Indiana Birth Records
Indiana birth records are kept by the state Division of Vital Records and by each of the 92 county health departments across the state. You can search for and order certified birth certificates through the Indiana Department of Health, your local county office, or online through VitalChek. The state has records from 1907 to the present, while most counties hold birth records going back to 1882. Whether you need a copy for a passport, school, or legal matter, Indiana gives you several ways to get a birth certificate fast.
Indiana Birth Records Quick Facts
Where to Get Indiana Birth Records
Two main sources hold Indiana birth records. The Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records is the state agency in charge. They keep all birth records from 1907 to the present day. Their main office is at 2 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis, but they do not offer walk-in service at the state level. You can reach them by phone at (317) 233-2700 or use the toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 to order by phone any time of day. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the fee you pay covers a search of the records. One certified copy is included if the record is found. That search fee is not refundable, even when no record turns up.
The Indiana Department of Health recommends going to your local county health department for the fastest service on birth records. Each of Indiana's 92 counties has a health department that keeps birth and death records for events that took place in that county. Walk-in service is the quickest way to get a birth certificate in Indiana. Many county offices can hand you a certified copy the same day you ask for it.
The state website at in.gov/health/vital-records lists all the ways to order. You can go through the mail, by phone, online through VitalChek, or in person at a local health department. Each method has its own cost and time frame for Indiana birth records.
How to Order Birth Records in Indiana
Indiana offers four ways to get a certified birth certificate. The method you pick depends on how fast you need it and how you want to pay. All four options give you a legal certified copy that works for passports, school, and other official uses across Indiana.
Walk-in service at your local county health department is the fastest way to get Indiana birth records. You must go to the county where the birth took place. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out an application form at the office. Most counties can give you a certified birth certificate the same day. Hours vary by county, but most are open Monday through Friday. Fees range from $10 to $20 per copy depending on which county you visit in Indiana.
The map above from the Indiana Department of Health shows all local health department locations across the state where you can walk in and request birth records.
Online ordering through VitalChek is the only way to order Indiana birth records over the internet. VitalChek is the sole vendor that the Indiana Department of Health has approved for online orders. You pay by credit card. The state fee is $10 for the first copy and $4 for each extra copy, but VitalChek adds its own service charge on top of that. This is a good option when you can not visit a county office in person to get your Indiana birth records.
You can also order by mail. Print State Form 49607, the Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record, from the IDOH order page. Fill it out, attach a copy of your ID, and mail it with your check or money order to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Make checks out to the Indiana Department of Health. Mail orders take 10 to 15 business days once they get your request. Standard birth certificates take 2 to 3 weeks total, while long-form certificates take 6 to 8 weeks.
The order now page shown above walks you through each method step by step for Indiana birth records.
Phone orders work around the clock. Call (866) 601-0891 to order a birth certificate by phone with a credit card. A third-party company handles these calls for the state. This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Indiana birth records.
Indiana Birth Certificate Types
Indiana issues two types of birth certificates. Knowing which one you need saves time and money. The standard form works for most common uses. The long form has more detail and is needed for certain legal and international matters when you request Indiana birth records.
The standard birth certificate in Indiana is a certified 8.5 by 5.5 inch document. It shows the child's name, sex, birthplace, date of birth, both parents' names, parents' birthplace, the record file date, and the certificate number. This is the type most people need. It works for getting a driver's license or Real ID, applying for a passport, school enrollment, sports registration, new hire paperwork, replacing a Social Security card, traveling abroad, and getting government benefits in Indiana. The state fee is $10 for the first certified copy of a birth record and $4 for each extra copy ordered at the same time.
The long-form birth certificate is a full 8.5 by 11 inch document with all of the information on the standard form plus extra details. It adds the time of birth, the attendant's name, the certifier's name, the hospital name, and each parent's date of birth. You may need a long-form birth certificate in Indiana for marriage outside the United States, genealogy research, dual citizenship applications, immigration or visa matters, apostille requests, pre-adoption purposes, and Daughters or Sons of the American Revolution membership. Long-form certificates take 6 to 8 weeks to process from the state.
The Indiana DOH birth information page explains both certificate types in full detail.
Birth Records Fees in Indiana
State fees for Indiana birth records are set by law. The first certified copy costs $10. Each extra copy in the same order costs $4. These are the base fees at the state level. County health departments set their own fees, which typically range from $10 to $20 per certified copy across Indiana.
Other services tied to Indiana birth records have their own fees. A delayed birth registration costs $10. An amendment or correction on a birth certificate is $8. A copy of a signed paternity affidavit costs $8. A putative father registry search runs $16. An adoptive medical history search costs $25. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the fee is for a search of the records, and it includes one certified copy if the record is found. Search fees are not refundable in Indiana even if no record turns up. Keep that in mind before you pay.
Payment methods vary. The state accepts checks and money orders by mail. VitalChek takes credit cards online. County offices differ. Some take cash, check, and cards. Others only accept cash or money order. A few counties will not take personal checks. Some charge a small processing fee for card payments on Indiana birth records. Always call ahead to check what your county accepts.
Who Can Request Indiana Birth Records
Indiana birth records are confidential. Not just anyone can order a copy. Under IC 16-37-1-10, you must have a direct interest in the record to request it. The state keeps a permanent log of every request that comes in, per IC 16-37-1-7, recording the applicant's name, address, relationship, and purpose.
Parents listed on the record can request a birth certificate. So can grandparents, siblings age 18 or older, children or grandchildren age 18 or older, a current spouse, and aunts or uncles. All must show proof of their relationship. Stepparents need a valid marriage certificate along with their ID. Court-appointed legal guardians must bring their guardianship papers with the court seal. Attorneys need documents on firm letterhead or court papers. State and federal agencies must provide work ID plus official documentation. For genealogy, the person on the record must be at least 75 years old and deceased, with proof of death provided.
You need valid ID for any request. The state accepts one primary document or two secondary documents. A driver's license, state ID, military ID, passport, or veterans ID counts as primary. Secondary documents include a signed Social Security card, college ID with current enrollment proof, a work badge with proof of current status, voter registration card, or vehicle registration with your current address. No expired or temporary IDs are accepted for Indiana birth records.
Corrections on Indiana Birth Records
Mistakes happen on birth certificates. Indiana lets you fix certain errors without going to court. Simple corrections like minor spelling changes, a day-of-birth correction, or a parent's birthplace can be fixed by calling the Indiana Department of Health at (317) 233-2700. The person on the certificate or a parent or guardian of a minor can request these changes.
The corrections and amendments page on the IDOH website lays out what can be changed and what proof you need. Documents used as evidence must be over ten years old. Acceptable proof includes court orders, school records, life insurance policies, marriage license applications, voter registration cards, military discharge papers, census reports, work records, children's birth records, hospital records of birth, and high school diplomas.
A court order is needed for legal name changes on Indiana birth records. It is also required if a previous correction or amendment was already made to that record. For paternity matters, a paternity affidavit is a signed and notarized document stating who the legal father is. It can be signed at the hospital within 72 hours of birth or at the local health department after 72 hours but before the child turns 18. Both the mother and father must sign it.
Historical Birth Records in Indiana
Indiana did not require births to be recorded until 1882. State-level registration did not begin until 1907. That leaves a gap for anyone researching older Indiana birth records. The Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St. in Indianapolis can help with historical research. You can reach them at (317) 591-5222 or by email at arc@iara.in.gov.
For birth records between 1882 and 1906, contact the county health office where the birth took place. These early records were kept at the local level only. For Indiana birth records from 1907 forward, the state Department of Health has them and you can order copies online. Unofficial copies of birth certificates from 1907 to 1945 are also available on Ancestry.com for genealogy research purposes. The Indiana State Library has limited WPA birth and death indexes for about half of Indiana's 92 counties in the Genealogy Division. For birth information before 1882, researchers should look for local newspapers and church records from the family's religious community.
Home Births and Delayed Registration
Most births in Indiana are registered at the hospital through the DRIVE electronic system. But not all births happen at a facility. If a birth takes place at home or outside a hospital, the process for getting that birth on record in Indiana differs based on the child's age.
For children under 12 months, parents can register the birth at the local health department in the county where the birth took place. This is a straightforward process when done early. For children older than 12 months, a delayed registration of birth must be filed with the Indiana Department of Health Division of Vital Records. This takes more documentation and time. Contact Amanda Badaruddin at abadaruddin@health.in.gov for help with delayed birth registration in Indiana. The fee for a delayed birth registration is $10.
Browse Indiana Birth Records by County
Each of Indiana's 92 counties has its own health department that handles birth records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and office hours for ordering birth certificates in that area.
Birth Records in Major Indiana Cities
Residents of major cities get birth certificates through their county health department. Some cities like Indianapolis and Fishers have their own offices. Pick a city below to learn how to get birth records in that area.