Find Obituaries and Death Records in Westland
Westland death records and obituaries are maintained by the Wayne County Clerk. This city in suburban Wayne County has a rich local history tied to the former Nankin Township and the Eloise Complex, a major historical institution whose records are an important part of area genealogy. This page covers how to find Westland obituary records through the county clerk, local library, and state sources.
Westland Overview
Wayne County Clerk Death Records
The Wayne County Clerk handles all death record requests for Westland. Their office processes certified copy requests for death certificates filed in the county. The fee is $24 for the first certified copy and $7 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can find information about requesting records at the Wayne County Clerk website.
Westland was incorporated as a city in 1966, formed from the former Nankin Township. That means older death records for the area are indexed under Nankin Township rather than Westland. If you are researching a death that occurred before 1966 at an address now within Westland city limits, you may need to search under the old township name. The county clerk's staff can help clarify this if you are unsure how older records are indexed.
Under MCL 333.2882, Michigan death certificates are public records and anyone can request a copy. You do not need to prove a family connection to get access. Wayne County sees high request volumes given the county's large population, so processing times may be longer than in smaller counties. Mail-in requests are accepted. Call ahead to confirm current wait times.
| Office | Wayne County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Website | waynecounty.com/clerk |
| Fee | $24 first copy, $7 each additional |
| Note | Pre-1966 records may be indexed as Nankin Township |
William P. Faust Public Library Resources
The William P. Faust Public Library in Westland is a strong local resource for obituary research. The library holds archives of the Westland Observer, the city's main newspaper. Obituaries published in the Observer are a key primary source for Westland deaths, especially from the city's incorporation in 1966 through the decades that followed.
The screenshot below shows the William P. Faust Public Library, where Westland Observer archives and genealogy resources are available for death record research.
The Westland library at westlandlibrary.org provides access to local newspaper archives, genealogy databases, and historical collections covering this area of Wayne County.
Library staff can help you locate specific obituary issues and search newspaper microfilm. If you know the approximate date of death, they can often find the obituary notice quickly from the Observer archives. For older Nankin Township records that predate the city's formation, the library may also hold materials from that era.
Eloise Complex Archives and Records
The Eloise Complex is one of the most historically significant sites in Westland's past. This massive institution operated as a county poorhouse, hospital, and psychiatric facility for more than a century. At its peak, Eloise housed thousands of residents and employed hundreds of staff. Deaths at the facility were recorded, and those records are part of the broader Westland and Wayne County historical archive.
The Westland Historic Village Park holds information about the Eloise Complex and its long history. Researchers interested in ancestors who lived, worked, or died at Eloise can find materials through the city and through Wayne County historical resources. The complex closed its last units in the late 20th century, and many of its records have been archived. If a family member was a patient at Eloise, this is a unique and locally specific resource worth exploring.
Public Act 194 of 1867 required the state to track deaths from institutions like Eloise as part of the statewide registration system. Many Eloise deaths from the late 1800s onward appear in state death records. The free GENDIS database at Michiganology covers deaths from 1897 to 1952 and includes institutional deaths from Wayne County during that period.
Note: Access to certain patient records from Eloise may be restricted under medical privacy rules. Contact the Wayne County Clerk or the Westland city archives for guidance on specific requests.
Ordering Westland Death Records from MDHHS
State-level death certificates for Westland can be ordered through MDHHS in Lansing. Their address is 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, phone 517-335-8666. The fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional. Online ordering through VitalChek is available with a $12.95 service fee added.
For records from 1897 to 1952, the free Michiganology site provides death record images at no charge. Public Act 73 of 2006 limits free online access to images more than 75 years old, so anything more recent requires a paid copy. The Michigan Archives can also help with older Wayne County death records and historical materials from the Nankin Township era.
Wayne County Death Records
Westland is in Wayne County. All death filings for the city go through the Wayne County Clerk. For full county-level information on fees, search tools, and genealogy resources in Wayne County, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Westland in the greater Wayne County area. Check the appropriate county clerk for each city's death records.