Michigan - How to obtain a Birth Certificate

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Procedure

In Person

You may go to office located at
201 Townsend St,
Capitol View Building,
3rd Floor,
Lansing MI 48913
with as much as information like birth date with the year, names of your parents, including your mother's maiden name and required fee.

• Lobby hours are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
• Directions are available by logging onto our website at: www.michigan.gov/mdch or by calling 517-335-8666.
• Orders at our counter must be placed by 3:00 pm in order to receive same-day service.
• An additional "rush" fee of $10.00 is required for same-day service and you must allow up to a 2 hour waiting period for the order to be processed.
• Genealogy requests may take somewhat longer.
• A money order, credit card or cash can be used at our front counter if same-day service is requested.
• A personal check can also be used if the request is NOT same-day service.
• Also, you may contact the records clerk in person in the specific county where you were born. For instance, if you were born in Manistique, you would contact the Schoolcraft County Courthouse records clerk.
• Give your birth date with the year and your given name to the clerk. You will also be asked for the names of your parents, including your mother's maiden name.
• Provide a photo ID to obtain a copy of your birth certificate

By Mail

Mail the application, photocopies of required identification, fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to

• Regular mail to:

Vital Records Requests
PO Box 30721
Lansing MI 48909

• Rush mail to:

Vital Records Rush
PO Box 30721
Lansing MI 48909

Apply Online (VitalChek)

• Michigan vital records orders placed online thru VitalChek, Michigan's online service provider, are considered to be RUSH requests.
• Processing time is 1-2 business days for a United Parcel Service (UPS) overnight delivery and 2 weeks for a regular online request plus mail time back to the customer. A $10.00 RUSH fee will be charged for each online order, in addition to VitalChek's $8.50 credit card handling charge.
• VitalChek is Michigan Vital Records only authorized online service provider. If you should experience problems with the online ordering, please call VitalChek at 1-800-669-8312 for assistance. That number will be answered from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm, Monday-Friday, except for recognized holidays.
• It's the easiest and most efficient method for ordering official birth certificates and other vital records because there is less room for error when you enter the information yourself. Our simple forms have built-in editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
• VitalChek is an official service, authorized by Michigan Vital Records, to securely order certified Michigan vital records, like birth certificates. Other online services may not be authorized by Michigan Vital Records, and may charge additional fees without providing approved services or guaranteeing confidentiality of your data.
• As a government-approved organization for 25 years, VitalChek safely delivers millions of vital records every year and is Americas No.1 resource for ordering certified vital records across the nation. VitalChek makes purchasing your familys most important documents, such as Michigan birth certificates, simple, fast and secure:
  • Simple step-by-step ordering with easy to use editing features to help ensure the accuracy of your order.
  • Fast online ordering, processing & delivery options to help get your certificate as quickly as possible.
  • Secure ordering processes that are designed to help protect your identity online.
• VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering Michigan birth certificates for yourself or your family from the privacy of your home or office, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, with no hidden fees or unexplained charges. No traffic, no standing in line, no parking, no hassles.

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Required Documents

Under Michigan law, birth records are restricted documents. To request a birth record, a current valid, government issued identification is required in order to establish eligibility (except for an unrestricted birth record that is at least 100 years old). To protect you and the community from identity theft, we require a copy of the applicants government issued identification to be presented along with the application. Individuals under the age of 15 cannot request a copy of their own birth record.
At least one of the following IDs is required:

• Current drivers license with photo if unexpired, or expired less than one year and issued within the last five years
• Current state issued photo identification card unexpired, or expired less than one year and issued within the last five years
• Unexpired U.S. or foreign passport
• U.S. military photo identification or military dependent photo identification with current expiration date
• Employment identification with photo, accompanied by a current pay stub or W-2 form
• Department of Corrections photo identification card, accompanied by probation or discharge papers dated within last year
• If a currently incarcerated prisoner, a Department of Corrections photo identification card, accompanied by a verification of incarceration by the facility on letterhead
• For persons age 15-20, current student photo ID with either a report card or transcript

Alternative documents can be submitted to be reviewed by a supervisor if a current, valid government issued ID is not available. If you do not have one of the above, you will need to submit at least three of the following, and one MUST be dated within the last year. Please note we cannot use a Social Security Card or junk mail. Examples might be:

• Expired state or federal photo ID,
• Marriage or divorce certificate,
• Childs birth record,
• W-2, paycheck stub,
• Bank statement,
• Voter or car registration,
• Health insurance/Medicaid card,
• State benefit card,
• Utility bill,
• Doctor/dentist/hospital bill,
• Baptismal certificate,
• Letter from a government agency such as Social Security or the IRS,
• Numident letter or benefit statement from Social Security,
• School records,
• Tax records,
• Incarceration records or land/rental agreement.

If you are still unable to provide any of the above-mentioned forms of identification, please contact the Michigan Vital Records Office at 517-335-8666 and speak with a customer service representative.

Office Locations & Contacts

In Person

201 Townsend St,
Capitol View Building,
3rd Floor,
Lansing MI 48913

By Mail

• Regular mail to:
  

Vital Records Requests
PO Box 30721
Lansing MI 48909

• Rush mail to:
  

Vital Records Rush
PO Box 30721
Lansing MI 48909
Customer service representative: 517-335-8666
Call our recorded message for general information: 517-335-8656
E-mail: [email protected]

Office Hours

In Person: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday

Certificates may also be

Eligibility

• You may order copies of Michigan birth certificates for yourself or a child, as long as you are named on the record being ordered.
• Anyone not listed on the certificate must submit proof of entitlement.

Fees

• Certified copy (basic search fees): $26.00 ($7.00 for senior citizen)
• Additional copy: $12.00 each

Online (VitalChek)

• Certified copy: $36.00 ($17.00 for senior citizen)
• Additional copy: $12.00 each

Follow link for detailed fee structure http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,4612,7-132-4645_4939-13695--,00.html

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

By Mail

• Regular service: 5 weeks
• Expedited service: 3 weeks

Instructions

• Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records (Michigan Vital Records) issues certified copies of Michigan birth certificates for events that occurred within the State of Michigan.
• Authenticated, certified copies of Michigan birth certificates are also available for those records needing an "apostille" applied by the Office of the Great Seal
• An authenticated Michigan birth certificate is not needed for foreign travel.
• Birth Certificates are available for events that occurred within the State of Michigan from 1867 to present.
• You can order a record online using a debit or credit card, print an application to order by mail or to change a record, or get information about our service and you may go in person to the specified office.
• You may order copies of Michigan Vital Records through VitalChek on an expedited basis. Michigan Vital Records charges a $10.00 RUSH fee for each online order, in addition to VitalChek's $8.50 credit card handling charge.
• Payment with a mailed-in application must be made by money order or a check payable to "The State of Michigan" in US funds only. Please do not send cash.

Required Information

• Full name at birth
• The date of birth
• The place of birth
• Gender
• The mother's maiden name
• The father's name
• Name and address of the applicant
• State Drivers License or Identification number
• Reason for requesting the certificate
• Relationship to the person named on the Certificate

Need for the Document

If you need an original copy of your Michigan birth certificate, you can apply for it at the county courthouse where the certificate was registered or apply for a copy online or via USPS mail. There are many circumstances under which you may be required to provide an original copy of your birth certificate, especially if you are applying for a passport or a marriage license. There are a few easy steps for obtaining a copy of a Michigan birth certificate for you or an immediate family member.