Schoolcraft County Obituaries and Death Records

Schoolcraft County obituary and death records are filed with the County Clerk in Manistique. The county's records go back to 1843, making it one of the earlier Upper Peninsula counties for local death registration. The Schoolcraft County Historical Society holds supplemental materials for genealogical research. This page explains how to search death records, request copies, and use state and volunteer resources for this Upper Peninsula county.

Schoolcraft County Clerk Office

The Schoolcraft County Clerk in Manistique holds local death records starting from 1843. The fee for a certified death certificate is $10, which is among the lower fees in the state. Staff can look up records by name and year of death. In-person requests are processed the same day when possible. Mail requests take additional time depending on staff availability.

To request by mail, include the name of the deceased, the year of death, your name and return address, and a check or money order for $10 made out to the Schoolcraft County Clerk. Death certificates in Michigan are public records under MCL 333.2882. Any adult may order a copy. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Schoolcraft County is one of the smaller Upper Peninsula counties by population. The clerk's office handles a wide range of county functions, so calling ahead before your visit is a good idea to confirm availability and current hours.

Schoolcraft County Death Records and Genealogy

The Schoolcraft County Historical Society in Manistique is the main local resource for genealogical research beyond what the clerk's office holds. Their collection includes historical photographs, newspaper clippings, and local family histories that can provide context for a death record or lead you to an obituary. The society is a good contact point for research questions specific to this part of the Upper Peninsula.

The MIGenWeb project maintains a page for Schoolcraft County at schoolcraft.migenweb.org. This site has volunteer-compiled data including cemetery records and indexed death information. It is a useful supplement to official county records, especially for the 19th and early 20th centuries when local registration was less consistent. MIGenWeb coordinators for Upper Peninsula counties have often done significant work transcribing data from sources that are not easy to access remotely.

FamilySearch also covers Schoolcraft County in its Michigan genealogy wiki. The Schoolcraft County Michigan Genealogy page lists record types, dates of coverage, and links to indexed databases. FamilySearch holds microfilmed records and digital indexes that include some Schoolcraft County death data from the statewide registration era.

The Schoolcraft MIGenWeb site provides compiled death indexes and cemetery records that are useful when searching for Upper Peninsula ancestors from this county.

Note: For Upper Peninsula counties, church records often predate civil registration. Lutheran and Catholic church records from the Manistique area can be key sources for 19th-century deaths.

Michigan State Death Records for Schoolcraft County

Schoolcraft County deaths from 1897 onward are part of the statewide record system maintained by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Michigan enacted Public Act 194 of 1867 to start collecting death records statewide, and Schoolcraft County data has been included in that system since the late 19th century. Certified copies cost $34 for the first copy and $16 for each additional copy in the same order. Call MDHHS at 517-335-8666 for details on ordering.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek, which adds a $12.95 convenience fee. The free Michiganology database at michiganology.org covers Michigan deaths from 1897 to 1952 and can be searched without charge. Public Act 73 of 2006 limits image access to records more than 75 years old, which is why Michiganology's coverage stops at 1952. For very early records, the GENDIS index at michiganology.org/gendis can help locate pre-1897 data for Schoolcraft County.

Cities in Schoolcraft County

Schoolcraft County is a sparsely populated Upper Peninsula county. Manistique is the county seat and largest community. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Communities in Schoolcraft County include Manistique, Germfask, Curtis, and Newberry is in adjacent Luce County. All death records for Schoolcraft County are filed with the clerk in Manistique.

Nearby Counties

These Upper Peninsula counties border Schoolcraft County. Records are filed in the county where the person lived or died at the time of death.