Contact

County Clerk Office
212 E Paw Paw Street Paw Paw, MI 49079
Phone: (269) 657-8218, option 6
Email: clerk@vanburencountymi.gov

Department Documents

Birth Certificates

Certified birth records for births in Van Buren County are available from the County Clerk’s office starting from 1867. These records are confidential and can only be accessed by the person named on the record, their parents, heirs, legal guardians, or legal representatives. If you are an heir, legal guardian, or representative, you will need to provide additional documentation. A valid driver’s license or state-issued ID is required for birth certificate requests. If you don’t have a valid ID, you must provide three supplemental documents from the Alternate forms of ID PDF.

Ways to Request a Birth Certificate

For Mail requests please complete and print the Vital Record Request form or send a letter including:

  • Full name on the record
  • Date and place of birth
  • Parents’ full birth names
  • Photocopy of the requester’s driver’s license with correct mailing address
  • Signature of the requester

If your ID address does not match your current mailing address, provide additional proof of your new address, such as a recent piece of non-junk mail.

Bring a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID for in-person requests. If you don’t have a valid ID, provide three supplemental documents from the Alternate forms of ID PDF.

The Clerk’s office is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, except on federal holidays. We accept cash, checks, credit or debit cards, and money orders.

Fees

The fees for birth certificates are:

  • $15 for the first certified copy
  • $5 for each additional certified copy

Make checks or money orders payable to County Clerk. Please, do not send cash through the mail. Incomplete requests will be returned for completion.

Documents & Forms