Branch County Clerk - Vital Records

How to request a . . .

: Birth Certificate
: Death Certificate
: Marriage License
: Marriage Certificate
: Genealogy Search; - Local Cemeteries
: Death Record Search
: Doing Business As . . .

NOTICE: Fees for many vital records have increased effective January 1, 2002. The fee for the First Copy of a document is now $15.00, with each subsequent copy of the same record at $5.00.

Request Forms for the following documents can be printed for your convenience.
All requests must be accompanied by the appropriate fee in the form of a money order, made payable to Branch County Clerk.
Completed forms and fees may be brought to the Clerk's Office in the Branch County Courthouse, or be sent by mail to

Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

Mail-in requests must be accompanied by a photocopy of Requester's driver's license AND a Money Order for the appropriate amount.

If you have additional questions after reading the requirements for each certificate request, please call (517) 279-4306.

Birth Certificates

| Blank Request Form | Online Request Form |

Requirements

IMPORTANT: Requests must be for persons BORN in Branch County.

Birth records that are 110 years old or older are open to the public. Any Requester may obtain a copy of a specific birth record that is 110 years old or older by filling out the Birth Certificate Request Form and mailing it to the Branch County Clerk with the appropriate fee.

Birth records less than 110 years old are closed to the public. You can only obtain a birth certificate for yourself, your child, or if you are a descendant or heir of the deceased. Please fill out the Birth Certificate Request Form, and include a copy of your driver's license or two other pieces of identification (if you have questions about which types of documents are acceptable, contact the Clerk's office at 517-279-4306).

Costs

$15.00 for the first certified copy.
$5.00 for each additional copy of that record made at the same time.
Money Order only; payable to Branch County Clerk

Mailing Address

Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

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Death Certificates

| Blank Request Form | Online Request Form |

Requirements

IMPORTANT: Requests must be for persons that DIED in Branch County.

Death records are open to the public. Death certificates are filed in the county where the death occurred. You can obtain a death certificate for anyone who died in Branch County. Please fill out the Death Certificate Request Form, and mail it to the Branch County Clerk with the appropriate fee. You can also search the Death Record Index to see if the death certificate for a given person is on file with the Branch County Clerk.

Costs

$15.00 for the first certified copy.
$5.00 for each additional copy of that record made at the same time.
Money Order only; payable to Branch County Clerk

Mailing Address

Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

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Marriage License

| Blank Request Form | Online Request Form |

Requirements

To apply for a Marriage License, you will need identification in the form of a driver's license or certified birth certificate. Also bring a copy of a divorce judgment if you have been divorced within the last year.

Use the Blank Request Form to print out a form to take to the Clerk's office, or use the Online Request Form to fill the form out online and take it to the Clerk's office.

Costs

$20.00 for state residents
$30.00 for out-of-state residents

County Clerk's Office
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

Other Information

Apply at the County Clerk's office in the county where one of the applicants resides. License can then be used anywhere in the State of Michigan.
Out-of-state applicants must apply in the county where the marriage ceremony will take place.
There is a 3 day waiting period after applying and before the license can be picked up. License expires 33 days from application date.
Fee is collected at the time of application. $20 for state residents, $30 for out-of-state residents.
If under 18 (16 or 17) must bring parent to sign consent form - parent must also show identification.

Marriage Certificates

| Blank Request Form | Online Request Form |

Requirements

Marriage records are open to the public. Marriage records are filed in the county where the license was ISSUED, which would be the county of residence of the parties. You can obtain a certified copy of a marriage in person or by mail. For mail requests, fill out the Marriage Certificate Request Form, and mail it to the Branch County Clerk with the appropriate fee.

Costs

$15.00 for the first certified copy.
$5.00 for each additional copy of that record made at the same time.
Money Order only; payable to Branch County Clerk

Mailing Address

Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

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Genealogy Search

| Blank Request Form | Online Request Form |

Requirements

Hours for in-office research are Monday-Thursday, 9 am - 11 am and 1 pm - 3 pm. Space allows for two researchers at one time. Due to limited space it is recommended that researchers not bring children.

The following records of Branch County are available for research in the County Clerk's office:


Marriage Records 1833 to present

Birth Records    1867 to present

Death Records    1867 to present

Naturalizations  beginning 1847

Court Records    beginning 1833

All the above records are open to the public, with the exception of birth records. Birth records were closed several years ago by the State of Michigan. However, if a person is deceased, an heir or descendant may access the person's birth record by completing an "Affidavit of Heir" form and providing a copy of the individual's death record (if requesting a birth record 110 years old or older, a death record for that individual is not needed).

Searches by mail:
Searches by mail will be conducted as staff time permits. For mail requests, fill out the Genealogy Search Request Form, and mail it to the Branch County Clerk with the appropriate fee. Results of the search are hand-copied on a Vital Record form.

Costs

For certified copies of a record:
$15.00 for the first certified copy.
$5.00 for each additional copy of that record made at the same time.

For searches conducted by the Clerk's Office Staff:
$15.00 - includes one certified copy.
The search fee covers the cost of a basic 10 year search and includes either one certified copy of the record or an official statement that the record is not on file in our office. A basic search covers your specified 10 year time frame.

Money Order only; payable to Branch County Clerk

Mailing Address

Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

Related Information

Cemetery records are maintained by the City or Township Clerk where the cemetery is located.

Death Record Search

| Search for a Death Record |

An "Index to Death Records" is available online. You can search the index for the name and date of death of a person who died in Branch County. From the search you can request a certified copy of the death record by mail or in person through the Branch County Clerk's Office.

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DBA Information

| Search for a DBA Record |

Requirements

IMPORTANT: Businesses filing in Branch County are required to use forms provided by this office.

A Certificate of Assumed Name and a Certificate of Co-partnership must be filed in every county where a business is owned or conducts business.

The following entities DO NOT file at the county level:

corporations
limited partnerships
limited liability companies
assumed names owned by corporations
nonprofit organizations owned by corporations

(Contact: Department of Consumer and Industry Services - 517-241-6400)

The Certificate of Assumed Name and Certificate of Co-partnership are legal documents. All information given on them must be complete and accurate.

Signatures MUST be signed and witnessed by a Notary of Public. This office will provide notarization if all owners are present at time of signing, and have a current valid Drivers License or State-issued ID.

At the time of filing, this office will verify if the business name chosen is available. Once accepted, certified copies of that business name will be issued. The Certificates expire 5 years from date of filing.

It is your responsibility to check local resources and with the Department of Consumer and Industry Services to ensure there are no existing business using the name you have chosen.

It is your responsibility to notify this office and file the required forms if you:

Change the principal business address
Add or delete persons from the business name certificate
Dissolve the business

Additional Information

Tax Information

Michigan Dept. of Treasury
(517) 373-3190
(Form Request Only (800) 367-6263)
Internal Revenue Service
(800) 829-1040
www.irs.gov

Licensing and Permit Information and/or Miscellaneous Information

Michigan Economic Development Corporation
(517) 373-9808
MDEC web site
Contact the city, village or township in which the business is located to verify local regulations.

Patent and Trademark Information

United State Patent Office
(703) 208-4357 or (800) 688-9889
www.uspto.gov

Available Forms

*Requires the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader

Costs

$10.00 for filing or renewing the Certificate of Assumed Name Two (2) certified copies will be provided

$10.00 for filing or renewing the Certificate of Copartnership Two (2) certified copies will be provided

$10.00 for Notice of Dissolution ; Notice of change of place of Business

$2.00 for certified copy of a Business Registration currently on file.

Money Order only; payable to Branch County Clerk

Mailing Address

Branch County Clerk
31 Division St.
Coldwater, MI 49036

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