Find Detroit Birth Records

Detroit birth records are now handled by the Wayne County Clerk after the city's own Vital Records Division permanently closed in December 2013. Detroit is Michigan's largest city, with over 640,000 residents, and all birth certificates for people born in Detroit are issued through the Wayne County Clerk's office. Whether you need a copy for yourself or a family member, the county clerk is where you go to request Detroit birth records. You can visit in person, mail your request, or order online through VitalChek.

Where to Get Detroit Birth Records

The Wayne County Clerk is the office that issues birth certificates for people born in Detroit. The city had its own Vital Records Division, but that office shut down for good in December 2013. Since then, Wayne County has handled all Detroit birth record requests. The county clerk keeps birth records going back to 1893 for Detroit births. Births that happened before October 1978 where the parents were not married may only be on file with the State of Michigan, not at the county level.

Wayne County has two separate counters for birth records depending on where the birth happened. Detroit births are handled at Suite 605. Births that took place elsewhere in Wayne County outside Detroit go to Suite 610. Both offices are at 400 Monroe Street in downtown Detroit. If you are not sure which counter to use, call ahead and confirm.

For Wayne County births outside of Detroit, use Suite 610 at the same address. That office's number is (313) 967-6938. Hours match the main office. Thursday hours extend to 7:00 PM for both counters, which is helpful if you can't get there during the regular workday.

The Detroit Health Department has a reference page at detroitmi.gov that explains the change and points people to Wayne County. The city page is useful for understanding the background, but you have to go through the county clerk to actually get a birth certificate.

The Detroit Health Department's page confirms that the city no longer issues birth certificates. All requests now go to Wayne County. This applies to births from any year, not just recent ones.

How to Request Detroit Birth Records

Wayne County offers three ways to get a Detroit birth certificate: in person at the clerk's office, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Each method has its own steps and processing time. In-person requests are usually the fastest. Mail takes longer. Online orders through VitalChek add a service fee on top of the county's base cost.

When you visit in person, go to Suite 605 at 400 Monroe Street. Bring a government-issued photo ID. You fill out a request form at the counter. Staff will look up the record and issue the certificate while you wait, if everything checks out. This is the quickest way to get what you need.

To order by mail, write to the Wayne County Clerk at 400 Monroe Street, Suite 605, Detroit, MI 48226. Include a completed request form, a copy of your photo ID, the required fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The county clerk's website has the request form available to download. Processing times for mail requests vary, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.

Online orders go through VitalChek's Wayne County page. VitalChek is a third-party service that the county accepts for online orders. You pay the county fee plus a VitalChek service charge. The certificate is mailed to you. This is convenient but costs more than going in person. You can also order through the Michigan MDHHS vital records page for state-level copies, though county copies are often faster for Detroit births.

The Wayne County Clerk's birth certificates page shows the full process and links to forms. Bookmark that page if you expect to make more than one request.

Birth Record Fees for Detroit

The first copy of a Detroit birth certificate costs $25. Seniors age 65 or older pay $15 for their own birth record. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs less than the first. Fees are set by Wayne County and are subject to change, so confirm the current amount before you send payment.

If you order online through VitalChek, expect to pay the $25 county fee plus a separate service fee charged by VitalChek. That service fee is not set by the county. Pay by check or money order made out to the Wayne County Clerk when mailing a request. In-person payments may also accept cash or card, but call ahead to confirm what forms of payment the clerk's office accepts on the day you visit.

Note: The state of Michigan also issues birth certificates through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. State copies cost $34 for the first and $16 for each additional. County copies are generally less expensive for Detroit births. Check michigan.gov MDHHS vital records for state-level details.

Who Can Get a Detroit Birth Record

Michigan law limits who can get a certified birth certificate. Under MCL 333.2882, a certified copy can be issued to the person named on the record once they turn 18, a parent or legal guardian, a legal representative, or someone with a court order. Informational copies may be available to others, but certified copies require one of these qualifying relationships.

You need to show valid photo ID when you pick up a record in person. If you are requesting someone else's record, you may need to provide proof of your relationship, such as a birth certificate showing parentage or legal documents showing guardianship. The Wayne County Clerk's staff can tell you what documents are needed for your specific situation. Under MCL 333.2813, the state has rules on how records are maintained and who controls access.

Genealogy researchers can access older records as well. Records that are more than 100 years old become public under Michigan law. If you are researching family history and need records from before the 1920s, you may have broader access than someone requesting a recent record. Check with the Wayne County Clerk or the state vital records office for specifics on genealogical access.

Important Notes for Detroit Birth Records

Detroit has a few situations that differ from other Michigan cities. The December 2013 closure of the city's Vital Records Division is the main one. If you tried to get a birth certificate from Detroit City Hall after that date and were turned away, the Wayne County Clerk is where you need to go.

Births from before October 1978 where the parents were unmarried may be on file with the State of Michigan only. Wayne County may not have these records. If you request a pre-1978 birth record and the county cannot find it, contact the Michigan MDHHS vital records office at michigan.gov or order through VitalChek's Michigan state records page.

Records from 1893 onward are generally available at the county level. If you need a record older than that, the state archives or historical sources may be the only option. The Michigan MDHHS vital records team can help point you in the right direction for very old records.

Under MCL 333.2888, amended birth certificates can be issued after legal name changes or other changes to the original record. The process for an amended certificate goes through the state MDHHS, not just the county clerk.

Nearby Cities in Wayne County

Several other large cities in Wayne County are near Detroit. Each city's residents also use the Wayne County Clerk for birth records. If you live in one of these cities or were born there, the same Wayne County Clerk office handles your birth certificate requests.

• Dearborn - Wayne County, southwest of Detroit
• Livonia - Wayne County, northwest of Detroit

Wayne County Birth Records

Detroit is in Wayne County, and the Wayne County Clerk issues all birth certificates for Detroit births. The county page has more detail on the full records process, fees, mail request instructions, and links to county resources. For a complete look at how Wayne County handles birth records, visit the county page.

View Wayne County Birth Records