Birth Certificates in Waterford Township
Birth records for Waterford Township are held by the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac. Waterford Township is a charter township in Oakland County with a population of over 72,000 people. As a township rather than a city, Waterford does not have a local vital records office. All certified birth certificates for the township are issued through Oakland County. This page covers the request process, fees, and what residents of Waterford Township need to know when getting a birth record.
Waterford Township Overview
Where to Get Waterford Township Birth Records
The Oakland County Clerk at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 12 East, Pontiac is where all Waterford Township birth certificates are issued. Pontiac is the county seat of Oakland County and is only a few miles from Waterford Township, making the drive short for most township residents. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Walk-in service is available throughout the day without an appointment for standard birth certificate requests.
| Office | Oakland County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Building 12 East Pontiac, MI 48341 |
| Phone | (248) 858-0561 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | Oakland County Clerk - Birth Records |
Waterford Township is a charter township, which means it has a township clerk. But the township clerk handles municipal business, not vital records. Birth certificates are a county function in Michigan. Do not contact the Waterford Township offices expecting to get a birth certificate there. The Oakland County Clerk is your destination.
The county's birth records page has the current request form, ID requirements, and fees. Reviewing the page before your visit ensures you arrive with everything you need. If you cannot visit Pontiac, mail and online options are also available.
How to Request a Waterford Township Birth Certificate
You can get a Waterford Township birth record in person, by mail, or through an online service. In-person visits to the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac are the fastest. Arrive with your photo ID, completed request form, and payment. In most cases, the certificate is issued the same day for in-person requests.
Mail requests go to 1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Building 12 East, Pontiac, MI 48341. Download the request form from the Oakland County Clerk website, or call (248) 858-0561 to request one. Complete the form, attach a clear copy of your government-issued photo ID, and include a check or money order payable to the Oakland County Clerk. Do not send cash. Mail requests take longer to process than in-person visits, so account for that if you have a deadline.
Online ordering is available through the Michigan MDHHS vital records portal and through VitalChek. VitalChek is an authorized third-party provider that accepts credit cards and mails the certificate to you. A service fee is added above the county's base fee. The state MDHHS also processes requests for its own statewide registry, which holds Michigan birth records going back to 1867 and can serve as a backup if the county office cannot locate the record.
Note: For records that are not found at the county level, MCL 333.2813 governs the registration framework for Michigan vital records and may help clarify where older records are held.
Waterford Township Birth Certificate Fees
Oakland County charges $15 for the first certified copy of a birth certificate and $5 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. These fees apply to all Oakland County birth certificate requests, including those for Waterford Township. The fees are set under MCL 333.2891, which governs how local registrars charge for certified vital record copies throughout Michigan.
Payment for in-person requests at the Pontiac office is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Mail requests must include a check or money order payable to the Oakland County Clerk. Do not mail cash. If you order online through VitalChek, you can pay by credit card, but a service fee from the third-party provider will be added to your total. The base fee you pay Oakland County stays the same; it's the service fee that increases the cost.
Seniors who are 65 or older and need a copy of their own birth record may qualify for a reduced fee. Call (248) 858-0561 to ask about the senior discount before you request.
Who Can Get a Waterford Township Birth Record
Michigan restricts who may receive a certified birth certificate. Under MCL 333.2882, the eligible categories include the person named on the certificate if 18 or older, a parent or legal guardian, a spouse, child, or sibling, a licensed attorney acting on behalf of the named person, or someone authorized by a court order. You must prove your relationship to the subject at the time of the request. Bring documentation that establishes your connection to the person named on the record.
At the time of your request, the form will ask for the subject's full legal name at birth, date of birth, city and county of birth, and both parents' names including the mother's maiden name. Fill in all fields as completely as possible. If details are missing or incorrect, the search may fail to return the right record. If you are not sure of all the information, call the Oakland County Clerk at (248) 858-0561 before your visit to ask how to proceed.
Historical records that are 100 years old or older may be available for genealogy access under different rules. If you are researching older Waterford Township family history rather than requesting a current legal certificate, ask the Oakland County Clerk or the Michigan MDHHS about genealogy access policies and what documentation they need from you.
Michigan Mail Order Vital Records
Waterford Township residents who prefer not to visit the Oakland County Clerk in person can use the state's mail-order option. The image below shows the Michigan MDHHS mail order page, which provides instructions for submitting a written request to the state registry in Lansing.
Visit the Michigan MDHHS vital records page for full mail-order instructions and to learn about other ordering options including VitalChek online ordering.
Nearby Oakland County Cities
These nearby Oakland County communities also have birth records through the Oakland County Clerk in Pontiac. The same office, process, and fees apply.
Oakland County Birth Records
Waterford Township is in Oakland County. All birth certificates for the township are issued by the Oakland County Clerk. For full details on the county's vital records office, request procedures, and other local resources, visit the Oakland County birth records page.