One of the main goals for genealogists is finding birth, marriage, and death (BMD) information about their ancestors.
Over the past few decades, thanks to volunteers, librarians and archivists (as well as the largest of them all - FamilySearch), a great number of indexes to birth, marriage, and death collections have been provided for free online. These searchable indexes provide specific BMD information, and sometimes scanned images of the actual birth, marriage, and death certificates themselves. These free online collections have hundreds of millions of records in them in total.
There are a great number of online and offline collections that may include birth, marriage, and death information that are not included in the lists below. For example, newspapers, draft registration files, naturalization records, etc. have BMD info. To find out which types of other records may include BMD information, please see:
- 27 Ways to Find Ancestor Birth Information
- 22 Ways to Find Ancestors Marriage Information
- 21 Ways to Find Ancestors Death Information
The lists below are specific birth, marriage, and death indexes and record collections that are available for free online for the state of Michigan.
Note 1: Many of the links listed below take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. In many cases there is a link to the digital collection in the middle of the page, but also near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections' images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. Please also note that I have listed below only BMD databases that are accessible digitally from your computer (or tablet/phone)
Note 2: I have included links to Free Ancestry records and indexes. You do not need a subscription, but do need an Ancestry account. Without a subscription you can view indexes. If there is an image associated with a record, in most cases you will need a subscription, but the index does include very usable information.
(Updated May, 2020; recently added links are in BOLD)
General U.S.
- United States Births and Christenings, 1867-1931
- United States Deaths and Burials, 1867-1961
- United States Korean War Battle Deaths, 1950-1957
- United States Marriages, 1733-1990
- United States Social Security Death Index
- United States, Freedmen's Bureau Marriages, 1861-1872
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
Michigan
- Alcona County Birth Records, 1869-1904
- Alger County Deaths
- Allegan County Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Allegan County Record of Births 1867-1927
- Allegan County Record of Marriages 1835-1937
- Allegan County, Births, 1867-1872
- Allegan County, Deaths, 1867-1880
- Allegan County, Marriage Records 1835-1870
- Alma, Catholic Church. St. Mary's Church Records, 1906-1983
- Alpena County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Ann Arbor, Deaths and Marriages as published in the "Signal of Liberty" 1841-1847
- Ann Arbor, First Baptist Church Vital Records 1828-1876
- Antrim County Vital Records
- Antrim Birth Record 1867-1912
- Antrim Death Records, vols. 1-2, 1867-1916
- Antrim Marriage Records, 1866-1921
- Bad Ave Area - Huron Daily Tribune Death Index
- Baraga Birth Record 1874-1914; Birth Index 1874-1976
- Barry County Marriages and Deaths
- Bay County Birth, Marriage, and Death Index, 1906-2013
- Bay County Births, Marriages, Deaths, wills 1857-1870
- Bay County Record of Births 1868-1911; Delayed Births 1858-1973; Index to Births 1874-1933
- Bay Death Records, 1867-1893; Index to Deaths, 1883-1920
- Bay Marriage Records 1857-1914; Marriage Index 1878-1914
- Benzie County Record of Deaths, v. 1, 1869-1925
- Benzie Birth Records, 1868-1917
- Benzie Delayed Birth certificates v. 1-5 1869-1973
- Berrien County Death Card Index, 1869-1935
- Berrien County Birth Records 1906-1913
- Berrien County, Marriage Records, 1832-1929
- Berrien County, Marriage Records, 1831-1867
- Berrien Death Records, 1867-1942; Index to Deaths 1867-1994
- Berrien Marriage Records 1831-1950; Index to Marriages 1831-1994
- Birmingham, St. Joseph Episcopal Church Church Records, 1904-1927
- Branch County Death Index, 1867-2011
- Branch County Birth Records, 1867-1909
- Branch County Record of Deaths, v. A-B, 1867-1909, 1919
- Branch County Record of Marriages 1833-1915; Index 1833-1970
- Branch County, Vital Records 1833-1871
- Branch County, Marriages in 1833 through 1850
- Brockway Township Cemetery and Death Records
- Brownstown Birth Records, 1926-1952
- Brownstown Death Records, 1897-1908
- Burr Oak Township Deaths in Burr Oak Township, 1869-1905
- Calhoun County Death Index
- Calhoun County Vital Record
- Calhoun County Birth Records 1867-1921; Birth Index 1887-1923
- Calhoun County Marriage Records, 1836-1943 ; Index, 1836-1950
- Calhoun County, Marriages, 1834-1870
- Calhoun County, Marriage Records 1834-1870
- Calhoun County, Marriage Records, 1834-1870
- Calhoun Death Records, 1867-1933 ; Death Index, 1888-1996
- Cass County Births pre-1902
- Cass County Marriages
- Cass County Vital Records, ca. 1850-1920
- Cass County Birth Record 1867-1910; Birth Index 1867-1977
- Cass County, Death Records, ca. 1840-1920
- Cass County, Early Marriages, 1830-1858
- Cass Death Records and Index, 1867-1967
- Cass Marriage Records, 1830-1942; Index, 1830-1994
- Charlevoix County Death Index, 1868-2010
- Charlevoix County Marriage Index, 1868-2010
- Charlevoix County Birth Records, 1868-1925
- Charlevoix County Record of Deaths, vol. 1, 1868-1913
- Charlevoix County Record of Marriages v. 1-2 1868-1925
- Charlevoix Death Index and Obituary Clippings
- Cheboygan County Death Index
- Cheboygan County Birth Records, 1867-1931
- Cheboygan Record of Deaths, 1867-1933; Index to Deaths, 1934-2002
- Chippewa County Marriage Records, 1824-1870
- Chippewa County Birth Records 1869-1924; Birth Index 1869-1976
- Chippewa Death Records 1869-1930; Death Index 1869-1976
- Chippewa Marriage Records 1826-1858, 1868-1937; Marriage Index 1835-1976
- Clinton County Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes
- Clinton County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Clinton County Death Index
- Clinton County Marriage Index
- Clinton County Birth Records 1867-1910; Birth Index 1867-1933; Delayed Births filed 1943-1975
- Clinton County, Marriage Records 1834-1869
- Clinton Death Records 1867-1915; Death Index 1867-1933
- Clinton Marriage Records 1839-1926; Marriage Indexes 1838-1946
- Clyde Township Cemetery and Death Records
- Crawford County Avalanche Vital Records Card file, ca. 1880-2006
- Crawford Birth and Death Records 1878-1959
- Dearborn Area Deaths
- Delta County Birth, Death, & Marriage Card file Index to the Escanaba morning press, 1909-1910
- Delta County Death Indexes
- Delta County Deaths
- Delta County Birth, 1867-1921; Marriage, 1867-1960; and Death Records, 1867-2005
- Delta County Vital Records
- Detroit Free Press, Vital Records 1831-1868
- Detroit, Early Marriage Records 1838-1840
- Detroit, Early Records of the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, 1849-1878
- Detroit, North Woodward Avenue Congregational Church Church Records, 1902-1917
- Detroit, Second Congregational Church Church Records, 1864-1909
- Dibean Michigan Marriage Index
- Dickinson Birth Records, 1891-1919
- Dickinson Death Records 1891-1919
- Douglas Community Hospital Death Records
- Early Michigan Births by County
- Eaton County Deaths and Transcribed Obituaries
- Eaton County, Marriages, 1820-1875
- Emmet County Death and Marriage Index
- Emmet County Death Index, 1868-2011
- Emmet County Marriage Index, 1857-2012
- Emmet County Record of Marriages 1856-1931
- Emmet Birth Records, 1867-1954
- Emmet Record of Deaths, 1867-1920
- Farmington Marriage and Death Indexes
- Flint Births, Marriages, and Deaths
- Flint Public Library Death Index
- Fremont Area Death Index
- Genesee County Death Index, 1867-1930
- Genesee County Marriage Index, 1836-1934
- Genesee County Marriages and Deaths Indexes
- Genesee County Birth Records, 1866-1915
- Genesee County, Birth Index, 1888-1907
- Genesee Death Records 1867-1917
- Genesee Marriage Records 1836-1917 ; Indexes 1836-1917
- Gladwin County Death Index
- Gogebic County Record of Marriages, 1887-April 1957, and Indexes, 1887-1924
- Gogebic Record of Births, 1886-1922
- Gogebic Record of Deaths, 1886-1927, and Indexes, 1934-1 Sept. 2005
- Grand Traverse County Death Index, 1867-2011
- Grand Traverse County Marriage Index, 1853-2003
- Grand Traverse County Marriage Index, 1853-2012
- Grand Traverse County Marriage Licenses and Death Records
- Grand Traverse County Birth Records 1867-1917; Birth Index 1856-1960
- Grand Traverse County Vital Records, 1853-1873
- Grand Traverse Death Records 1867-1916
- Grand Traverse Marriage Records 1853-1933; Marriage Index 1853-1960
- Gratiot County Deaths and Transcribed Obituaries
- Gratiot County Vital Records
- Gratiot County Vital Records
- Gratiot County Birth Records 1857-1908
- Gratiot Death Records 1867-1935
- Gratiot Marriage Records 1855-1918; Marriage Index 1867-1973
- Hillsdale and Lenawee Counties Birth Card file, ca. 1860-2004
- Hillsdale and Lenawee Counties, Obituary and Marriage Card ca. 1860-2004
- Hillsdale County Divorce Records, 1872-1944
- Hillsdale County Record of Births and Indexes, 1866-1905
- Hillsdale County Record of Marriages, 1852-1911
- Houghton County Birth Records, 1867-1910
- Houghton Death Records 1867-1910
- Houghton Marriage Records, 1848-1912
- Huron County Birth Records 1867-1911
- Huron Death Records, 1867-1921; Death Index, 1867-1975
- Huron Marriage Records 1867-1925; Marriage Index 1867-1975
- Ingham County Birth Records 1867-1913
- Ingham County Record of Marriages 1838-1917; Index to Marriages 1838-1975
- Ingham County, Marriages, 1838-1867
- Ingham Death Records 1867-1914; Index to Deaths 1867-1975
- Ionia County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Ionia County Record of Marriages 1837-1903; Index to Marriages 1837-1974
- Ionia County, Marriage Records, 1837-1867
- Ionia Record of Deaths 1867-1906
- Iosco County Vital Records
- Iosco Death Records, v. 1-2, 1867-1935
- Iron Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1884-1977
- Isabella County Death Index
- Isabella County Deaths 1800-1900
- Isabella County Marriages from the Earliest Records to the year 1880
- Isabella County Birth and Death Records 1867-1924; Birth and Death Index 1880-1940
- Isabella County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Isabella Delayed Birth Registration 1800's-1900's
- Isabella Marriage Records 1859-1933; Marriage Index 1867-1952
- Jackson County Birth, Death and Marriage Card file, ca. 1860-ca. 1990's
- Jackson County Death Index
- Jackson County Marriage Index
- Jackson County Marriages, 1833-1870
- Jackson County Marriages, 1833-1870
- Jackson County Vital Statistics, 1830-1870
- Jackson County Marriage Records 1833-1910; Index to Marriages 1867-1964
- Jackson County Record of Births 1867-1910
- Jackson County Records of Deaths, 1867-1918
- Jackson County, Vital Statistics, 1830-1870
- Kalamazoo County Births
- Kalamazoo County Deaths
- Kalamazoo County Vital Records
- Kalamazoo County Vital Records, Births, Deaths, Marriages
- Kalamazoo County Birth Records 1867-1903; Index to Births 1867-1975
- Kalamazoo County, Births and Deaths, 1867-1869
- Kalamazoo County, Marriages 1831-1852
- Kalamazoo Death Records, 1867-1933; Index to Deaths, 1867-1997
- Kalamazoo Marriage Records 1831-1941
- Kalamazoo Marriage Records 1866-1881; Index to Marriages 1833-1919
- Kalkaska County Vital Records 1871-1933
- Kalkaska County, Births, 1871-1875; Marriages, 1871-1880, Deaths, 1875-1885
- Kent County Birth Indexes
- Kent County Burial, Death Index, Grand Rapids, 1867-1926
- Kent County Death Indexes
- Kent County Marriage Indexes
- Kent County Marriages 1845-1929
- Kent County Birth Records from the first Records to 1870
- Kent County Vital Records and Obituaries, 1892-1913
- Kent County Death Records, 1860-1872
- Kent County Marriages prior to 1870
- Kent County Marriages, 1845-1870
- Kent County, Birth Records to 1847
- Kent County, Births, 1870-1874
- Kent Index of Marriages, 1842-1926
- Kent Index to Deaths of transients, 1850-1940
- Kent Record of burials, 1874-1877
- Keweenaw County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1867-1980
- Keweenaw County Marriage Index
- Lansing State Republican Death and Marriage items, 1855-1860
- Lansing State Republican, Marriages and Deaths 1855- 1870
- Lapeer County Record of Births 1867-1916
- Lapeer County Vital Records
- Lapeer Marriage Records 1831-1932; Index to Marriages 1887-1975
- Lapeer Record of Deaths 1867-1913
- Leelanau County Deaths
- Leelanau County Record of Marriages v. 1-2 1867-1929
- Lenawee County Death Index
- Lenawee County Marriages
- Lenawee County, Index to Deaths, ca. 1913-1980
- Lenawee County, Index to Marriages, 1879-1970
- Lenawee County, Marriages 1852-1854
- Lenawee County,Obituary, Marriage and Birth Card ca. 1840 - ca. Oct. 2005
- Livingston County Death and Obituary Index
- Livingston County Marriages 1836-1850
- Livingston County Marriages, 1836 to 1850
- Livingston County Birth Records 1867-1907
- Livingston Death Records 1867-1927
- Livingston Marriage Records 1836-1917; Marriage Index 1836-1975
- Livingston Marriages 1850-1870
- Luce Birth and Death Records 1886-1933; Birth and Death Index 1886-1976
- Mackinac County Marriage Index
- Mackinac County Marriages
- Mackinac County Birth Records, 1873-1916
- Mackinac Marriage 1820-1832
- Mackinac Miscellaneous Records, 1805-1841
- Macomb County Death Records
- Macomb County Birth Records 1867-1923; Index to Births 1874-1905
- Macomb Death Records, 1867-1917
- Macomb Marriage Records, 1819-1927
- Manistee County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Manistee County Record of Births 1867-1900
- Manistee County Record of Marriages 1855-1887
- Manitou County Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1871-1895
- Marquette County Deaths
- Marquette County Birth Records 1867-1914; Birth Index 1867-1943
- Marquette Mining Journal Birth Card file Index, ca. 1875-1890, 1987-1995
- Marquette mining journal, Marriage Card file Index 1869-1890
- Marquette Death Records, 1867-1912
- Marquette Marriage Records 1850-1914; Marriage Index 1850-1976
- Mason Marriage Records 1867-1916; Marriage Index 1867-1976
- Mecosta County Birth and Death Records 1867-1921; Index to Births and Deaths 1867-1970
- Menominee County Death and Obituary Index
- Menominee County Birth Records 1867-190518
- Menominee Marriage Records, 1863-1957; Marriage Index, 1870-2005
- Michigan Births and Christenings, 1775-1995
- Michigan Births, 1867-1902
- Michigan Church Marriages, 1865-1931
- Michigan Civil Marriages, 1834-1974
- Michigan Death Certificates, 1921-1952
- Michigan Death Index, 1971-1996
- Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995
- Michigan Deaths and Obituaries, 1820-2006
- Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897
- Michigan Federal and State Census Mortality Schedules 1850-1884
- Michigan Genealogical Death Indexing System (GENDIS)
- Michigan Historical Death Records
- Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995
- Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925
- Michigan Vital Records from the Michigan Christian Herald, 1850-1859
- Michigan Birth Records, 1867-1902
- Michigan Death Records, 1867-1897
- Michigan Marriage Records, 1868-1925
- Michigan, County Births, 1867-1917
- Michigan, County Marriages Index, 1820-1937
- Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-194
- Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952
- Midland County Record of Deaths, v. A, 1866-1912
- Midland Birth Records, 1867-1917
- Milford Death and Obituary Index
- Miscellaneous BMD Records by County
- Monroe County Death and Obituary Index
- Montcalm County Record of Marriages, 1885-1936
- Montcalm Record of Deaths, 1867-1915
- Monterey Birth Records, 1906-1918
- Monterey Township, Transcript of Certificates of Death 1907-1919
- Montmorency County Birth, Marriage and Death Records 1881-1974
- Moran Miscellaneous Record, vol. 1, 1845-1865
- Mt. Marriage Records 1839-1855
- Muskegon County Death Index, 1867-1965
- Muskegon County Marriage Index
- Muskegon County Birth Records, 1867-1917; Index, 1867-1949
- Muskegon Death Records, 1867-1918
- Muskegon Marriage Records, 1883-1911
- Newaygo County, Marriages in 1851-1866
- Newaygo Death Index
- Newaygo Birth Records, 1867-1915, Birth Index, 1884-1933
- Newaygo Death Records, v. 2-3, 1867-1932
- Newaygo Marriage Records 1850-1914; Marriage Index 1850-1976
- Oakland County Birth and Death Indexes
- Oakland County Death and Marriage Index
- Oakland County Birth Records 1867-1900
- Oakland County Record of Marriages 1827-1919; Index to Marriages 1827-1959
- Oakland County, Marriage Records 1827-1854
- Oakland County/Waterford Marriage and Death Indexes
- Oakland Death Records, 1867-1937
- Ogemaw County Births
- Ogemaw County Deaths
- Ogemaw County Marriages
- Ogemaw Birth Records, 1879-1917; Index to Births, 1879-1933
- Online Searchable Death Indexes
- Onsted Village Deaths
- Ontonagon Birth Records 1868-1925; Birth Index 1868-1977
- Ontonagon Marriage Records, 1851-1887
- Osceola County Birth Records 1869-1916; Birth Index 1869-1975
- Osceola Death Records 1869-1935
- Osceola Marriage Record 1869-1918; Marriage Index 1869-1975
- Oscoda County Birth, Death and Marriage Records 1880-1950
- Ottawa County and Muskegon County Birth Card Index to the Grand Haven Tribune, ca. 1890-2003
- Ottawa County and Muskegon County Marriage Card Index to the Grand Haven Tribune, ca. 1890-2003
- Ottawa County Birth Indexes
- Ottawa County Birth, Marriage, and Death Indexes
- Ottawa County Death Indexes
- Ottawa County Marriage Indexes
- Ottawa County Birth Records 1867-1900; Birth Index 1866-1908
- Ottawa County, Death Index, 1867-1901
- Ottawa Death Records, v. 1-2, 1867-1901
- Ottawa Marriage Record 1847-1902; Marriage Index 1847-1914
- Presque Record of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1841-1929
- Saginaw County Marriage and Death Indexes
- Saginaw County Marriages 1835-1864
- Saginaw County Newspapers Index to Vital Statistics 1853-1912
- Saginaw County Vital Records
- Saginaw County Birth Records 1867-1909
- Saginaw Death and Obituary Index
- Saginaw Death Records, 1868-1917
- Saginaw Marriage Records 1867-1914; Index 1867-1923
- Sandusky District Library Indexes
- Sanilac County Birth Records 1867-1909
- Sanilac County Sanilac County Birth Records
- Sanilac County Sanilac County Death Records
- Sanilac County Sanilac County Marriage Index
- Sanilac County, Marriages in 1849-1869
- Sanilac Marriage Records 1849-1931
- Seeking Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920
- Seeking Michigan Death Records, 1921-1952
- Shiawassee County Marriage Records
- St. Clair County Marriage Index, 1838-1898
- St. Clair County Marriages and Deaths
- St. Clair County Birth Records 1867-1908
- St. Clair County Vital Records, 1800-1910
- St. Clair Death Records, 1868-1904
- St. Clair Marriage Records 1838-1917; Index to Marriages 1884-1974
- St. Joseph County Marriage Extracts, Newspapers, and Church Records, 1838-1870
- St. Joseph County Newspaper clippings of Marriages and Deaths, 1878-1925
- St. Joseph County Record of Marriages, 1832-1970
- St. Joseph County, Mottville Township Records, 1837-1952
- St. Joseph County, Fabius Township Record of Births, 1906-1928
- St. Joseph Birth Indexes, 1867-1929
- St. Joseph Record of Deaths, 1867-1929
- Three Rivers Death Register, ca. 1898-1935
- Three Rivers, St. Joseph County Death Certificates
- Three Rivers, St. Joseph County, Death Registers, 1897-1928
- Tuscola County Death Index
- Tuscola County Death Indexes
- Tuscola County Death Records
- Tuscola County Birth Records 1867-1899
- Tuscola Death Records, 1867-1906 Death Index, 1867-1967
- Tuscola Marriage Records 1851-1917; Marriage Index 1851-1975
- Van Buren County Birth and Death Index
- Van Buren County Birth Records, 1867-1907
- Van Buren Death Records, 1867-1924, Index 1867-1924
- Van Buren Marriage Records with some Index of brides and witnesses, 1859-1869
- Van Buren Marriage Records, 1836-1950 ; Index 1836-1968
- Washtenaw County Death Indexes
- Washtenaw County Deaths and Transcribed Obituaries
- Washtenaw County Marriages, 1827-1840
- Washtenaw County Birth Records 1867-1913; Birth Index 1867-1941
- Washtenaw County Marriage Records 1827-1922; Marriage Index 1833-1934
- Washtenaw County Marriages, 1827-1857
- Washtenaw County Vital statistics taken from the Ypsilanti commercial newspapers 1876-1883
- Washtenaw Death Record 1867-1914
- Wayne County Birth Records, 1867-1869
- Wayne County Death Indexes
- Wayne County Marriage Records 1800's
- Wayne County Marriage Records 1837-1870
- Wayne County Birth Records 1867-1869
- Wayne County Birth Records, 1868-1918
- Wayne County Marriage Records from 1818-1838
- Wayne County Vital Records
- Wayne County/Wyandotte Death Index, 1820-1965
- Wayne Death Records, 1867-1917
- Wayne Death Records, 1908-1939
- Wayne Marriage Records, 1836-1913 ; Index 1836-1937
- Wayne Marriage Records, 1843-1887
- Wexford County Death Index
- Wexford County Births, Marriages and Deaths 1868-1929
Check out the links for other states on the BMD Records page.
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
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