STATE OF MICHIGAN
OFFICE OF THE GREAT SEAL
LANSING
OFFICE OF THE GREAT SEAL
RICHARD H. AUSTIN BUILDING
1ST FLOOR 430 W. ALLEGAN LANSING, MICHIGAN 48918
www.Michigan.gov/elections
MDOS- Notary@Michigan.gov
Instructions to Authenticate Recorded Documents
Death Certificate
We CAN authenticate: Only Certified copies from the County Clerk’s office; City Clerks in
the counties of Wayne, Oakland, or Macomb ONLY; or the State
Registrar’s office.
We CANNOT authenticate: From Court or Probate clerks. Do not get copies from
these officials.
Notarized vital records
Photocopies of vital records.
Out of State Vital Records
To obtain recorded documents from a County Clerk:
County Clerk telephone numbers are listed online and can also be found on our
website.
Contact the County Clerk where the birth, marriage, divorce or death occurred.
Request a certified copy of the document you need.
Once you receive the certified copy of the document, either mail it to the Lansing office or
bring it to one of our branch offices that provide authentication services (see attachment).
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland County recorded documents may be obtained from the City
Clerks in those counties only.
To obtain recorded documents from the State Registrar:
• The telephone number for the State Registrar’s office is 517-335-8666.
• Request a certified copy of the document and tell them it is for use in another country.
• You can make arrangements with the State Registrar’s office to mail the document directly to
the Office of the Great Seal for state authentication. Our office cannot provide status
updates.
• If an Authenticated copy was not requested from State Registrar, you can mail it to the
Lansing office or bring it to one of our branch offices that provide authentication services.
• You can also order recorded documents off their website. Their address is
www.michigan.gov/mdch.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
OFFICE OF THE GREAT SEAL
LANSING
OFFICE OF THE GREAT SEAL
RICHARD H. AUSTIN BUILDING
1ST FLOOR 430 W. ALLEGAN LANSING, MICHIGAN 48918
www.Michigan.gov/elections
MDOS- Notary@Michigan.gov
Helpful Tips
Must be a certified copy by either the county clerk or the State
Registrar.
Record must be produced within 15 years.
Do not notarize this document.
No other papers can be attached to this document. It is a stand-
alone document.
Must be a Michigan Vital Record.
Our Office does not authenticate Out of State Vital Records.
