Van Buren County Obituaries and Death Records
Van Buren County obituary and death records are filed with the County Clerk in Paw Paw. Records go back to 1837. The Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society provides an online death records database covering deaths from 1987 forward, which is a standout resource for this county. The society also holds an extensive microfilm collection. This page explains how to access Van Buren County death records through multiple sources.
Van Buren County Overview
Van Buren County Clerk Office
The Van Buren County Clerk in Paw Paw holds local death records going back to 1837. The fee for a certified death certificate is $15 per copy. Staff can search by name and year of death. In-person requests are the fastest option. Mail requests are also accepted. For a mail request, include the name of the deceased, year of death, your name and mailing address, and a check or money order for $15 payable to the Van Buren County Clerk.
Under MCL 333.2882, death certificates in Michigan are public records. Any adult may request a copy without stating a reason or showing family ties. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. For early records going back to the 1830s and 1840s, the format may be different from modern certificates, but the clerk's staff can tell you what is available for a given period.
| Office | Van Buren County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | Paw Paw, MI 49079 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
| Fee | $15 per certified copy |
| Records Start | 1837 |
Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society
The Van Buren Regional Genealogical Society is one of the stronger county genealogical organizations in southwest Michigan. Their online death records database covers deaths in Van Buren County from 1987 forward. This is a free, searchable tool that researchers can use to confirm whether a record exists and find the basic details needed to request a certified copy from the county clerk or the state.
The society also holds an extensive microfilm collection that covers earlier periods. Microfilm of local newspapers, cemetery records, and old vital records volumes gives researchers access to material going back into the 19th century. The society's members are familiar with the quirks of Van Buren County records and can often help researchers navigate sources that are not well documented online.
The MIGenWeb page for Van Buren County at vanburen.migenweb.org carries volunteer-compiled death records, cemetery transcriptions, and genealogical data for the county. Combined with the genealogical society's database, this gives you good free coverage of Van Buren County deaths from multiple eras.
The Van Buren MIGenWeb site provides compiled death indexes and cemetery records that are useful for genealogical research in this southwest Michigan county.
FamilySearch covers Van Buren County in its Michigan genealogy wiki. See the Van Buren County Michigan Genealogy page for a guide to available records and digital indexes.
Van Buren County Deaths via MDHHS
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services holds statewide death records from 1897 forward. Michigan required statewide death registration under Public Act 194 of 1867. Van Buren County deaths from 1897 onward are in the MDHHS statewide system. Certified copies cost $34 for the first and $16 for each additional copy in the same order. Call MDHHS at 517-335-8666 for ordering help or questions about availability.
Online orders go through VitalChek with a $12.95 service fee added. Public Act 73 of 2006 sets a 75-year privacy window on death record images. Records older than 75 years are fully open. The free Michiganology database at michiganology.org covers deaths from 1897 to 1952 and is searchable at no cost by name and county. Earlier indexed data is available through GENDIS at michiganology.org/gendis.
Van Buren County has a rich fruit belt heritage. Many 19th and early 20th century residents were orchard farmers or seasonal workers. This sometimes led to incomplete registration for migrant workers and seasonal residents. If standard sources come up empty for a specific person, the genealogical society's microfilm collection is worth checking before concluding no record exists.
Note: The genealogical society's database from 1987 is a strong complement to the official MDHHS records. Use both to get the most complete picture for deaths in the modern era.
Cities in Van Buren County
Van Buren County is located in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border and Lake Michigan shoreline. Paw Paw is the county seat.
Other communities in Van Buren County include Paw Paw, South Haven, Bangor, Lawton, and Gobles. All death records for this county are filed with the Van Buren County Clerk in Paw Paw.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Van Buren County. Check nearby counties if the person lived near a county line or if a search here does not find the record you need.