Access Houghton County Birth Records

Houghton County birth records are maintained by County Clerk Jennifer Lorenz at the county office in Houghton, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Records date back to 1867 and the office handles in-person, phone, email, and fax requests during business hours. Births at UP Health System - Portage have a separate contact for birth certificate requests. Michigan law requires proof of identity and eligibility for all certified copy requests.

Houghton County Clerk Office

County Clerk Jennifer Lorenz oversees birth record requests for Houghton County. The office at 401 E. Houghton Ave. in Houghton handles requests during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Online ordering is not available through the county, but you can request records in person, by phone, by email, or by fax during business hours. Forms are available through the office as well.

For infants born at UP Health System - Portage in Houghton County, there is a specific contact for birth certificate requests. Call Mary Schoos at (906) 482-1150. This is the contact for new birth certificate requests for hospital births at that facility. For all other birth records in the county, contact the County Clerk directly.

Michigan's statewide vital events platform, Michigan VERA, connects county offices and the state system to manage birth registrations across all counties. You can learn more about how Michigan registers vital events at michiganvera.org. Houghton County births are registered through this statewide system.

Michigan VERA is the backbone of the state's vital records system, linking hospital registrars, local offices, and the MDHHS state office to create and manage birth records across Michigan.

Who Can Get a Houghton County Birth Certificate

Access to certified birth certificates in Houghton County is governed by state law. Under MCL 333.2882, eligible requestors are the person on the record (if 18 or older), a parent or legal guardian, and legal representatives. You must show valid ID. If requesting for someone else, you also need documentation showing your legal relationship or authority to request on their behalf.

Michigan birth certificates are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. MCL 333.2888 exempts vital records from FOIA. You must follow the standard vital records request process. A FOIA request will not produce a birth certificate.

Records over 100 years old are public under Public Act 544 of 2002. Houghton County birth records from 1925 and earlier are accessible to anyone. This is particularly relevant for people researching the county's rich copper mining heritage and the immigrant communities that came to the Keweenaw Peninsula in the 1800s.

Note: When contacting the office by phone or fax, have your request details ready including the subject's full name, date of birth, and your relationship to the person on the certificate.

Requesting a Houghton County Birth Certificate

In-person is the most direct option. Go to 401 E. Houghton Ave. in Houghton between 8 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Bring valid photo ID. The fee is $15 for the first certified copy and $5 for each additional copy requested at the same visit. Staff will search the record and process your request.

The Houghton County Clerk also accepts requests by phone, email, and fax during business hours. This is helpful for people who cannot make the trip to the office. Call (906) 482-1150 to ask about what the office needs from you to start the process. You can also fax requests to (906) 483-0364. Keep in mind you will still need to send a copy of your ID and the fee payment before the certificate is released.

For state-level requests, you can contact MDHHS Vital Records in Lansing at (517) 335-8666 or visit their page at michigan.gov/mdhhs. The state office holds all Michigan birth records. If you cannot reach the county office, the state is a reliable alternative. Online ordering through VitalChek is also available for Michigan births.

The Vital Records Act, MCL 333.2813, governs how all Michigan counties including Houghton handle birth record requests, from registration through access. Seniors 65 and older may qualify for a fee reduction when ordering their own birth certificate under MCL 333.2891.

Genealogy Research in Houghton County

Houghton County's copper mining history drew immigrants from Finland, Cornwall, and other parts of Europe in the 1800s. Birth records from that era can help researchers trace these family lines. Records from before 1926 are in the public domain and open to anyone without the usual eligibility requirements.

If official birth records are missing or incomplete for a particular year, local churches, the county historical society, and regional genealogy groups often have supplementary records. The Finlandia University in Hancock, just across the waterway from Houghton, also holds materials related to the Finnish immigrant community in this area that may supplement vital records research.

Cities in Houghton County

Houghton County residents use the County Clerk at 401 E. Houghton Ave. for birth record requests. No cities in this county meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site. All birth certificate requests for the Houghton County area are handled through the county-level office.

Nearby Counties

Houghton County borders three other Upper Peninsula counties. If a birth took place in a neighboring county, contact that county's clerk for records.