Midland County Obituaries and Death Records
Midland County obituary and death records are available from 1855, giving researchers access to more than 170 years of vital records for this central Michigan county. The County Clerk office in Midland handles certified death certificates. The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, known for its excellent genealogy collection, and the Midland Genealogical Society are among the best local resources for finding obituary notices and historical death records. This page explains how to search, where to look, and how to get official copies.
Midland County Overview
Midland County Clerk Death Records
The Midland County Clerk office is the local source for certified death certificates. Under MCL 333.2882, Michigan death records are public records open to any requestor. You do not need to be related to the deceased or explain why you need the record. The office is open Monday through Friday. Fees for certified copies are approximately $10 to $13 per certificate. Requests can be made in person, by mail, or through an online ordering service.
Midland County was organized in 1855, and death records begin around that period. Michigan's mandatory death registration law, Public Act 194 of 1867, brought more consistency to record keeping from that point forward. Early records before 1867 may be incomplete or missing entirely for some townships. The county's history is closely tied to Dow Chemical Company, which Herbert Dow founded here in 1897. The company's long presence shaped the demographics of Midland County for over a century, and death records from the 20th century reflect the families that grew up around that industrial community.
| Office | Midland County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
| Fee | Approximately $10 to $13 per certified certificate |
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library Genealogy Collection
The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland is widely recognized as one of the better genealogy libraries in mid-Michigan. The library's genealogy and local history collection includes newspaper microfilm, cemetery records, and local history books that document Midland County families over multiple generations. Library staff assist with research questions and can help you locate obituary notices and death information across a wide range of time periods.
The Midland Daily News and its predecessors have covered deaths in the county for many decades. Microfilm of local newspapers is available at the library, and some issues may be searchable in digital form. Obituary notices in local papers often provide more family detail than a death certificate does, listing surviving relatives, noting church membership, and describing the circumstances of a death in ways that help build a complete family picture.
The Midland Genealogical Society is another local resource. The society holds indexed records and assists researchers working on Midland County family histories. Members often have specialized knowledge of which collections exist locally and which time periods are well documented versus those with gaps.
The Midland County Historical Society also holds materials that may include obituary files, funeral home records, and photographs of community members. These collections can be valuable for putting a name and a death record in context.
Online Midland County Obituary Search
The MIGenWeb project maintains a Midland County page with volunteer-contributed genealogical data and links to useful record sources.
The Midland County MIGenWeb page links to cemetery data, obituary transcriptions, and other historical records contributed by local researchers and genealogical volunteers.
Free online death record searching starts at GENDIS on Michiganology, which covers Midland County deaths from 1897 through 1952 at no cost. For more recent deaths, Public Act 73 of 2006 restricts online access to death certificate images that are less than 75 years old, so you will need to order through the county clerk or MDHHS. The FamilySearch wiki for Midland County describes the available digitized records and how to access them.
MDHHS Records and Statewide Options
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) maintains statewide death records that include every Midland County death filed with the state. MDHHS charges $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for additional copies at the same time. You can call 517-335-8666 for information or place an order online through VitalChek, which charges a $12.95 service fee on top of the state rate. The state route works well when you need multiple records or when travel to Midland is not practical.
The Michigan Archives in Lansing holds microfilmed vital records and other historical documents that cover Midland County. This is where to look for very early death records or for materials not held at the county level. The free Michiganology database covers Midland County deaths from 1897 to 1952 and is a practical first step for historical research before ordering certified copies.
Cities in Midland County
Midland County's main city is Midland, which serves as the county seat and is home to the majority of the county's population. No cities in Midland County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Other communities in the county include Coleman, Sanford, and a number of townships. All death records and vital records for these areas are handled through the Midland County Clerk or through MDHHS in Lansing.
Nearby Counties
Midland County is surrounded by five counties in central Michigan. If you are not certain which county holds a particular record, verify the address of the death before making a request.