Where to Request a Death Certificate in Indiana

In Indiana, you request a death certificate from the Indiana State Department of Health, Vital Records Section. This is the only office that issues official certified copies. You cannot get one from a funeral home, county clerk, or hospital — they may have records, but only the state vital records office can issue the document you need for banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.

The Vital Records Section is located in Indianapolis, but you do not have to visit in person. You can request by mail, phone, or online through their website. Each method has different processing times and costs, which vary depending on how quickly you need the certificate.

You will need to know the full name of the deceased, their date of birth, date of death, and the county where the death occurred. If you do not have all of this information, the vital records office can search their records, though this may take longer and cost more.

Key Takeaways

  • The Indiana State Department of Health, Vital Records Section is the only office that issues official death certificates, and you can request by mail, phone, or online.
  • Standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days by mail and costs $20 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
  • Expedited service costs $35 and takes 1 to 3 business days, or you can pay $50 for same-day service if you call and request it before 2 p.m. on a weekday.
  • You must provide the deceased person's full name, date of birth, date of death, and the county where they died, or the vital records office will charge a search fee.
  • Payment by check or money order must be mailed with your request, but online and phone requests accept credit or debit cards.

Requesting by Mail

Mail is the least expensive option and works well if you are not in a hurry. Send a letter to the Vital Records Section that includes the deceased person's full name, date of birth, date of death, county of death, your relationship to the deceased, your full name, address, and phone number. State how many certified copies you need. Include a check or money order for $20 per copy, plus $10 if the vital records office has to search for the record because you do not have complete information.

Mail your request to: Indiana State Department of Health, Vital Records Section, 2 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days from the date they receive your letter. Do not send cash. Keep a copy of your letter for your records.

If you need the certificate faster, you can request expedited service instead. Expedited processing costs $35 per copy and takes 1 to 3 business days. Include the expedited fee along with the standard fee in your check or money order.

Requesting by Phone or Online

Phone requests are faster than mail and let you pay by credit or debit card. Call the Vital Records Section at 317-233-7612. Have the deceased person's full name, date of birth, date of death, and county of death ready. Tell the staff member how many copies you need and provide your name, address, and phone number. They will quote you the total cost and take your payment information over the phone.

Standard phone requests take 5 to 10 business days and cost $20 per copy. If you call before 2 p.m. on a weekday and pay $50 per copy, you can pick up the certificate the same day at the vital records office in Indianapolis, or request it be mailed to you. Expedited service by phone costs $35 per copy and takes 1 to 3 business days.

Online requests go through the Indiana State Department of Health website. You fill out a form with the deceased person's information, select how many copies you need, choose your service speed, and pay by credit or debit card. Online requests follow the same timelines and costs as phone requests. You will receive your certificate by mail at the address you provide.

What Happens If You Do Not Have Complete Information

If you do not know the exact date of death or the county where the person died, the vital records office will search their records for you. This search costs an additional $10 and adds time to your request. Provide whatever information you do have — the full name, approximate year of death, and any county where the person might have died — and the staff will look it up.

If the death occurred in Indiana more than 100 years ago, the record may be archived differently or harder to locate. Contact the vital records office before sending your request to ask about older records. Some very old deaths may require a search through county records instead of the state database.

Who Can Request a Death Certificate

Indiana law allows certain people to request a death certificate without restriction. These include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased; the executor or administrator of the estate; a guardian or conservator; and any person with a direct and legitimate interest in the record, such as someone settling the estate or handling insurance claims.

If you do not fall into one of these categories, you can still request a death certificate, but the vital records office may ask you to explain your reason. Provide as much detail as possible about why you need the certificate — for example, "I am a creditor of the estate" or "I am a genealogy researcher." The office will decide whether to release the record based on your explanation.

Using Your Death Certificate

Once you receive the certificate, order multiple certified copies if you think you will need them. Banks, insurance companies, the Social Security Administration, and government agencies each may require their own copy. Ordering extra copies at the same time costs only $4 each, but ordering them later means paying the full $20 per copy again.

A certified copy has the state seal and the vital records office signature on it. This is what most organizations require. Photocopies or uncertified copies are usually not accepted for legal or financial matters. Keep your original certified copies in a safe place and use photocopies for your own records.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a death certificate cost in Indiana?

A certified copy costs $20 if you order it by mail or online with standard processing. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $4 each. Expedited service costs $35 per copy and takes 1 to 3 business days. Same-day pickup costs $50 per copy if you call before 2 p.m. on a weekday. A search fee of $10 applies if the vital records office has to look up the record because you do not have complete information.

Can I get a death certificate the same day?

Yes, if you call the Vital Records Section before 2 p.m. on a weekday and pay $50 per copy, you can pick up the certificate the same day at their office in Indianapolis. You must call 317-233-7612 to arrange this. Same-day service is not available by mail or online.

What if the person died in a different state?

Contact the vital records office in the state where the death occurred. Each state has its own vital records agency and its own fees and procedures. You can find contact information for every state's vital records office through the CDC website or by searching "[state name] vital records."

How long does it take to get a death certificate by mail?

Standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days from the date the Vital Records Section receives your letter. Expedited service takes 1 to 3 business days. Mail delivery time is not included in these estimates, so add a few days on each end for your letter to arrive and for the certificate to be mailed back to you.

Do I need the original death certificate or can I use a photocopy?

Most organizations require a certified copy with the state seal and the vital records office signature. Photocopies are usually not accepted for legal, financial, or government matters. Order multiple certified copies when you first request the certificate, since ordering more later costs the full $20 per copy instead of $4.