Access Genealogy Records in Wexford County
Wexford County genealogy records are held at the County Clerk's office in Cadillac, with vital records dating back to 1869 when the county was organized. Researchers tracing family history in northwest Michigan will find birth, death, and marriage records available at the county level. This page covers the clerk office, available records, and online tools for Wexford County research.
Wexford County Overview
Wexford County Clerk - Vital Records
The Wexford County Clerk in Cadillac is the primary office for vital records in the county. Birth, death, and marriage records are held here going back to 1869. The office is open weekdays during regular business hours. You can visit in person, call to inquire about specific records, or send a written request by mail.
Birth records from 1869 forward are held at the county level. Under MCL 333.2882, births within the last 100 years are restricted to qualified individuals. Death and marriage records are public. Both start from 1869 and are available without requiring proof of relationship to the person named in the record. These early records from the county's first years are particularly useful for tracing the families who settled in the Cadillac area after the county was organized.
| Office | Wexford County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 437 E. Division St., Cadillac, MI 49601 |
| Phone | 231-779-9450 |
| Fax | 231-779-9452 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
The standard fee is $15 per record copy under MCL 333.2884. Certified copies carry the county seal and cost more. Plain copies work well for most genealogy research. Certified copies are needed when the document is used for legal or official purposes.
Records Available in Wexford County
All vital records in Wexford County start from 1869 when the county was formally organized. Here is what the clerk holds.
| Record Type | Dates | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | 1869-present | Restricted (100 years) |
| Death | 1869-present | Public |
| Marriage | 1869-present | Public |
Death and marriage records are open to anyone. Birth records less than 100 years old are restricted. Getting a certified copy requires valid ID and proof of relationship under MCL 333.2885. For researchers seeking records from before 1869, federal census records from 1860 and 1870 cover the territory that became Wexford County. These are available free through FamilySearch.
The Wexford County Circuit Court holds probate and court records. The Register of Deeds holds land records. Both are in Cadillac. Older probate records that predate local organization may be at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing.
Wexford County Historical Society
The Wexford County Historical Society maintains local historical records based in the Cadillac area. Their collection supports genealogy research with county histories, newspaper clippings, and family research files. This kind of material can fill in details that official vital records do not capture on their own.
Old Cadillac-area newspapers are a particularly good source for the late 1800s and early 1900s. Obituaries and marriage announcements from that period often name parents, siblings, and other relatives, which helps when you are trying to reconstruct a family. The historical society may also have photographs and local business records that can help identify where an ancestor lived and worked in the county.
Note: Check with the Wexford County Historical Society directly to confirm current hours and whether an appointment is needed before visiting for research.
Online Resources for Wexford County Genealogy
Several free online tools index Wexford County records. Starting online can narrow down what you need before contacting the county office.
The Michiganology site holds death certificates from 1897 to 1952 for Wexford County and is free to use. The Archives of Michigan in Lansing holds older records not available locally. The Michiganology vital records page also provides a useful index of statewide records that include Wexford County entries.
The FamilySearch Wexford County Wiki lists all known digitized and microfilm record sets for the county. FamilySearch has indexed census records and vital records for many Michigan counties, including Wexford. The Wexford County MIGenWeb page has volunteer-contributed cemetery transcriptions, family files, and surname queries that can point you toward local sources. The Library of Michigan in Lansing supports genealogy with newspaper archives and reference collections.
State-Level Records
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) at P.O. Box 30721, Lansing, MI 48909, phone 517-335-8666, holds statewide vital records and can issue certified copies. The Archives of Michigan at 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, phone 517-373-1408, holds naturalization papers, older county records, and census materials from Michigan's territorial and early statehood periods.
Cities in Wexford County
Cadillac is the county seat and largest city in Wexford County. Manton is another community in the county. Neither reaches the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All vital records for Wexford County residents go through the County Clerk in Cadillac.
Nearby Counties
Researchers often need to check records in neighboring counties when families moved around northwest Michigan.