Michigan Birth Certificate: How to Obtain a Certified Copy

To obtain an MI birth certificate, you must request a certified copy from MDHHS or the county clerk responsible for the original birth record.

Follow these steps to prepare your application:

Once your application is ready, you can submit it through the state's authorized online ordering service, visit the Vital Records Office in Lansing by appointment, or send it by mail to:

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909

For expedited mail processing, use Vital Records RUSH instead of Vital Records Requests at the same address.

Mailed applications must include your signed form, identification photocopies, any required proof of eligibility, and payment.

Michigan birth records remain restricted for 100 years after the date of birth. During this period, only eligible applicants can obtain a certified copy.

You can request a Michigan birth certificate if you are:

• The person named on the certificate.
• A parent listed on the birth record.
• A legal heir of the deceased person named on the record.
• A court-appointed guardian or another qualifying custodial representative.
• An individual with a power of attorney specifically authorizing access to vital records.
• A licensed attorney representing an eligible person.
• A person authorized through a court order.

If you're requesting a birth certificate for someone else, you must provide documents proving you're authorized to do so.

Being related to the person is not always sufficient. For example, siblings, grandparents, and spouses are not automatically eligible unless they meet one of Michigan's authorized requester categories.

Once a birth record reaches 100 years of age, anyone can request a copy without meeting the usual relationship restrictions.

Gather the necessary information before starting your Michigan birth certificate application to help avoid incomplete paperwork and processing delays.

You’ll generally need:

• Full name of the person as recorded at birth
• Date of birth and Michigan city or county of birth
• Full names of the birth parents, where applicable
• Your name, current mailing address, and contact information
• Your relationship to the person named on the certificate
• Number of certified copies you want to order
• Acceptable proof of identity
• Supporting documents confirming your eligibility, if required
• Payment for the certificate and any service charges

Michigan accepts a driver's license, state-issued photo ID, or passport as valid identification.

If you don't have one of these documents, the state also accepts certain combinations of secondary identification. Depending on your circumstances, these may include a Social Security card, recent utility bill, bank statement, or other qualifying documents.

Additional paperwork may be required for people who were adopted, applicants using a power of attorney, or requests involving legal name changes.

For mail applications, include photocopies rather than original identification documents.

Review your details carefully before submitting your request. Missing information or discrepancies between documents may lead to delays or rejection.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services charges $34 for a certified birth certificate copy. The final price of your order depends on how you apply and other services you request.

Your total may also include delivery charges or EaseGov's application-preparation fee if you choose to use our service. These costs are separate from the state's certificate charges.

Michigan's search fees are nonrefundable. If the state cannot locate the requested record, the search fee is retained, and a no-find letter may be issued.

Birth certificate requests to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services usually take 10–12 weeks to process. Expedited applications usually take 8–10 weeks.

These estimates cover state processing but don’t include delivery time. If your application is missing documentation, or you request additional record searches if you’re unsure of the exact birth year, your order may take longer to process.

Can you get a Michigan birth certificate the same day?

Yes, you may be able to get a Michigan birth certificate the same day through an in-person appointment at the state Vital Records Office in Lansing.

Same-day issuance isn’t guaranteed and depends on your eligibility to request the record, it being available, and whether your documentation is complete.

The Lansing office accepts in-person appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern Time.

Another option is Will Call pickup through Michigan's authorized vital records online provider. These requests generally take 2–5 business days before the certificate becomes available for collection.

You must receive confirmation that the record is ready and present the required photo ID when collecting it.

If you need your birth certificate urgently, check whether the county clerk where your birth was registered can issue it sooner than the state office. County processing times vary, so contacting the clerk directly could help you find a faster option.

If you need to present your Michigan birth certificate in another country, the receiving authority may require an apostille.

An apostille confirms the authenticity of the public official's signature or seal on a document. It’s not a standard part of a normal birth certificate, so you need to apply for it separately.

To get an apostille for a Michigan birth certificate, follow these steps:

Michigan's base fee is $42 for an authenticated or apostilled birth record. It takes approximately 12–16 weeks for regular authenticated records and 8–10 weeks for expedited requests, not including delivery time.

EaseGov can assist you with preparing a certified birth certificate application but does not cover apostilles.