County Clerk Frequently Asked Questions

Vital Records

Marriage Licenses

How much does it cost to get a marriage license?
$20 for Michigan residents, and $30 for non-residents.

How long does it take to get a marriage license in Michigan?
Three days.

Do both people have to come to apply for the marriage license?
No. If only one applicant is present, however, please be sure to know all the required information for the other person. Bringing a copy of a birth certificate would be helpful. 

How do I know where to apply for my marriage license?
The answer depends on whether or not you are a Michigan resident. If you are, you need to get your license in the county in which either you or your future spouse reside. The license can then be used anywhere in the state. If you are not a Michigan resident, you must get your license in the county where you want to be married in order for it to be valid. 

Must witnesses to marriages be 18 years old?
No, witnesses are not required to be 18 years of age, however, they need to be able to comprehend that they are witnesses to a legal marriage and they need to be able to sign their legal signature.

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Michigan Health Certificate

What is the "Michigan Health Certificate"? Do I have to get a physical or a blood test to get it?
The certificate just certifies that you have been counseled by the appropriate health personnel regarding the transmission and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection, and have been offered testing for these diseases. Applicants are not required to get a blood test, physical exam, or any other procedure. Bring each certificate with you when applying for your license.

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Certified Copies

How much does it cost to get a copy of a birth certificate?
All certified copies (of birth, death, or marriage certificates) are $10 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time. Senior citizens (65 and older) requesting a copy of their own birth certificate pay $2.

I live far away. How can I get a copy of my birth or marriage certificate? Do I have to come in person?
Requests may be made by mail; however, telephone requests cannot be accepted at this time.

How long does it take to get a copy of a birth certificate or other document?
In-person requests for certified copies of birth or death certificates and marriage certificates already filed with the Clerk's office will generally be taken care of immediately. Mail requests are generally processed within 1 - 2 business days.

Can I get a copy of someone else's birth, death, or marriage certificate?
Birth records are confidential and are available only to the person or parents of the person named in the record. If you are an heir, legal guardian, or legal representative of the person whose birth certificate you are requesting, additional documentation is required. Contact this office at (616) 527-5322.
Death and marriage certificates are not confidential.

I am adopted and want a copy of my original birth certificate. Can I get it from this office?
Adopted persons' birth records are not available through this office. Contact the Michigan Department of Community Health in Lansing, at (517) 335-8656. Contact this office also for records of births that occurred prior to September 30, 1978 where parents were not married at the time of birth. You can obtain the form from the MDCH web page.

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Business Names

Why do I have to register my business name with the county?
Michigan law requires that persons who own, conduct or transact business in a county register their business names in that county as a matter of public record.

My business has been incorporated with the state. Do I also have to file with the county?
No. Corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and non-profit organizations owned by corporations do not file at the county level. However, there are other agencies besides the state that you may want to contact. A list of some of these agencies is available online and at the Vital Records office.

How much does it cost to file my business name?
The fee is $10.00, and the certificate is required to be renewed every five years. A person filing an assumed name and presenting an out-of-state driver's license of state-issued ID will also need to complete a consent to suit and pay an additional $2.00 filing fee.

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Passports

How much does it cost to get a passport? Is there a difference in passport fees for adults and children?
For adults 16 and over, the passport fee is $45.00; for persons under 16, the fee is $25.00. The Ionia County processing fee of $15.00 applies to all ages of applicants.

Do you take passport photos at your office?
No. Check the yellow pages and be sure to specify passport photos when you get your pictures taken.

I am 16, but I don't have a driver's license to use as ID for my passport. Is there anything else I can use?
A state-issued ID, if you have one, or a parent's current valid driver's license or state-issued ID if you do not have your own can be used instead, with the parent present.

I need to get passports for my children. Do they have to come to the office in person?
Children 13 and over are required to appear in person when submitting their applications. Conversely, you must accompany any child under 16 who comes to apply for a passport.

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Voter Registration

Who may register to vote and what are the requirements?
· A U.S. citizen
· At least 18 years old by election day.
· A resident of Michigan and the city or township where you are applying to vote.

When may I register to vote?
At any time, however, you must be registered at least 30 days before an election in order to vote in that election.

Do I have to register for each election?
NO. Registration is permanent as long as you continue to live in the city or township where you are registered.

You may register by appearing in person at:
· Any of the 178 Secretary of State branch offices located throughout the state.
· Your city or township clerk's office.
· Your county clerk's office.
· Any Family Independence Agency office.
· Specified agencies providing services through the FIA, Department of Community Health or Michigan Jobs Commission that offer voter registration services to their clients.

May I register to vote by mail?
YES. Individuals who register to vote by mail must vote in person in the first election following their registration.

What should I do if I have moved within my city or township of residence or changed my name since the last election?
You should immediately notify the clerk of your city or townsip of your residence.

What should I do if I move to another city or township within the state?
You must re-register with the clerk in your new city or township of residence.

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Absentee Voting

Can I vote by absentee ballot?
If you are a registered voter, you may vote absentee if:
· You are 60 years of age or more.
· You expect to be absent from the community in which you are registered to vote for the entire time the polls are open on election day.
· You are unable to go to the polls and vote without the assistance of another person.
· You cannot attend the polls because of your religious beliefs.
· You have been appointed as an election inspector in a precinct other than the one in which you reside.
· You are confined in jail or prison awaiting arraignment or trial.
How do I receive the ballot?
You can obtain an absent voter ballot by writing to the clerk of the city or township in which you are registered to vote. Ballots cannot be supplied through telephone requests. Your written request must include:
· Your name.
· The date of the election.
· The address where you are registered to vote.
· The reason why you are requesting an absent voter ballot.
· The address where you wish to receive your ballot. (This must be your registration address, an address outside of your jurisdiction of registration, a hospital, or some other type of residential institution.)
· Your signature and the date of your request.
Blank absent voter ballot applications can be obtained through your city or township clerk. Members of the armed forces and their spouses and dependents, members of the Merchant Marine and their spouses and dependents, and U.S. citizens temporarily living or traveling outside the territorial limits of the United States may use a Federal Post Card Application to obtain an absent voter ballot. U.S. Citizens temporarily living or traveling outside of the territorial limits of the United States must sign the Federal Post Card Application under oath to obtain an absent voter ballot. Anyone else eligible to use the federal form is not required to sign it under oath to obtain an absent voter ballot.

When must the ballot be returned?
Your completed absent voter ballot must be received by your city or township clerk's office no later than 8:00 p.m. on the date of the election.

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Voting Procedure

Where do I vote?
If you do not know the location of your polling place, check with your city or township clerk.

When are the polls open?
In Michigan the polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on election day.

What is the voting procedure?
The procedure involves three steps:
1. You sign an Application to Vote.
2. An election inspector checks your name against the list of registered voters for the precinct.
3. You vote.
Procedures vary according to the type of equipment used in your city or township. Poll workers will provide information on voting procedures if you request it before you enter the voting station. Poll workers are not allowed to tell you how to vote, nor may they attempt to influence your vote in any way.

What should I do if my name does not appear on the list of registered voters at my polling place?
Answer any questions the election inspectors may ask in attempting to confirm your registration, contact your city or township clerk.

May I receive assistance when voting?
Any elector may request voting assistance from the precinct board without stating a reason, in which case two inspectors (one from each political party), will render assistance. If you need assistance because you are blind, disabled or unable to read or write, you may ask anyone (except your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your union) to give you assistance.

May I take campaign literature into the polling place?
Yes, as long as the articles are for your personal use and you do not distribute or display them to other voters in the polling place. In addition, you may not leave any materials in the polling place.

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Election Day Procedures

Is there a difference between a primary and general election?
YES! A primary election is held by the political parties to select their nominees for the offices to be elected at the upcoming general election. In a primary, Republicans run against Republicans and Democrats run against other Democrats. And, of course, if other parties qualify to appear on the primary ballot, their candidates run against each other as well. In a primary you vote on only one party's ticket.

A general election is between party nominees and any candidates without political party affiliation, the genera election determines which candidates will occupy the office that is up for election. Statewide ballot proposals also appear on the general election ballot.

Is campaigning allowed on election day?
YES! as long as it is done at least 100 feet from any door used by voters to enter or exit the building in which the polls are located.

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