Search Clinton County Genealogy Records

Clinton County genealogy records are maintained at the County Clerk's office in St. Johns, Michigan. Birth, death, and marriage records date back to 1839 for marriages and 1867 for births and deaths. Researchers tracing family lines in mid-Michigan will find that the Clinton County Clerk is the main source for certified vital records, while local historical and genealogical societies can offer additional support and research access.

Clinton County Clerk Office

The Clinton County Clerk is at 100 E. State St. in St. Johns and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office holds vital records and issues certified copies under MCL 333.2885. Call ahead at 517-224-5140 to confirm hours or ask about a specific record before visiting.

Birth records are restricted for 100 years under MCL 333.2882. Records from births before the mid-1920s are public. Newer birth records require direct family authorization or legal documentation. Death and marriage records are public. Death records start in 1867. Marriage records go back even further, to 1839, giving researchers access to nearly 185 years of marriage data. Certified copies cost $15 each, as set by the state registrar under MCL 333.2884.

Mail requests should include the full name, record type, approximate year, a $15 payment, and a copy of your photo ID. The clerk's staff can confirm what information they need to process your request.

Genealogy Records Available in Clinton County

Birth, death, and marriage records are the core vital records available in Clinton County. Marriage records are the oldest, starting in 1839. Birth and death records begin in 1867. All three types cost $15 per certified copy. Birth records are restricted for 100 years under state law. Death and marriage records are public and open to anyone.

Death certificates are among the most useful genealogy records because of the detail they contain. A standard Clinton County death certificate can show the name, birthdate, birthplace, date and cause of death, and names of parents or next of kin. Older records from the late 1800s may have less detail, but even basic death records help fix a person in time and place. Michiganology offers free death certificates from 1897 to 1952 at michiganology.org.

Marriage records from Clinton County going back to 1839 can be paired with census data to trace family movement and household composition through the mid-1800s. This is particularly useful when researching families who moved between Clinton County and neighboring mid-Michigan counties.

Genealogists of the Clinton County Historical Society

The Genealogists of the Clinton County Historical Society is based at P.O. Box 23 in St. Johns. This group provides research help and maintains access to local historical records. If you are stuck on a specific family line or looking for records that the county clerk may not hold, this organization is a good resource. They often have compiled data from local newspapers, church records, and cemetery transcriptions that supplement official vital records.

Local genealogical societies like this one can be especially helpful when researching Clinton County families from the mid-1800s, when records were less formally kept. Members often have years of experience working with the county's records and can point you to sources you might not find on your own.

Online Resources for Clinton County Genealogy

The FamilySearch Wiki for Clinton County gives a detailed overview of what records are available and where to find them. FamilySearch has free access to many digitized Michigan record sets that may include Clinton County materials such as census data, land records, and early vital records.

The Clinton County MIGenWeb site provides locally gathered data including cemetery transcriptions and obituary indexes. This volunteer-run site fills in gaps that official databases don't always cover. Check it before planning a research trip to the county clerk's office.

Michiganology at michiganology.org provides free access to Clinton County death certificates from 1897 to 1952. No account is required. This is one of the best free online tools for Michigan genealogy research and covers a critical period for many families.

The Michiganology search interface lets you look up Clinton County death certificates from 1897 to 1952 for free.

State and Statewide Support for Clinton County Research

The Archives of Michigan at 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing, phone 517-373-1408, holds historical collections that cover Clinton County. Early land records, naturalization papers, and probate files are among the materials available. These can fill in gaps where vital records are missing or incomplete, particularly for research going back to the 1830s and 1840s.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, phone 517-335-8666, issues certified copies of vital records from the state level. This is useful if the county clerk cannot fulfill a request from its local files or if you need a record from a period only held at the state level.

The Archives of Michigan holds early land records, naturalization papers, and other historical documents covering Clinton County families from the 1830s forward.

Note: The Michigan Genealogical Council at mimgc.org is a statewide resource that can point you to Clinton County-specific research tools and local contacts.

Communities in Clinton County

Clinton County includes the city of St. Johns and communities such as Dewitt, Ovid, Elsie, Bath, and Eagle. All vital records for residents of these areas are filed at the Clinton County Clerk in St. Johns. There are no separate city-level vital records offices in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clinton County. Each has its own genealogy records held at the county clerk's office.