Berrien County Clerk's Office
M. Louise Stine

Berrien County Courthouse
811 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269-983-7111 ext. 8368
Fax: 269-982-8642
Email: records@berriencounty.org
Vital Records - Phone: 269-983-7111 ext. 8233

Click here for a map of this department and driving directions.

General Information

The County Clerk is an elected official with a four-year term of office as provided by the Michigan Constitution.

The duties of the Clerk are prescribed by law and include:
  • Clerk of Circuit Court
  • Clerk of Family Court
  • Clerk of the Board of Commissioners
  • Clerk of the County Election Canvassers
  • Clerk of the Election Scheduling Committee
  • Clerk of the Election Commission
  • Clerk of the Jury Board
  • Clerk of the Gun Board
  • Clerk of the Plat Board
  • Registrar of Vital Records.
Administration

The Clerk administers the county payroll for 750 plus county employees and accounts for county disbursements and claims settlements; the Clerk also executes the majority of county contracts and obligations.

The Clerk is chief election official of the County and supervises all national, state and local elections. Administration of the Michigan Campaign Finance Reporting Act is also the responsibility of the Clerk.

The Clerk processes applications for passports, issues marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, concealed weapons permits, military discharge orders, notary public commissions, assumed name certificates, co-partnership certificates and numerous other filings.

The Clerk is the official for oaths of office for county officials and their deputies and is the keeper of the official Circuit Court seal and the County seal , which is used for general obligation bonds.

Office Locations

Location
Services Provided

701 Main Street
1st floor, Admin Center
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269-983-7111, ext.8233
Fax: 269-982-8667
Hours of operation: 8:30-5:00

All Vital Records
Payroll
Genealogy Records - Mail Only

5054 St. Joseph Avenue
Stevensville, MI 49127
Hours of operation:
Mon 8:30-12:30 and Fri 12:30-4:30

Genealogy Records - Walk-in Only

Courthouse
811 Port Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269-983-7111, ext.8368
Fax: 269-982-8642
Hours of operation: 8:30-5:00
Courts
Election

South County Building
1205 N. Front Street
Niles, MI 49120
Phone: 269-684-5274, ext.6288
Fax: 269-683-8179
Hours of operation: 8:30-12:00, 1:00-5:00
Satellite Office
Providing all services except elections and payroll
Genealogy

The Berrien County Clerk's Office maintains birth records for all births which have occurred in the county since 1867, death records from 1867 and marriage records from 1831.

Death and marriage records are open to the public and these records are in libers and/or on microfilm.

Birth records are closed according to Michigan state law; however, records over 100 years old may be viewed by the public.

All of the above records may be viewed at the County Records Department at 5054 St. Joseph Avenue in Stevensville on Mondays from 8:30-12:30 and Fridays 12:30-4:30.

Fees for certified copies of these records are $13.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record. If the requested record is not found, the fee is retained for the search. There is a $2.00 per year fee for additional searches for the same record.

Divorce and annulment inquiries or records need to be directed to the Family Division File Clerks on the third floor of the Courthouse. Some of these records are not on-site and if you call first, the records will be ready for you when you arrive. Inquiries should be directed to the Family Division File Clerks, Berrien County Courthouse - Fourth Floor, 811 Port Street, St. Joseph, MI 49085 and the phone number is 269-983-7111, extension 8410.

Non-certified copies are not issued for any records in the Clerk's Office.