St. Clair County Death Records

St. Clair County obituary and death records are filed with the County Clerk in Port Huron. Records go back to 1821, one of the longer county record histories in Michigan. The St. Clair County Genealogical Society and the St. Clair County Library System both hold resources for death and obituary research. Port Huron's location along the St. Clair River and its history as a marine center give these records a distinctive character. This page explains how to find and request death records in St. Clair County.

St. Clair County Clerk Office

The St. Clair County Clerk in Port Huron maintains death records going back to 1821. The fee for a certified death certificate copy is $15. Staff can look up records by name and year of death. You can visit in person at the county courthouse in Port Huron or send a written request by mail. For mail requests, include the full name of the deceased, the year of death, your name and return address, and a check or money order for $15 payable to the St. Clair County Clerk.

Under MCL 333.2882, death certificates in Michigan are public records open to any adult. You do not need to be a family member to request a copy. St. Clair County has records from before statewide registration began, so for very early deaths you may be working from local registers rather than the standardized death certificate format. The clerk's staff can explain what format older records are in.

St. Clair County Library and Genealogical Society

The St. Clair County Library System has branches throughout the county and holds genealogical collections that include local newspaper archives, cemetery records, and family history files. The main branch in Port Huron is the strongest research location. Microfilm runs of the Port Huron Times Herald and other local papers cover obituary notices going back well into the 19th century. Staff can help you identify which resources cover your time period.

The St. Clair County Genealogical Society is an active group that has compiled death indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and family data specific to this county. Their records often go back further and include more detail than what you can find through a simple online search. The society is a valuable contact point if you are stuck or if you need help with records from the early or mid-1800s when official documentation was sparse.

The Port Huron Museum holds historical records related to the St. Clair River marine trade. Since many St. Clair County residents worked in the maritime industry, deaths connected to river or lake accidents may appear in marine records as well as standard death certificates. This is a less common but sometimes useful supplemental source.

The MIGenWeb site for St. Clair County at stclair.migenweb.org includes volunteer-compiled obituary data, cemetery records, and indexed death information for the county.

The St. Clair MIGenWeb page includes compiled local death data and cemetery listings that serve as a free starting point for Blue Water area genealogy research.

FamilySearch also covers St. Clair County in its Michigan genealogy wiki. Visit the St. Clair County Michigan Genealogy page on FamilySearch for a list of available record sets and search tools.

St. Clair County Deaths via MDHHS

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services holds statewide death records from 1897 onward. Michigan required statewide registration beginning with Public Act 194 of 1867. St. Clair County deaths from 1897 forward are part of the MDHHS system. Certified copies cost $34 for the first and $16 for each additional in the same order. Call MDHHS at 517-335-8666 to order by phone or get help with your request.

You can also order through VitalChek online, which adds a $12.95 service fee. Public Act 73 of 2006 limits image access to records more than 75 years old. For genealogy research, the free Michiganology database at michiganology.org covers deaths from 1897 to 1952 and is fully searchable at no cost. Earlier records are indexed through GENDIS at michiganology.org/gendis.

St. Clair County's long record history, combined with the volume of records tied to maritime activity on the St. Clair River, means the county has significant genealogical depth. The county also borders Ontario, Canada, and some families moved between the two sides of the river. If you do not find a record in Michigan, the Archives of Ontario may hold relevant Canadian records for cross-border families.

Note: Deaths that occurred on ships or at sea may be in federal maritime records rather than county death certificates. If standard sources come up empty for a known sailor or river worker, check federal maritime archives as well.

Cities in St. Clair County

St. Clair County is located in the Blue Water region of eastern Michigan, bordering Ontario, Canada, across the St. Clair River.

Communities in St. Clair County include Port Huron, Marysville, St. Clair, Marine City, Algonac, and Yale. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All death records are filed with the St. Clair County Clerk in Port Huron.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Clair County. If the death occurred near a county line, you may need to check both counties to locate the right record.