Find Birth Records in Mackinac County

Mackinac County birth records are kept by the county clerk in St. Ignace, a small Upper Peninsula city at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge. The office holds certificates dating back to 1867 and includes records for people born throughout the county, including Mackinac Island. The clerk accepts requests in person, by mail, and through VitalChek for online ordering. Michigan law limits who can get a certified copy of a birth record less than 100 years old, so you will need to show valid ID and meet the eligibility rules.

Mackinac County Clerk Office

The Mackinac County Clerk in St. Ignace is the official custodian of birth records for this county. The office maintains birth certificates, marriage records, death records, and court filings. Staff process vital records requests and can tell you what documents are required, how long processing takes, and how to submit your request if you cannot come in person.

Mackinac County covers a unique geography. The county seat is in St. Ignace on the Upper Peninsula mainland, but the county also includes Mackinac Island and other smaller islands. People born on Mackinac Island have their birth records on file with the Mackinac County Clerk, just as anyone born on the mainland portion of the county would. If you were born on the island and need your birth certificate, the process is the same as for any Mackinac County record. The mail option is particularly practical given that island residents must travel by ferry or plane to reach the mainland. Under MCL 333.2813, all Michigan births are registered with the statewide vital records system, and Mackinac County births are part of that registry.

How to Get a Mackinac County Birth Certificate

You can get a birth certificate from Mackinac County by visiting the clerk in St. Ignace, sending a mail request, or ordering online through VitalChek. All three methods require a completed application form and a copy of your photo ID.

In-person requests are handled at the courthouse in St. Ignace. Bring a valid photo ID and a filled-out request form. Staff process requests while you wait in most cases. For mail requests, send your signed form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check made out to the Mackinac County Clerk to 100 S. Marley Street in St. Ignace. Allow additional time for mail delivery and processing. This is the most practical option for island residents or those far from St. Ignace.

You can also order through the state. Contact Michigan MDHHS Vital Records at (517) 335-8666 for state-level requests. The state charges $34 for the first copy. Online ordering through VitalChek is available with a credit or debit card and includes a service fee.

Michigan's VERA (Vital Events Registration Application) system stores all birth registrations statewide, including those from Mackinac County and Mackinac Island births.

Who Can Access Mackinac County Birth Records

Birth records less than 100 years old in Mackinac County are restricted. Under MCL 333.2882, only the person named on the record, their parents, a legal guardian, or someone with a documented legal interest may request a certified copy. You must present a valid photo ID that confirms your identity and your eligibility.

If you are requesting a record for someone else, bring legal documentation such as a court order, power of attorney, or other authorized legal paperwork. The clerk's office will review your documentation before processing the request. Records 100 years old or older are open to the public under Michigan's 100-year rule, so anyone may request those records without needing to show a relationship. Under MCL 333.2891, the state defines the eligibility framework that all county clerks follow.

Birth Certificate Fees in Mackinac County

The Mackinac County Clerk charges $15 for the first certified copy of a birth certificate. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $5. These fees align with MCL 333.2888, which sets the fee schedule for vital records in Michigan.

Ordering through the county is less expensive than ordering through MDHHS at the state level, which charges $34. VitalChek adds a convenience fee to any order. For the most affordable option, use the in-person or mail route through the Mackinac County Clerk. Make checks payable to the Mackinac County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail. The fee is not refunded if no matching record is located.

Note: If you need multiple copies, order them all at once. The $5 rate for additional copies applies only when requested at the same time as the first copy.

Cities in Mackinac County

Mackinac County has no cities above the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All birth record requests for residents throughout the county, whether on the mainland in St. Ignace, on Mackinac Island, or in any other community within Mackinac County, go through the county clerk at 100 S. Marley Street in St. Ignace.

Nearby Counties

Mackinac County is in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Neighboring counties each have their own clerk offices for birth records. Contact the appropriate county based on where the birth took place.