
The screenshot below shows the GENDIS search tool at Michiganology, which covers early Oakland County death records including those from the Southfield area.
The GENDIS database at michiganology.org/gendis offers free death record searches for Michigan from 1897 to 1952, including Oakland County records for the Southfield and former Southfield Township area.
Oakland County Death Records
Southfield is in Oakland County. All death filings for the city go through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac. For full county-level details on the free online search, fees, and resources, visit the Oakland County page.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities are near Southfield in Oakland County and the greater metro Detroit area.