Sanilac County Death Records Search

Sanilac County obituary and death records are maintained by the County Clerk in Sandusky, with records going back to 1849. This Thumb area county has active genealogical resources, including the Sanilac County Genealogical Society and digitization projects tied to rural school records. If you need genealogy research help on Wednesdays, the clerk's office has designated research time. This page walks through how to find death records in Sanilac County.

Sanilac County Clerk Office

The Sanilac County Clerk in Sandusky holds death records filed locally since 1849. The fee for a certified copy is $20. Staff can search records by name and year of death. In-person visits are the fastest way to get copies. Written mail requests are also accepted. Include the full name of the deceased, the approximate year of death, your mailing address, and a check or money order for $20 payable to the Sanilac County Clerk.

If you are doing genealogy research, the clerk's office has dedicated genealogy research time on Wednesdays. This is worth noting if you plan to visit for extended research rather than just picking up a copy. Contact the office to confirm current Wednesday hours and any procedures specific to research visits. Under MCL 333.2882, death certificates are public records in Michigan. Any adult may request a copy. You do not need to show family ties or give a reason for your request.

Sanilac County Genealogy Resources

The Sanilac County Genealogical Society is one of the more active genealogy groups in the Thumb region. They have compiled local death data, cemetery records, and family history files over many years. Their research collection can fill gaps that official records do not cover, especially for the late 19th century when local registration was inconsistent.

One notable project tied to Sanilac County is a Rural Schools digitization effort that has helped preserve local records in a unique way. While not directly a death records project, the digitized materials often contain community data that helps researchers place families in time and location. The Port Sanilac Museum also holds historical materials that may be useful when researching older family lines in the county.

The Sanilac County MIGenWeb site carries compiled obituaries, cemetery transcriptions, and other volunteer-indexed records for the county. MIGenWeb coordinators for Sanilac County have worked to add indexed data that makes searching easier before you commit to an in-person visit or a paid request.

The Sanilac MIGenWeb site includes transcribed obituaries and cemetery records that cover deaths in this Thumb area county from the 19th century forward.

FamilySearch also maintains a Sanilac County genealogy wiki that lists available record sets, time periods, and research tips for this county. This is a reliable starting point for anyone new to Sanilac County research.

Note: The Sanilac County Genealogical Society may hold records not available at the clerk's office. Contact them before concluding that no record exists for a given person.

Sanilac County Death Records from the State

Michigan's statewide death registration system dates to Public Act 194 of 1867. Sanilac County deaths from 1897 onward are available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Certified copies cost $34 for the first copy and $16 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Reach MDHHS at 517-335-8666 or order through VitalChek online, which adds a $12.95 service fee.

Public Act 73 of 2006 set a 75-year privacy window on death record images. Records older than 75 years are open to the public. The free Michiganology site at michiganology.org indexes Michigan death records from 1897 to 1952 at no cost. You can search by name and county without paying anything. For records going back even further, the GENDIS index at michiganology.org/gendis provides early death data for Michigan counties including Sanilac.

Cities in Sanilac County

Sanilac County is a rural Thumb area county with Sandusky as the county seat. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Communities in Sanilac County include Sandusky, Port Sanilac, Lexington, Deckerville, and Marlette. All death records are filed with the Sanilac County Clerk in Sandusky.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Sanilac County. If the death occurred near a county line, check both counties to be sure you have the right record.