Search Oakland County Birth Records

Oakland County birth records are kept by the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds in Pontiac. Michigan's second most populous county, Oakland has maintained birth certificates since 1867. You can request a certified copy online, in person, or by mail. This page covers what you need to know to get a birth record from Oakland County, including who can ask, what it costs, and how each method works.

Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds

The Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is the official custodian of birth records for all births that occurred within Oakland County. The office is located in Building 12 East at the Oakland County Service Center in Pontiac. Staff handle in-person requests, mail requests, and online orders placed through the county's website.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are no extended evening hours like some other county offices in Michigan. That means if you need to visit in person, you must plan around standard business hours. Online ordering is available around the clock through the county clerk's webpage, though processing only happens on business days after ID verification. You can view the current birth records information at the Oakland County birth records page.

Birth records prior to 1935 are available only through in-person or mail requests. These older records have not been digitized for online ordering. If you are looking for a pre-1935 birth record, you will need to contact the office directly and submit a written request.

Oakland County co-hosts REAL ID "One Stop" events with the Michigan Department of State. At these events, residents can get a certified birth certificate and complete their REAL ID application in one visit. Check the county clerk's website for upcoming event dates.

Who Can Request Birth Records in Oakland County

Oakland County follows Michigan state law on who is allowed to get a certified birth certificate. Under MCL 333.2882, birth records less than 100 years old are restricted to a defined group of people. You cannot request someone else's birth record just because you know their name and date of birth.

The eligible requestors under Oakland County's policy match the state law exactly: the person named on the birth record, a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian who can show current court-issued guardianship documents, a licensed legal representative with documentation of their role, and an heir of someone who has died, provided they submit both the death certificate and records proving the family relationship. A court with proper jurisdiction may also request records. Vital records are not subject to FOIA requests under MCL 333.2888, so that avenue does not apply here.

Every requestor must show valid identification. A driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport are all accepted. If you are ordering online, you upload a copy of your ID before the order is processed. The county clerk verifies the ID within two business days, then moves the order forward. If you do not have a valid single ID, you can submit three pieces of identification, at least one of which must include a photo.

Note: Records that are 100 years or older are treated as public under state law and can be requested by anyone, no relationship required.

How to Get an Oakland County Birth Certificate

Oakland County gives you three ways to request a certified birth certificate: online through the county clerk's website, in person at the Pontiac office, or by mail. Each option works well but has different timelines.

Online ordering is the most convenient choice for most people. Go to the Oakland County Clerk's webpage and follow the birth records link. You will fill out a form, upload a copy of a valid photo ID, and pay with a credit card. The order only moves forward after staff verify your ID, which takes up to two business days. Once verified, the certificate is either mailed to you or held for pickup. Express mail costs $31.40 and takes two to three business days. Regular mail is free and takes seven to ten business days. Records prior to 1935 are not available online and require an in-person or mail request.

In-person visits to the Pontiac office let you get the certificate the same day in most cases. Bring your photo ID, any supporting documentation for your relationship to the person named, and payment. The office accepts standard payment methods at the counter. For the in-person visit, 1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Building 12 East is the address. Parking is available at the county service center complex.

Mail requests work fine for those who cannot visit in person. Write a signed letter with the full name on the birth record, the date and place of birth, the mother's maiden name, and your relationship to the person. Include a photocopy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to Oakland County Clerk. Mail it to the address above. You can also get instructions and forms from the state mail order page if you want a standard format to follow.

Oakland County Birth Certificate Fees

Oakland County charges $15 for the first certified copy of a birth record. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $5. These are among the lower fees in the state. By comparison, the state MDHHS charges $34 for the first copy.

Senior citizens who are 65 or older pay a reduced rate of $10 for the first copy of their own birth record. This discount is set by MCL 333.2891 and applies statewide. Bring proof of age when you request the senior rate. The discount applies only to the person's own birth record, not to records of others.

Shipping options are the other main cost to consider. Express mail with delivery in two to three business days costs $31.40. Regular mail at no extra charge takes seven to ten business days. If you need the record quickly and cannot visit in person, express mail is the fastest option outside of a same-day in-person visit. There is no expedited in-person fee beyond the standard certificate cost.

Birth Records Law in Michigan

The rules governing Oakland County birth records are rooted in the Michigan Public Health Code. MCL 333.2813 created the statewide vital records registration system. It sets the standards for how births are recorded, stored, and released. Every county clerk in Michigan, including Oakland, operates under this law.

Michigan started keeping birth records statewide in 1867 under Public Act 194. The system has been revised several times since then. A major update came in 1978 with Public Act 368, which is the Public Health Code that governs vital records today. In 1997 and again in 2002, the state changed the rule on when records become public. Under current law, birth records 100 years or older can be requested by anyone, with no need to show a family relationship.

The state processes more than 100,000 vital records requests each year. Oakland County handles a large share of those given its size. All birth records from 1989 forward exist in the state's electronic registration system. Older records from Oakland County may still be on paper and take additional time to locate and copy.

The Michigan MDHHS Vital Records Division in Lansing serves as the statewide backup. If Oakland County cannot locate a record, or if you have a situation that does not fit the county's standard process, the state office may be able to help.

Apostilles and Special Requests

If you need a birth certificate for use in another country, you will likely need an apostille. This is a type of authentication that confirms the document is genuine and was issued by a legitimate authority. In Michigan, the Department of State's Office of the Great Seal handles apostilles for vital records. The fee is $1 per document.

You must first get a certified copy of the birth certificate from Oakland County, then submit that copy to the state for the apostille. The apostille cannot be applied to documents intended for use within the United States, only for foreign submissions. Make sure you specify the country where the document will be used when you apply, since requirements differ by country.

For requests tied to estate matters, name changes, passport applications, or school enrollment, a standard certified copy from Oakland County with the raised seal will work. These are the documents most agencies require. Plain copies without the seal are not accepted for official purposes.

Michigan Vital Records at the State Level

The Michigan MDHHS vital records page is a key resource for anyone navigating birth certificate requests across the state. The page below shows the state's portal where you can find order forms, fees, and access options for both county and state-level records.

The state portal covers all 83 Michigan counties. If you are not sure whether Oakland County or MDHHS holds the record you need, starting at the state page will help you figure that out.

Cities in Oakland County

Oakland County covers dozens of cities and townships. The county clerk in Pontiac handles birth record requests for all of them. The largest qualifying cities in the county are listed below.

Residents of all cities and townships in Oakland County must go through the Oakland County Clerk to request birth certificates. There is no separate vital records office within individual cities in this county.

Nearby Counties

Oakland County shares borders with several other Michigan counties. If you are looking for a birth record and are not certain which county it falls under, the city or township name will tell you which clerk's office to contact.