Waterford Township Death Records and Obituaries
Waterford Township obituary and death records are maintained by the Oakland County Clerk, which offers a free online death record search from 1900 onward. Waterford is a large township in western Oakland County known for its many lakes, and its historical and genealogical records are supported by the Waterford Historical and Genealogical Society as well as the Oakland County Genealogical Society. This page explains how to search for Waterford Township death records.
Waterford Township 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 records from 1900 onward. Anyone can search at no cost. For Waterford Township, this is the most direct way to confirm whether a death record exists in the county system before requesting a certified copy.
A certified copy of an Oakland County death certificate costs $15 for the first and $5 for each additional copy ordered together. Under MCL 333.2882, any person can request a Michigan death certificate without proving a family connection or legal interest. The main Oakland County Clerk office is in Pontiac. Waterford Township is in western Oakland County, which puts it reasonably close to Pontiac for in-person requests. The Troy satellite office is farther east and less convenient for Waterford residents.
Waterford Township has remained a township rather than incorporating as a city, so its records have been continuously indexed under Waterford Township from the 19th century forward. This is different from some other Oakland County communities that changed their municipal status. When searching older county records, Waterford Township should appear consistently under that name.
Note: Public Act 73 of 2006 limits free online access to death record images less than 75 years old. For recent records, you need to request a certified copy from the Oakland County Clerk or MDHHS in Lansing.
Waterford Historical and Genealogical Society
The Waterford Historical and Genealogical Society is a combined organization that handles both historical preservation and genealogy research for Waterford Township. This dual focus makes them a strong resource for death record research because they connect the historical context of the township with the practical task of finding specific genealogy records. The society holds local history materials, contributed genealogy data, and indexes that cover Waterford across many decades.
Waterford Township is home to more lakes than almost any other municipality in Michigan. That geographic character shaped the township's settlement patterns, with many lake-side communities developing independently before the township consolidated. The historical society has knowledge of these different areas and can help researchers understand how older records are organized across what is now a single large township. For researchers tracing ancestors who lived near one of Waterford's many lakes, the society's local knowledge can be valuable.
The Oakland County Genealogical Society supports researchers across all of Oakland County including Waterford Township. Their indexes, obituary databases, and death record materials cover the county as a whole. For Waterford Township deaths specifically, the county-wide tools at OCGS can pick up records that may not be in the township's own historical files.
The screenshot below shows the Michiganology GENDIS database, which covers early Oakland County death records including Waterford Township entries from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The free GENDIS database at michiganology.org/gendis covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952, including early Oakland County records for Waterford Township.
Waterford Township Public Library
The Waterford Township Public Library at waterfordlibrary.org is the local library serving township residents. The library provides access to genealogy databases and may hold local newspaper archives or community records useful for obituary and death record research. Note that the library site may have periodic access issues, so calling ahead before a genealogy-focused visit is recommended.
For older Waterford Township death records, the free Michiganology site covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952 at no charge. Public Act 194 of 1867 established Michigan's statewide death registration requirement, and Waterford Township records from that period forward are in the state system. For records older than 1867, local cemeteries and church records may be the main sources. The Waterford Historical and Genealogical Society can advise on where those types of records are held locally.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Archives website, which holds historical materials relevant to Waterford Township and Oakland County genealogy research.
The Archives of Michigan provides access to microfilmed death records, county histories, and genealogy collections covering Oakland County and Waterford Township across multiple centuries.
State-Level Death Certificate Orders
Waterford Township death records can be ordered from MDHHS 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 through VitalChek is available with a $12.95 service fee. The free Oakland County online search tool is worth using first to confirm a record exists before paying for a copy through either the county or state system.
Oakland County Death Records
Waterford Township is in Oakland County. All death filings for the township go through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac. For full county-level information on the free online search, fees, and genealogy resources, visit the Oakland County page.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying cities are near Waterford Township in Oakland County.