Menominee County Birth Records

Menominee County birth records are kept by the county clerk in Menominee, Michigan, an Upper Peninsula city on the Michigan-Wisconsin border along Green Bay. The office holds birth certificates dating back to 1867 and processes requests in person, by mail, and through VitalChek for online ordering. Michigan law restricts access to birth records under 100 years old, so requestors must show valid ID and meet eligibility requirements. This page explains how to get a Menominee County birth certificate and what to expect at each step.

Menominee County Clerk Office

The Menominee County Clerk in Menominee is the official custodian of birth records for this Upper Peninsula county. The office maintains birth certificates going back to 1867 along with marriage records, death records, and court filings. Staff can confirm what records are available, explain the required forms, and process requests in person or by mail. The office is open weekdays during standard business hours.

Menominee County sits at the southwestern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, directly across the Menominee River from Green Bay, Wisconsin. The county shares its name with both the city and the river. For anyone born in the county and now living in the Wisconsin-Michigan border area, the Menominee County Clerk handles Michigan births, not Wisconsin records. If you were born in Menominee but moved across the river, your Michigan birth certificate still comes from the Menominee County Clerk. Under MCL 333.2813, Michigan maintains all birth registrations in its centralized vital records system, and Menominee County is part of that registry going back over 150 years.

Requesting a Menominee County Birth Certificate

You can get a birth certificate from Menominee County in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. All three methods require a completed request form and valid photo ID.

In-person requests are handled at 839 10th Avenue in Menominee. Bring your photo ID and a completed application form. Staff will check your eligibility and process your order, often the same day. For mail requests, send a signed and completed form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check made out to the Menominee County Clerk to the courthouse address. Include a return envelope with your mailing address. Processing by mail takes more time than in-person visits.

State-level ordering is available through Michigan MDHHS Vital Records at (517) 335-8666. The state charges $34 for the first copy. Online ordering through VitalChek requires a credit or debit card and adds a service fee to the order.

The MDHHS office provides access to Michigan birth records statewide, including those filed in Menominee County from the time records were first kept in 1867.

Who Can Get a Menominee County Birth Record

Michigan does not treat birth records under 100 years old as public documents. Under MCL 333.2882, only the person named on the record, their parents, a legal guardian, or an authorized legal representative may request a certified copy. Photo ID is required and must confirm your identity.

If you are requesting on behalf of someone else, you need to bring documentation showing your legal authority to do so. A court order, a power of attorney, or guardianship paperwork will work. The clerk reviews these materials before processing any request.

Records 100 years old or older are open to the public. Anyone may request older Menominee County birth records without needing to show a relationship. The access standards set under MCL 333.2891 apply uniformly across all Michigan counties.

Note: If you are unsure whether a record falls under the 100-year threshold, contact the Menominee County Clerk before submitting your request to confirm the record's date and access status.

Fees for Menominee County Birth Records

The Menominee County Clerk charges $15 for the first certified copy of a birth certificate. Each additional copy of the same record requested at the same time costs $5. These fees are set by MCL 333.2888, which governs vital records fees across Michigan.

County fees are lower than state fees. The MDHHS office in Lansing charges $34 for the first certified copy. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the base certificate cost. Ordering directly from the Menominee County Clerk by visiting in person or mailing your request is the most cost-effective way to get a Menominee County birth certificate. Make checks payable to Menominee County Clerk. Do not mail cash. Fees are non-refundable if no record is found.

Cities in Menominee County

Menominee County includes the city of Menominee and several smaller communities, but none have reached the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All birth record requests from residents throughout the county go through the Menominee County Clerk at 839 10th Avenue in Menominee. Both mail and VitalChek online options are available for those who cannot come in person.

Nearby Counties

Menominee County is in the southwestern Upper Peninsula. These neighboring Michigan counties each have their own clerk offices for birth records.