County Government Directory - Berrien County

COUNTY CLERK
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 the Circuit Court, Clerk of the Family Court, Clerk of the Board
of Commissioners, Clerk of the County Election Canvassers, Clerk of the Election
Commission, Clerk of the Jury Board, Clerk of the Gun Board, Clerk of the Plat Board
and Registrar of Vital Records.
The Clerk is the 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.
In addition, the Clerk administers and accounts for County disbursements and claims
settlements; the Clerk also executes the majority of County contracts and obligations.
The Clerk issues marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, concealed
weapons licenses, military discharge records, notary bonds, assumed name
certificates and co-partnership certificates.
The County Clerk maintains an office in the South County Building in the City of
Niles for the convenience of the south end of the County. In addition to the above
services, the South County Clerk’s Office also sells dog licenses.
HOURS OPEN TO GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH: Monday 8:30 am to 12:30
pm, Wednesday 8:30 – 4:30 and Friday – 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Records &
Microfilm Department located at 2100 E. Empire, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022.
The following administrative rules have been approved by the Michigan Department
of Public Health to comply with provisions of Public Act 368, 1978 as amended.
I. Birth Records
a. Birth indexes are not available for public inspection.
b. Birth records are not available for inspection except when a local registrar
determines that a person eligible to receive a copy of a selected record
has a legitimate research interest in inspecting the record.
c. Upon written request and payment of the required fee a local registrar
may issue a certified copy of a birth record to:
1. The individual who is the subject of the birth record.
2. A parent named in the birth record.
3. An heir.
4. A legal representative or legal guardian.
5. A court of competent jurisdiction.
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