Introduction to Michigan Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Michigan Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure.  

Michigan Marriage certificates have been maintained by the State of Michigan Vital Records Office for individuals married in the state of Michigan since 1867.

Michigan Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

Michigan marriage certificates are open to the general public.  Anyone over 18 years of age may request a copy of any Michigan marriage certificate.

Michigan Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a Michigan Marriage Certificate for genealogy or other reasons.

Michigan Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Michigan Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Michigan Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Michigan Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Michigan Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Michigan Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 4-6 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Michigan Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Michigan Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Michigan Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Michigan Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Michigan Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Michigan Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Michigan Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Vital Records Requests

PO Box 30721

Lansing MI 48909

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Michigan: You may go to any county health department in the State of Michigan to obtain a certified copy of a Michigan Marriage certificate. Most Michigan Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Michigan Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Michigan Marriage certificate is $26.00, which includes one certified copy of the Michigan Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Michigan Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $12.00. If you want a “rushed” Michigan Marriage Certificate and additional fee of $10.00 is added on to the fee.  If you are over 65 years old and are requesting your own Michigan Marriage Certificate you ware charged a discounted fee of $7.00 for the first Michigan Marriage certificate.  Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to " Michigan Vital Records." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.