Hillsdale County Genealogy Records

Hillsdale County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Hillsdale, with marriage records going back to 1835 and other vital records starting in 1867. Researchers looking for birth, death, and marriage records from this southern Michigan county can visit the clerk in person, send a mail request, or use Michiganology for free access to early death certificates. The FamilySearch Wiki and MIGenWeb site offer additional guidance on what records are available and where to find them.

Hillsdale County Clerk Vital Records

The Hillsdale County Clerk in Hillsdale is the main office for vital records in the county. Marriage records go back to 1835, making this one of the longer-running record series for a Michigan county. Birth and death records start in 1867. You can visit the clerk in person during business hours, or send a written request by mail along with the required fee and ID documentation. The clerk can confirm whether a record is on file before you submit payment.

Birth records are restricted under MCL 333.2882. To get a certified copy of a birth record, you must be the person named, a parent, a legal guardian, or hold a court order. Death and marriage records are open to the public. Certified copies are $15 per record. The fee is established by the state registrar under MCL 333.2884, and the county clerk is an authorized issuer under MCL 333.2885.

Note: Mail requests should include a completed request form or written description of the record, a copy of valid ID, and payment of $15 by check or money order.

Hillsdale County Marriage Records Dating to 1835

The marriage records held by the Hillsdale County Clerk go back to 1835, the year the county was organized. This is a long run of records that predates most Michigan counties. For genealogists researching early Michigan settlement patterns, these records can be especially valuable. They often show the names of parents and witnesses, the age of the parties, and where they lived at the time of the marriage.

Marriage records are public and available to any person who requests them. You do not need to prove a relationship to the parties named in the record. The $15 fee covers one certified copy. If you only need to verify that a marriage took place without a certified copy, you may be able to get that information by phone or email for no charge, depending on staff availability.

Online Resources for Hillsdale County Genealogy

Michiganology at michiganology.org gives free access to Hillsdale County death certificates from 1897 through 1952. Each certificate image can be viewed online and downloaded without cost. These documents often include the decedent's birthplace, parents, cause of death, and informant's name, all useful for family research.

The FamilySearch Wiki for Hillsdale County describes the available records and where to access them. FamilySearch holds digitized collections for the county, including some land records. The Hillsdale MIGenWeb page has locally sourced links and volunteer research. The Archives of Michigan (702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, 517-373-1408, archives@michigan.gov) holds older naturalization records and land patents relevant to early Hillsdale County settlers.

The screenshot below shows the Michigan Genealogical Council's website, a statewide resource for genealogy research that includes information relevant to Hillsdale County.

The Michigan Genealogical Council at mimgc.org is a statewide organization that provides research guidance and resources for all Michigan counties including Hillsdale.

State Vital Records and MDHHS

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services maintains statewide vital records. If the county clerk does not have the record you need, or if you want to obtain a copy from the state level, contact MDHHS at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909 or call 517-335-8666. The state office holds records from all 83 Michigan counties and can issue certified copies of birth, death, and marriage records.

The Library of Michigan at michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan has genealogy reference materials including census microfilm and city directories. For Hillsdale County, these resources can help place ancestors in specific townships during particular census years, which then directs you to the right county records.

Communities in Hillsdale County

Hillsdale is the county seat. Jonesville, Litchfield, and Camden are other communities in the county. None of these towns meet the population threshold for dedicated genealogy pages. All vital records for county residents are filed through the Hillsdale County Clerk's office on North Howell Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hillsdale County and each maintains its own vital records at the county clerk level.