County Health Department
How to prepare a request concerning local birth and death records and public-health services.
The County Health Department is the documented starting point for local birth and death records and public-health services. Its official page is the authority for current hours, address, telephone number, fees, identification requirements, and online access. This guide deliberately does not copy volatile contact details. The source was checked on 2026-07-28.
Prepare a precise request
Bring the record type, full name, event date or range, relationship, identification, and permitted purpose. State whether you need an index lookup, an informational answer, an image, or a certified copy. Include a narrow date range and the exact record type. A focused request helps staff determine whether the office holds the material, whether another custodian is responsible, and whether access restrictions apply.
What this office does not prove
Eligibility, identification, fees, and available years can differ between certificates and informational indexes. County offices create records for specific administrative purposes. A researcher should compare connected records rather than expecting one office’s database to answer ownership, identity, relationship, and chronology at once.
Before contacting the office
- Write “County Health Department” and the requested record type at the top of the research note.
- Read the current instructions on the official page.
- Collect names, dates, case or instrument numbers, and legal descriptions already known.
- Ask for the office’s preferred citation or request format.
- Confirm copying, certification, and payment rules.
- Do not send identity documents or private personal data until an official process requires them.
Related custodians
The clerk guide and courts guide explain neighboring record responsibilities. For older or reformatted material, also check the Indiana State Library county guide.