DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH  
OFFICE OF THE STATE REGISTRAR  
VITAL RECORDS INSPECTION AND DISCLOSURE  
(By authority conferred on the department of public health by section 2888 and 2896  
of Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978, as amended, being SS333.2888 and  
333.2896 of the Michigan Compiled Laws)  
R 325.3231 Definitions.  
Rule 1. (1) As used in these rules:  
(a) "Code" means Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978, as amended, being  
S333.1101 et seq. of the Michigan Compiled Laws.  
(b) "Heir" means any living relative of a deceased individual.  
(c) "Index" means a reference listing of vital records information containing, at a  
minimum, all of the following:  
(i) Reference to the type of event.  
(ii) The name of the registrant.  
(iii) A reference to locate the record. Except that an index shall not contain the  
residence or mailing address of the registrant or informant.  
(d) "Registrant" means the individual to whom the record pertains.  
(2) The terms defined in part 28 of the code have the same meanings when used in  
these rules.  
History: 1983 AACS.  
R 325.3232 Indexes; availability for inspection.  
Rule 2. Indexes of marriage, divorce, or death records in the possession of a local  
registrar shall be made available for inspection by the public at times and places  
specified by each local registrar. Each local registrar shall, by public notice, specify  
the times and places indexes shall be available for inspection.  
History: 1983 AACS.  
R 325.3233 Lists of vital events.  
Rule 3. (1) Upon request, the state registrar or a local registrar may prepare a  
listing of marriages, divorces, or deaths containing any information of the record,  
except for the mailing or residence address of the registrant or informant and information  
identified as being collected for statistical or health purposes.  
(2) The local registrar or state registrar may charge a fee in accordance with  
section 2891 of the code for preparing the list and providing a copy of the list or for  
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providing a copy of a marriage, divorce, or death index prepared in accordance with  
subrule (1) of this rule.  
History: 1983 AACS.  
R 325.3234 Vital record documents; public inspection and copying.  
Rule 4. (1) An original vital record document registered at the office of the state  
registrar shall not be open to public inspection.  
(2) Vital record documents on file at the office of a local registrar shall not be  
open to public inspection, except when a local registrar determines that a person  
eligible to receive a copy of a selected individual record has a legitimate research  
interest in inspecting the record.  
(3) A local registrar may allow any person who is eligible to receive a copy of a  
record and who has a legitimate research interest in inspecting the record to inspect vital  
records books of marriages and deaths when the individual record of interest cannot be  
located in the place specified in the index or when there is a possibility that the  
document may not have been properly recorded or indexed.  
(4) A local registrar may restrict access to records or indexes which are determined  
to be in such a state of deterioration that public use of the index or document may result  
in damage to the record or index.  
(5) Except as provided in subrule (2) or (3) of this rule or by law, a local registrar  
shall not allow persons to inspect or copy information from vital record documents on  
file in the office of the local registrar.  
(6) A local registrar or the state registrar shall release a copy or certified copy of a  
vital record or information contained in a vital record only to a person who is eligible  
to receive a copy or certified copy of a vital record or information contained in a  
vital record as specified in sections 2882, 2883, and 2884 of the code.  
(7) A local registrar shall not permit the inspection or copying of information  
collected for statistical or health purposes from original vital records documents in his  
or her possession before transmission to the state registrar, except upon written  
permission from the state registrar.  
History: 1983 AACS.  
R 325.3235 Vital records; security; procedures.  
Rule 5. (1) A vital record registered at the office of the state registrar or on file  
with a local registrar shall be maintained in a locked or secured area when not under  
the supervision of office personnel.  
(2) A local registrar shall establish written minimum security procedures  
governing access to vital records. A copy of the procedures shall be forwarded to the  
state registrar for approval.  
History: 1983 AACS.  
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R 325.3236 Misuse of documents or attempts to obtain vital records by  
ineligible individuals; notification of state registrar by local registrar.  
Rule 6. A local registrar shall notify the state registrar in writing of any suspected  
misuse of vital records or any attempt to obtain a vital record by an individual who is  
not eligible to receive a copy or certified copy of the requested document.  
History: 1983 AACS.  
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