Certified Copies in Michigan: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Michigan
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Michigan, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $34.00 first copy, $16.00 each additional; rush adds $12.00. Age 65+ ordering their own birth record pay $14.00
- Death certificate
- $34.00 first, $16.00 additional; rush adds $12.00
- Marriage
- $34.00; rush adds $12.00
- Divorce
- $34.00; rush adds $12.00
Vital records
Issued by: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records
Post to: Vital Records Request, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $34.00 first copy, $16.00 each additional; rush adds $12.00. Age 65+ ordering their own birth record pay $14.00 |
| Death | $34.00 first, $16.00 additional; rush adds $12.00 |
| Marriage | $34.00; rush adds $12.00 |
| Divorce | $34.00; rush adds $12.00 |
What Michigan requires
- Birth records are restricted: a photocopy of the eligible person's current photo ID must be sent.
- Death, marriage and divorce records are unrestricted and available to anyone.
- Cheque or money order to State of Michigan. Records from 1867.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Michigan entity come from Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, normally online and often the same day.
Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Michigan goes through Michigan Department of State, Office of the Great Seal, at $1.00 per document.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Michigan birth certificate?
From Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Vital Records. Post to Vital Records Request, P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909. A certified copy is $34.00 first copy, $16.00 each additional; rush adds $12.00. Age 65+ ordering their own birth record pay $14.00.
Does the Michigan Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Michigan reject?
Birth records are restricted: a photocopy of the eligible person's current photo ID must be sent.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
