Houghton County Office Directory

Houghton County Clerk
Houghton County Courthouse, 2nd Floor
401 E. Houghton Ave.
Houghton, MI 49931
 

Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone
906.482.1150

 Contacts/Personnel:
Mary Schoos - County Clerk
Pat Janke - Deputy County Clerk
Nancy Dorvinen - Senior Accounts Processor
Mary Sivonen - Senior Accounts Processor
Services Provided
 The services available to the public provided by the clerk’s office are:
  • Vital Records
  • Marriage License
  • Doing Business As
  • Notary Bond Filing
  • Passports
  • Concealed Weapons Applications
  • Military Discharge Filing
  • Genealogy

Vital Records On File For Houghton County
 (request form available below)

Births: 1867 to present - index starting 1893 (These records are restricted to person named on the record, a parent named on the record, an heir or legal guardian.)

Deaths: 1867 to present - index starting 1911

Marriage: 1855 to present - indexed all

Naturalization: 1848 - index all (There is limited information on naturalization records prior to 1906, the name of the applicant, the country of former allegiance and the date signed.)

Fees:

Certified Copy: $10.00 (includes search) for first copy / additional copies of same record $3.00 each

Searches done by staff are $10.00 for each record (for a non indexed search an $10.00 fee is charged for every three years we search, the year given, the year preceding and the year following.)

Genealogy Copy: If you wish to search our death, marriage or naturalization records yourself please contact our office to make an appointment. There is a $2.00 fee for copies of any records you search. If we have to type the record, it is an $10.00 fee. Example of records we would type: Birth and Death records prior to 1934.

Marriage License: $20.00 Houghton County residents - $30.00 out of state
See instructions below for obtaining a Marriage License.

Doing Business As: $10.00 filing fee

Passports: $85.00 under 16 years of age valid for 5 years: 15 and under need both parents signatures and birth record along with old passport if renewing. Ages 16 and 17 must have one parent sign. 16 years and older valid for 10 years cost $100.00.

Concealed Weapons Application: as of 7-1-2003 $105.00 valid for 5 years

DD214: There is no filing fee, a copy fee of $1.00 for the first copy .50 cents for additional copies. These are restricted to person named on the record or an heir of person named on record.

Vital Records Request Form
For your convenience you may use the form below to request your vital records. Please make check or money order payable to The Houghton County Clerk.

The form is presented in PDF format. If you can not view the documents, you will need to install the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader ®.

Obtaining a Marriage License
Houghton County Resident Application for Marriage License

  1. An Affidavit for License to Marry must be filed with the County Clerk’s office in person.
  2. One of the applicants must be a Houghton County resident and appear in person at the Houghton County Clerk’s Office. However, both applicants may apply.
  3. The Houghton County resident(s) must present a valid Michigan Driver’s License or Michigan ID with their current Houghton County address.
  4. A copy of the birth record for both bride and groom must be presented at the time of application.
  5. The fee is $20.00 cash or check.
  6. The applicant must proof the marriage affidavit (application) prior to signing. Once the marriage license has been printed from the signed affidavit, there will be a $10.00 fee for any corrections.
  7. There is a three day waiting period after the application day before the license can be picked up to use.
  8. The license must be used within thirty (30) days.

Out-of-State Applications

  1. Both applicants must be out-of-Michigan residents.
  2. A Michigan Affidavit for License to Marry must be filed with the Houghton County Clerk’s office by mail or in person.
  3. One or both applicants may apply.
  4. The marriage license must be used in Houghton County.
  5. A copy of the birth records for both the bridge and groom must be presented with the Affidavit to the Clerk's Office.
  6. There is a three day waiting period after the application day before the license can be picked up.
  7. The license must be used within thirty (30) days.
  8. The fee is $30.00.
  9. Include a phone number to be used if the Clerk's Office has any questions.
  10. When the applicant(s) executes the signature(s) on the affidavit in front of a notary, the paragraph beginning with "Subscribed to before me" must be completed by the notary at the time of signing. The blank space after "sworn to on" must be dated by the notary at the time of signing as well.

Information Required on Marriage Affidavit

Male: Full name. Female: Full current name and last name before 1st married.

Both applicants must provide the following: birth date, address, residence county, times previously married, city and state of birth, father’s full name, mother’s full name before 1st married, father’s birthplace, mother’s birthplace, bride and groom social security numbers.