Oakland County Death Records and Obituaries
Oakland County obituary and death records go back to 1820 and are available through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac, Michigan. The county offers a free online death record search covering records from 1900 onward. This page explains how to use that tool, how to get certified copies, and where to find older obituary records and genealogy materials for Oakland County.
Oakland County Overview
Free Oakland County Death Record Search
Oakland County offers a free online death record search through the Oakland County Clerk website. The database covers death records from 1900 onward. You can search by name and get basic record information without paying any fee. This is one of the better county-level online tools in Michigan and is worth using before contacting the clerk directly.
The free search shows record index information. If you need a certified copy of the death certificate itself, you will still need to order that through the clerk's office. The fee is $15 for the first certified copy and $5 for each additional copy you order at the same time. This pricing is specific to Oakland County and is separate from the statewide MDHHS fee schedule. For researchers doing genealogy work, the free online index can confirm whether a record exists before you commit to paying for a copy.
Under MCL 333.2882, any person can request a Michigan death certificate regardless of relationship to the deceased. Oakland County honors this open records policy. Staff at the clerk's office can take requests in person, by mail, or online depending on the type of record you need.
The screenshot below shows the Oakland County MIGenWeb site, which provides genealogy resources and death record links for the county.
The MIGenWeb site for Oakland County connects researchers to death indexes, cemetery records, and contributed genealogy data covering many decades of county history.
Oakland County Clerk Office Locations
The main Oakland County Clerk office is in Pontiac at the county courthouse. A satellite office in Troy also serves residents on the southern end of the county. Both locations can process death record requests and issue certified copies. The Troy office is useful for residents of Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Rochester Hills, and Waterford Township who want to avoid driving all the way to Pontiac.
Oakland County is one of the largest counties in Michigan by population, with over 1.3 million residents. It is also one of the oldest, with death records starting in 1820. The volume of records held here is substantial. The county's records are well-organized, and the clerk's office has the staff and systems to handle high volumes of requests. If you are researching a family that lived in the metro Detroit suburbs, Oakland County records are very likely part of that research.
| Main Office | Oakland County Clerk, Pontiac, MI |
|---|---|
| Satellite Office | Troy, MI |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
| Fee | $15 first copy, $5 each additional |
| Online Search | Free at oakgov.com/clerk (1900 and later) |
Oakland County Obituary and Genealogy Research
The Oakland County Genealogical Society (ocgs.org) has extensive resources for researchers. The society maintains indexes, hosts research events, and supports members working on Oakland County family histories. Their collection includes obituary databases, cemetery surveys, and death record indexes that go well beyond what is available through the clerk alone.
The Oakland County MIGenWeb site is another free resource with contributed genealogy data, cemetery listings, and death record indexes. For older records going back toward 1820, this site often turns up materials that are not yet digitized elsewhere. The Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society also holds records and local history materials relevant to death and obituary research.
The screenshot below shows the Oakland County Genealogical Society website, a key research hub for county obituary and death records.
The Oakland County Genealogical Society offers death record indexes, cemetery surveys, and research support for families tracing their roots in this large suburban Michigan county.
FamilySearch covers this county in their Oakland County Michigan Genealogy wiki. For free death record images from 1897 to 1952, the Michiganology GENDIS database is a good starting point.
Note: Public Act 73 of 2006 limits online access to death record images less than 75 years old, so recent records require a certified copy request rather than a free online image.
Ordering Oakland County Death Certificates from MDHHS
If you prefer to order through the state rather than the county, MDHHS in Lansing handles statewide death record requests. Their fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional. You can reach them at 517-335-8666. Online orders are available through VitalChek with a $12.95 service fee added.
Michigan's statewide death registration started under Public Act 194 of 1867. Oakland County's records date to 1820, predating that law. Those earliest records were kept locally, so the county clerk may have materials the state office does not. For very old records, contacting the county clerk directly is usually the better path. The Michiganology site and the Archives of Michigan can also help bridge gaps between county and state records for Oakland County genealogy research.
Cities in Oakland County
Oakland County includes several large cities. Death records for all communities in the county are filed through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Oakland County. Check where the death occurred to confirm which county clerk holds the record.