Researching ancestors from Wayne County, Michigan? Here's where the records are — the free path first, then how to get the whole family history traced and written.
Wayne County's seat is Detroit. Look up your surname among the deceased residents of Michigan in our public-record database.
Search Michigan records →Where Wayne County records are kept
Original Wayne County vital, probate, and land records are held at the county courthouse in Detroit — the county recorder or clerk's office. Statewide death registration in Michigan began around 1867, so for earlier Wayne County deaths you'll rely on the county courthouse, church registers, and cemetery transcriptions. The Archives of Michigan & the Library of Michigan in Lansing holds the broader historical and microfilmed county records.
The free records for Wayne County
- Census — every federal census through 1950 is free and places your family in Wayne County by household every ten years.
- Death records — search our Michigan database and the state death index for the death year and place.
- Obituaries — the Library of Congress's Chronicling America has free Michigan newspapers, including Detroit-area papers.
- Cemeteries — Wayne County cemetery and tombstone transcriptions, many public domain, fill gaps where a certificate doesn't exist.
We trace both sides back to the documented wall and deliver a written book + interactive family site — flat rate, no DNA test.
See how it works →Frequently asked questions
How do I find genealogy records in Wayne County, Michigan?
Start with the free federal census (public through 1950) and our free Michigan database, then check the county courthouse in Detroit for vital, probate, and land records, plus obituaries and cemetery transcriptions.
Where is the Wayne County, Michigan courthouse?
The Wayne County seat is Detroit, where the county recorder or clerk holds original vital, probate, and land records.