Find Genealogy Records in Gladwin County

Gladwin County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Gladwin, with vital records dating back to 1875 when the county was organized. Birth, death, and marriage records can be requested in person or by mail, and many early death certificates are also available free through Michiganology. Researchers working on family lines from this central Michigan county can also find resources through FamilySearch and the Gladwin MIGenWeb site.

Gladwin County Clerk Vital Records

The Gladwin County Clerk keeps all vital records for the county. Records go back to 1875, when Gladwin County was organized. Birth, death, and marriage records are all available through this office. The clerk's staff can help you find a record, confirm it exists, and explain the steps for getting a certified copy. You can visit in person, send a request by mail, or call ahead to ask about what you need to bring.

Birth records are restricted under MCL 333.2882. Access is limited to the person named on the record, their parents, legal guardians, or those with a valid court order. Death and marriage records are public. Each certified copy costs $15, as set by the state fee schedule under MCL 333.2884. Under MCL 333.2885, the county clerk is one of the authorized offices for issuing certified copies.

Note: Mail requests should include a clear description of the record, a photo ID copy, and a check or money order for $15 made out to the Gladwin County Clerk.

Online Resources for Gladwin County Genealogy

Michiganology at michiganology.org is the best free online source for early Gladwin County death records. Death certificates from 1897 through 1952 are digitized and searchable by name. Each certificate image shows the full document, which often includes the deceased person's birthplace, parents' names, occupation, and cause of death. These details are valuable for tracing family lines back several generations.

The FamilySearch Wiki for Gladwin County gives a clear overview of what records exist and where to find them. FamilySearch also holds some digitized collections for the county. The Gladwin MIGenWeb page has locally contributed resources and links useful for research in this area.

The Archives of Michigan in Lansing (702 W. Kalamazoo St., 517-373-1408, archives@michigan.gov) holds older state records, including some early land records and naturalization files that may relate to Gladwin County settlers. The Library of Michigan at michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan also has genealogy collections, city directories, and census records on microfilm.

State-Level Records and MDHHS

For records held at the state level, contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. They hold statewide vital records and can issue certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records from across Michigan. The MDHHS vital records office is at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909. The phone number is 517-335-8666.

The state office can be useful if you are not sure which county a record was filed in, or if the county office does not have an older record on file. Many records from before 1900 were not always filed consistently at the local level, so checking both county and state sources is a good idea. The Michiganology database is run through the Archives of Michigan and gives free access to the most commonly requested historical death certificates.

The screenshot below shows the Michiganology portal, which covers Gladwin County death records from 1897 to 1952.

Michiganology provides free access to Michigan death certificates from 1897 to 1952, including records from Gladwin County.

Gladwin County Marriage and Death Records

Marriage records in Gladwin County start in 1875 and are open to the public. These records can help confirm family connections, identify maiden names, and link individuals to specific communities within the county. Death records from the same period are also public. Both are available from the county clerk for $15 per certified copy.

For historical genealogy work, combining county records with Michiganology's death certificates gives the most complete picture. Michiganology often includes additional details not found in the clerk's basic record index. If you are researching someone who died before 1897, the clerk's office and the Archives of Michigan are the primary places to check for older death or burial records.

Communities in Gladwin County

Gladwin is the county seat and the main community in Gladwin County. Other towns in the county include Beaverton and Tobacco. None of these communities have population levels that qualify them for their own records pages, but all vital records for residents throughout the county are filed with the Gladwin County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Gladwin County. Each maintains its own vital records office and has records going back to the 1800s.