by The internet has become a very reliable tool when it comes to finding information. This article will cover on how to find birth records in Michigan. It will discuss on all information related to birth records in the state of Michigan.
Michigan has a population of about 10 million and is located in the Great Lakes part of Midwestern the US. Birth records in the state of Michigan began being documented by Michigan counties in 1867 and the entire state started complying in 1915.
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Michigan County Birth Records
The Michigan Department of Community Health has a table that list all Michigan counties and the year they began registering birth records which is found in the state repository. For example, birth records for Detroit can be found from the Wayne County Clerk’s Office. Copies of birth records can be obtained by requesting them in writing from the county clerk.
Delayed birth records can also be found on many counties. The Family History Library keeps microfilms of these birth records for a number of the Michigan counties.
State Records of Births
The Library of Michigan has statewide indexes of birth records from 1867 to 1915. You can obtain these records by writing to:
Office of the State Registrar & Center for Health
Michigan Department of Public Health
3423 North Logan Street
P.O. Box 30035
Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone: 517-335-8000; 517-335-8666; 517-335-8655
In Michigan, birth records are essential when it comes to locating and measuring the level of health related matters and measuring improvements made towards quality public health goals. Birth records found in Michigan normally consist of the following information:
- Date of birth
- Time of birth
- Place of birth
- Child’s full name
- Mother’s name
- Father’s name
- Child’s gender
- Type of birth
- Mother’s marital status
- Birth registration number
There are a number of security features that comes with a certified Michigan issued birth record. These are features such as a pantographic background, visible and invisible fibers, micro printing, artificial watermark, thermochromic ink to name some.
In Michigan the birth records issuing body advises applicants should never accept any copy of a birth record that does not have three heat sensitive images on it back that disappear when rubbed or pressed. They should also not accept birth certificate copy that does not have watermarks that show up when the copy is help against light.
There are also three unique identification number found on Michigan birth records to look out for:
- The state file number specifying the record of birth.
- The AFS number that signify the requester of the copy.
- The security paper number in red bleed through ink that specify the copy.
How to Obtain Birth Records in Michigan
Michigan state requires that birth records applicants produce identification before they can be issued with a copy of a birth record. There are three Tiers that the state has put up to be met before a birth record is issued. These requirements are for birth records that are less than a hundred years.
Tier 1
The identification documents welcomed in Tier 1 are:
- United States or a foreign passport.
- United States passport document.
- United States or United States territories driver’s license or identification document.
- A United States Military Identification document with both picture and signature.
- Other United States or United States Territories certified document that meets the following conditions:
- The document must be still valid.
- The document must have a picture and at least the following information: name, date of birth, address, signature and expiry date.
Tier 2
Tier 2 documents must have all documents in one of the following classifications:
- Ay expired document in Tier 1 that has less than five years and a document from Tier three that has less than a year.
- Photo employment identification, together with a pay stub or W-2 form issued within the past year.
- Photo student ID, together with a current report card or other evidence of current school membership. Both documents must be for the same establishment.
- Identification card issued by the Department of Correctional Services that has less than a year.
- A Department of Corrections identification card for incarcerated inmate together with a verification of incarceration that has less than a year.
Tier 3
Tier 3 needs that you meet minimum of three of the documents from different categories below:
- Any document in the Tier 1 that has expired more than 5 years ago.
- Signed Social Security Card
- Marriage or Divorce certificate
- IRS form W-2
- Paycheck stub
- Bank statement
- Voter registration
- Motor vehicle registration
- Health insurance card
- Utility Bill
- Doctor/hospital/dentist bill
- Religious or community organization documents
- Military DD-214 discharge paper or equivalent
- School records
- Letter or benefit statement from a government agency such as SSA or IRS
- Land or rental agreement
- Military ID with either a picture or signature.
- Other documents that establish identity to a degree equivalent to those listed above
If you meet these requirements you can then go ahead and download the Application for a Certified Copy form which is to be accompanied by the relevant fee. After completing it, you can then mail it to:
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Vital Records Requests
P.O. Box 30721
Lansing, MI 48909
In person request can be made by visiting the Vital Records office at:
333 South Grand Avenue
South Grand Building, 1st Floor
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 335-8666
These are some of the needs that you have to meet on how to find birth records in Michigan. With them, you are a step closer to uncovering those birth records that you need.
