Wyoming Michigan Obituaries and Death Records
Wyoming death records and obituaries are maintained by the Kent County Clerk in Grand Rapids. Wyoming is the second-largest city in Kent County, and its residents use the same county clerk and genealogy resources as Grand Rapids. The Western Michigan Genealogical Society's obituary index, which covers 1910 to the present, is the primary local resource for Wyoming obituary research. This page explains how to access these tools.
Wyoming Overview
Kent County Clerk Death Records
Wyoming residents file death records through the Kent County Clerk. The clerk's office is at 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Phone is 616-632-7640. You can find more information at accesskent.com. The fee for a death record search is $10. Wyoming is located directly south of Grand Rapids, so the Kent County Clerk in downtown Grand Rapids serves both cities.
Kent County is one of Michigan's most populous counties, with Grand Rapids as its county seat. Wyoming, as the second-largest city in the county, represents a large share of Kent County's death filings. The clerk's office handles the full county, so Wyoming records are part of the same system and database as Grand Rapids and all other Kent County communities.
Under MCL 333.2882, any person can request a Michigan death certificate. You do not need to be related to the deceased or have a legal reason for the request. In-person requests at the Grand Rapids clerk office are handled during regular business hours. Mail-in requests are also accepted. Call ahead to confirm current processing times and payment options.
| Office | Kent County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Phone | 616-632-7640 |
| Website | accesskent.com |
| Fee | $10 per search |
Western Michigan Genealogical Society Obituary Index
The Western Michigan Genealogical Society at wmgs.org maintains an obituary index covering records from 1910 to the present. This index is a key resource for Wyoming death and obituary research because it covers the entire Kent County area, including Wyoming. The society has worked for decades to build and maintain this index, and it represents a substantial body of work that goes well beyond what official county records alone can provide.
Wyoming residents who died at any point after 1910 may appear in the WMGS index if their obituary was published in a Kent County area newspaper. The society indexes obituaries from the Grand Rapids Press and other area publications. For Wyoming families, this means the index covers deaths going back more than a century. The Dutch heritage of the broader Kent County area is reflected in some of the older obituary notices, which may appear in Dutch-language papers alongside English ones.
The Grand Rapids Public Library also serves Wyoming residents who need genealogy research tools. The GRPL at grpl.org holds the Western Michigan Genealogical Society's collection and provides access to newspaper archives, census records, and other materials useful for tracing Wyoming area deaths. Since Wyoming is effectively adjacent to Grand Rapids, the GRPL is a convenient in-person resource.
Note: Public Act 73 of 2006 restricts free online access to death record images less than 75 years old. For recent Wyoming deaths, a certified copy from the Kent County Clerk is required.
Older Wyoming and Kent County Death Records
For Wyoming death records from the late 1800s through the mid-20th century, several free tools are available. The Michiganology GENDIS database covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952 at no charge. Kent County entries for that period appear in the database and include deaths from what is now the city of Wyoming. Public Act 194 of 1867 established Michigan's statewide death registration mandate, so records from that era forward are in the system.
The free Michiganology site is the best starting point for free historical research before committing to a paid copy request. The Michigan Archives in Lansing holds additional historical materials for Kent County genealogy research. For Wyoming-area deaths from before the city was incorporated, records may be indexed under the former township name rather than the city name.
The screenshot below shows the Michiganology GENDIS interface, which covers early Kent County death records including those from the Wyoming area.
The GENDIS database at michiganology.org/gendis provides free access to Michigan death records from 1897 to 1952, covering Kent County and the Wyoming area.
State-Level Death Certificate Orders
Wyoming death certificates can be ordered from MDHHS in Lansing 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 copy. Online ordering is available through VitalChek with a $12.95 service fee added on top of the base cost.
For researchers who want to verify a record exists before paying for a copy, the free Michiganology database and the WMGS obituary index are the right first steps. If those do not turn up the record, the Kent County Clerk's $10 search fee is a low-cost way to check the official county database before ordering a full certified copy through the state.
The screenshot below shows the Michigan Archives site, which holds historical records useful for older Wyoming and Kent County genealogy research.
The Archives of Michigan holds county histories, microfilm records, and genealogy collections covering Kent County from the 19th century forward.
Kent County Death Records
Wyoming is in Kent County. All death filings for the city go through the Kent County Clerk at 300 Monroe Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. For full county-level information on fees, resources, and genealogy tools, visit the Kent County page.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying Michigan cities are near Wyoming in western Michigan.