Search Missaukee County Genealogy Records
Missaukee County genealogy records are kept at the county clerk's office in Lake City. The county was organized in 1871, and records begin from that year. Birth, death, and marriage records are all available through the clerk. This small county in northern Michigan's lower peninsula has a compact record set that is manageable for most genealogy searches.
Missaukee County Overview
Missaukee County Clerk Records Office
The Missaukee County Clerk is located at 111 S. Pine St. in Lake City. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone number is 231-839-4967. The fax is 231-839-4969. Staff can search records by name and year. Bring a valid photo ID to any in-person visit. Mail requests are accepted and processed when office staff have time.
Birth records begin in 1871 and are restricted under MCL 333.2882. Records less than 100 years old are only available to the person named on the record, their parents, a legal guardian, or a documented heir. Older records are open for public genealogy research. Death and marriage records are public from 1871 forward and available to any requester.
Certified copies cost $15 each, set by MCL 333.2884. Because this is a small county office, it is a good idea to call ahead before making a long trip. The clerk can confirm whether a record exists and what you need to bring.
| Office | Missaukee County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 111 S. Pine St., Lake City, MI 49651 |
| Phone | 231-839-4967 |
| Fax | 231-839-4969 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Vital Records in Missaukee County
Birth records in Missaukee County start in 1871. That is when the county was formally organized, so no birth records exist from before that year at the county level. Under MCL 333.2885, certified copies of birth records under 100 years of age are restricted to eligible individuals. Records from before 1925 are now over 100 years old and are generally open to the public for genealogy research.
Death records also begin in 1871 and are public. A certified copy costs $15. Death records from this county typically list the name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, and an informant name. For a small county like Missaukee, the informant was often a neighbor or family member who lived in the same township, which can help you locate other family members.
Marriage records start in 1871 and are public. They cost $15 per certified copy. Old marriage records may include ages and birthplaces for both the bride and groom. If your ancestors married in Missaukee County in the 1870s or 1880s, this information can point you to their place of origin before Michigan.
Online and State Resources
The FamilySearch Wiki for Missaukee County gives an overview of available records and links to digitized collections. FamilySearch is a free platform and has indexed some Missaukee County records. Check the wiki to see what is searchable online before planning a trip to Lake City.
The Missaukee County MIGenWeb page has locally contributed records including cemetery transcriptions and genealogy links. Volunteers maintain this site and it can have materials not available through official sources. It is a good free resource for anyone researching Missaukee County families.
Michiganology covers Michigan death certificates from 1897 through 1952, including those filed in Missaukee County. Search results show the original document image. This is a free resource and the fastest way to find an early 20th-century death record for this county.
The Archives of Michigan at 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing (517-373-1408) holds additional records useful for Missaukee County research.
The Archives hold land entry records, census materials, and naturalization files covering all Michigan counties. For records from before the county's 1871 organization, neighboring county records or territorial records at the Archives may help.
For records not held at the county level, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services statewide vital records office is at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, phone 517-335-8666.
Communities in Missaukee County
Missaukee County includes Lake City, McBain, Falmouth, and several rural townships. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All genealogy record requests for Missaukee County go through the county clerk at 111 S. Pine St. in Lake City.
Nearby Counties
These counties are adjacent to Missaukee County. Check them if your ancestors lived near a county border or if you cannot find a record in Missaukee.