Vital Records (Marriage, Birth & Death)

THE BERRIEN COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE ADMINISTRATION CTR., 701 MAIN ST., ST. JOSEPH, MI 49085
The Berrien County Clerk's office at the Administration Center (only) is now open to the public. Our hours are: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our phone number is: (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8233. or email the Vital Records Office.

THE BERRIEN COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE

ADMINISTRATION CTR., 701 MAIN ST., ST. JOSEPH, MI 49085

The Berrien County Clerk's office at the Administration Center (only) is now open to the public.

Our hours are: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Our phone number is: (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8233. or email the Vital Records Office.

The Berrien County Clerk’s Office

South County Building, 1205 N. Front St., Niles MI 49120

Vital Records Division/Courts Closure Plan Due To COVID-19 Response as of 10-26-2020

Phone number: (269) 983-7111 Ext. 6288
Email the Vital Records Office
Website: www.berriencounty.org

Appointments only in Niles – Vital Records Division:

The following services are available by appointment only at the South County Building, 1205 N. Front Street, Niles, due to limited public access in the county buildings. We recommend that you wear a mask and bring your own pen. Please be on time for appointments as our time slots are full. Children are not allowed in the building at this time due to the State Covid-19 guidelines. The Niles office closes from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. for lunch.

Services offered at the Niles South County Clerk’s Office by appointment:

Requests for Birth, Death and Marriage Certified Copies
Requests for DD-214 Certified Copies
Notarizing Documents
Notary Public Applications
Marriage License Applications
Assumed Name Registrations
CPL Applications – (Fingerprinting appointments are now needed for first time applicants by calling the Sheriff’s Department at 983-7111 Ext. 7211)
Emergency Circuit Court Filings and PPO filings

Description of Services also available at this time:

Online Services

Request for Birth, Death and Marriage Certified Copies on our website below this notice. Click on Vitalchek or call 1(888)243-0055
CPL Applications (Renewals only) and renewal (must be notarized) at www.michigan.gov/cplrenewal
Electronic Death Filings from Funeral Homes

Mail SERVICES

Request for Birth, Death, and Marriage Certified Copies
Business Name/DBA application and renewal (must be notarized)
DD214 request copies

A drop box is also available outside the Administration Building door to drop off “mail services” (listed above) requests or filings.

VITAL RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
In order to protect the security of identity and ensure record integrity, the State of Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.2895) prohibits public disclosure of the confidential information contained in Vital Records. In accordance with the law, we may not disclose any information or permit public inspection of the records on file in this office. This law includes Death Certificates, which are not considered public records in the sense that they are open to public inspection. Only the Death Index is available which lists the name, date of death and record number. If more detailed information is needed such as a cause of death, we must have a written application and the prescribed fee. (MCL333.2882) In order to obtain information contained in a Vital Record, you must: Be legally eligible to obtain the record Produce adequate identification when required by law Submit a written request and pay the prescribed fee for the issuance of a certified copy
Note: Vital Records are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). (MCL 333.2888(1))

VITAL RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE

In order to protect the security of identity and ensure record integrity, the State of Michigan Public Health Code (MCL 333.2895) prohibits public disclosure of the confidential information contained in Vital Records.

In accordance with the law, we may not disclose any information or permit public inspection of the records on file in this office.

This law includes Death Certificates, which are not considered public records in the sense that they are open to public inspection. Only the Death Index is available which lists the name, date of death and record number. If more detailed information is needed such as a cause of death, we must have a written application and the prescribed fee. (MCL333.2882)

In order to obtain information contained in a Vital Record, you must:

Be legally eligible to obtain the record
Produce adequate identification when required by law
Submit a written request and pay the prescribed fee for the issuance of a certified copy

Note: Vital Records are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). (MCL 333.2888(1))

Cost

Berrien County only issues certified copies of vital records. Certified copies cost $13 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same certificate and include the cost of the search.

Ordering through VitalChek

The Berrien County Clerk now offers online orders for Birth, Death and Marriage records using your credit card through an approved and secure Internet ordering service called VitalChek Network Inc. VitalChek offers the convenience of ordering vital records for your family from the privacy of your home or office, on an expedited basis, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. You can place your order at VitalChek and receive instructions on how to process your order.

VitalChek charges a $12.95 processing fee in addition to the Berrien County Clerk’s fees.

Search records Online

Ordering by Phone

Starting on June 28, 2017, VitalChek will be offering a new “in house” call center program in addition to the online service, where you can now call and place your vital records order over the phone. VitalChek charges a $12.95 service fee in addition to the Berrien County Clerk’s fees, for this new phone service.

The number to call is: 888-243-0055
Fax number is: 888-398-3905

Birth Record Request

Birth Records are sealed by law for 100 years and may only be requested by people whose names appear on the certificate (Mother, Father, Child) without a court order.

Death Record Request

Death certificates are not considered public records in the sense they are open to public inspection by the public. A death certificate, however, may be requested by any member of the public provided the requestor submits a written request (or orders online) and pays the applicable fee. (MCL 333.2882)

Marriage License Copy Request

Marriage Licenses are also public information and Berrien County’s indexes date back as far as 1831.

Vital Records Forms

The Berrien County Clerk’s Office also houses a wide array of other records ranging from Board of Commissioner minutes to military discharges. If you have questions about obtaining copies of any other documents housed within the Clerk’s Office, please Contact Us and a member of our staff will be in touch as soon as possible.