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Contact Information:
  • MAILING ADDRESS:
  • PO Box 189
  • Centreville MI, 49032

  • OFFICE LOCATION:
  • County Clerk's Office - General Division
  • 125 W. Main St.
  • Centreville MI, 49032
  • Historic Courthouse - Second Floor
  • Phone: (269) 467-5603
  • Fax: (269) 467-5596

Genealogy Information

File Downloads

Fees

  • For searches of Marriage, Birth or Death records conducted by the Clerk's Office Staff: $1.00 per year, per record with a $15.00 minimum (13 year search). If the record is found you will be provided with a certified copy.
  • For copies of Court Records, the fee will vary depending on how many pages are being requested.
  • No Personal Checks
  • Make Money Orders Payable to: St. Joseph County Clerk

Hours for in-office research are Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm

Due to limited space it is recommended that researchers not bring children.

The following records of St. Joseph County are available for research in the County Clerk's Office:

  • Marriage Records (1832 to present)
  • Birth Records (1867 to present)
  • Death Records (1867 to present)
  • 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 100 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 Request for Genealogy Search (PDF), and mail it to St. Joseph County Clerk with the appropriate fee. Results of the search are hand-copied on a Vital Record Form.

Cemetery records are maintained by the Sexton for the Cemetery.

VitalChek Portal Ordering

Certified copies of Marriage, Birth or Death records can also be ordered through our VitalChek Portal. Orders made through the VitalChek Portal must be paid using a credit card. An additional convenience fee is charged by VitalChek for this service. As a benefit, orders made through this service that are received before 3:00 pm are typically processed and mailed the same day.