Genesee County Marriage Records

Genesee County marriage records go back to 1835 and are held by the County Clerk's Vital Records Division in Flint. You can search for marriage licenses online, request certified copies by mail, or visit the office in person. This page covers how to find and get Genesee County marriage records using the tools the county makes available.

Genesee County Clerk Vital Records

The Genesee County Clerk serves as the main office for marriage records in this county. County Clerk Domonique D. Clemons also serves as Register of Deeds. The Vital Records Division handles all requests for certified copies of marriage licenses, death records, and other vital documents. Staff can search records going back to 1835, making this one of the older county collections in Michigan.

There are two addresses you need to know. The main County Clerk office is at 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502. But if you are coming in person to request a vital record, you go to 1101 Beach St., Room 140, Flint, MI 48502. That is the Vital Records Division location. Call (810) 257-3225 before you visit to confirm hours and what you need to bring. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

You can also reach the office by email at clerk@geneseecounty.org. The clerk handles mail requests sent to 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502.

Search Genesee County Marriage Records Online

The county provides a free online search portal for marriage records, death records, notary records, and DBA filings. You can look up records by name and date range. The portal is run by the county and gives you access to records without a trip to the courthouse.

For the actual search portal, go to the Genesee County vital records search on the county government site. That tool lets you search by name or date range across all record types the Vital Records Division holds.

The county also offers a free genealogy research service. Staff can pull records going back to 1835 for family history research. This is a no-cost service you can request through the clerk's office.

The Michiganology digital archives offers historical marriage records for Genesee County residents going back to the 19th century.

These digitized records are free to search and include marriage indexes and supporting documents from Michigan's early statehood period.

How to Get Genesee County Marriage Certificates

There are three ways to get a certified copy of a Genesee County marriage record: in person, by mail, or through the state. Each method has its own steps and costs.

For in-person requests, go to 1101 Beach St., Room 140, Flint, MI 48502. Bring a valid photo ID. The fee for the first certified copy is $25.00. Each additional copy of the same record costs $10.00. You can pay and pick up the same day in most cases.

To request by mail, send a completed request form, a clear copy of your photo ID, a money order payable to Genesee County Clerk, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail everything to Genesee County Clerk Vital Records, 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint, MI 48502. Processing times vary, so plan ahead if you need the record for a deadline.

Michigan residents can also order certified copies through the state. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) vital records office at michigan.gov/mdhhs handles state-level requests. The state fee is $34 for a certified copy, which is higher than the county fee. You can also order through VitalChek for state records with a service charge added.

Note: Records 75 years and older are open to the public under MCL 333.2885. Newer records have restrictions on who can request them.

Getting a Marriage License in Genesee County

If you plan to get married in Genesee County, you apply for a marriage license at the County Clerk's office. Both parties must appear in person. You each need to be at least 18 years old. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and know your Social Security number, your date and place of birth, and your parents' full names and birthplaces.

Michigan requires a 3-day waiting period after you apply. The license becomes valid on the fourth day. Under MCL 551.103, the license is valid for 33 days from the date it is issued. If you do not use it within that window, you need to apply again. The fee for Michigan residents is $20 for the license. Out-of-state applicants pay $30. These are the standard state fees. Genesee County may add a small processing charge, so confirm the total when you call.

After the ceremony, the officiant files the completed license with the county clerk. The clerk records it and it becomes a permanent marriage record. Certified copies can then be requested using the process described above.

Michigan law on marriage is found at Chapter 551 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. The full text of the marriage code is also at MCL 551.101 on Justia. These are good sources if you want to read the law itself.

FOIA Requests in Genesee County

If you need records not available through the standard vital records process, you can submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the county. The FOIA coordinator is Monaca Elston at 1101 Beach Street, Room 312, Flint, MI 48502. Standard FOIA requests cover records not treated as vital records. Marriage licenses issued within the last 75 years may require a qualifying relationship to the parties before they are released.

Michigan's public records law governs access to government documents. Under state law, most records are available to any Michigan resident upon request. Vital records under 75 years have special rules. The Michigan Attorney General opinion on marriage records gives context on how these rules have been interpreted.

Cities in Genesee County

Flint is the county seat and largest city in Genesee County. Marriage records for all residents of the county are filed with the Genesee County Clerk regardless of which city or township they live in.

Other communities in Genesee County include Burton, Grand Blanc, Flushing, Clio, and Fenton. Marriage license applications for residents of these communities are also processed at the Genesee County Clerk's office in Flint.

Nearby Counties

Genesee County is in east-central Michigan. If you are not sure which county handles your records, it depends on where the couple lived at the time of marriage. Check the county your address falls in.