Kokomo Birth Records Search
Kokomo birth records are maintained by the Howard County Health Department, located in the city. As the county seat of Howard County, Kokomo is where the main vital records office sits. If you were born in Kokomo or need a birth certificate for someone born in the Howard County area, this office handles all requests. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get a copy, and the local staff can search the records while you wait. You can also order Kokomo birth records by mail through the state or by phone at any hour of the day.
Kokomo Quick Facts
Where to Get Kokomo Birth Certificates
The Howard County Health Department is the office that handles birth certificates for Kokomo. It is at 120 E. Mulberry St., Kokomo, IN 46901. Walk-in service is available. You show up with your ID, fill out a short form, and the staff search for the record. If it is on file, they print a certified copy right there. Most walk-in requests at the Kokomo office are done the same day.
| Office | Howard County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 E. Mulberry St. Kokomo, IN 46901 |
| Phone | 765-456-2400 |
| Website | in.gov/localhealth/howardcounty |
You need a valid photo ID to pick up a birth certificate in Kokomo. A current driver's license, passport, or military ID is accepted. Expired or temporary IDs will not work. If your name has changed since the birth was recorded, bring legal documentation of the change such as a marriage certificate or court order.
How to Request Birth Records in Kokomo
There are three ways to get a Kokomo birth certificate. Each one has different steps and timing.
Walking into the Howard County Health Department on E. Mulberry St. is the fastest option. Fill out the request form at the counter. The fee is $10 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy in the same order. Pay at the counter. Staff will search for the record and print it while you wait. This is the most direct way to get Kokomo birth records, and it avoids the extra fees that come with phone or online orders. If you live in Kokomo, this is the recommended approach since the office is right in the city.
For mail orders, use the Indiana Department of Health process. Download and print State Form 49607. Fill it out with the birth details. Include a check or money order for $10 payable to the Indiana Department of Health. Mail to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Allow two to three weeks for processing. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the fee covers the search of the records, not just the certificate itself, and it is non-refundable even if no record is found.
Phone orders are available around the clock at (866) 601-0891. Pay with a credit card. Online ordering through VitalChek is also available. VitalChek is the only vendor authorized by the Indiana Department of Health for online orders. Extra processing fees apply for both phone and online orders.
Note: Phone and online orders may take five to seven business days plus shipping time.
Who Can Get Kokomo Birth Records
Indiana law limits who can request a certified birth certificate. Under IC 16-37-1-10, birth records are confidential. Only those with a direct interest in the record can get a certified copy. That includes the person named on the certificate, parents listed on it, legal guardians with court papers, attorneys representing the person, grandparents, siblings over 18, and current spouses. Each must provide proof of their relationship.
If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you might be able to get a non-certified version from the Kokomo office. It shows the same basic information but is not valid for legal use. Ask the Howard County staff which type you can get when you call or visit.
Kokomo Birth Certificate Resources
The City of Kokomo website provides general information on city services and can direct residents to county resources for vital records.
Kokomo residents should also visit the Howard County Health Department page on the state site for the latest information on office hours and birth certificate services.
Correcting a Kokomo Birth Certificate
If there is a mistake on a Kokomo birth certificate, you can get it corrected. Minor spelling errors or a wrong day of birth do not require a court order. Contact the Howard County Health Department at 765-456-2400 or the state vital records office at (317) 233-2700 to start. The state amendment fee is $8. Under IC 16-37-1-8, the local health officer has the authority to issue corrected certificates from the electronic registration system once the correction is approved.
A legal name change needs a court order. Bring the court order and a valid photo ID to the office. If there was already a prior correction on the record, any new changes also require a court order. Supporting documents generally need to be over ten years old. The corrected certificate replaces the old one in the state system permanently.
Paternity and Kokomo Birth Records
When a child is born in Kokomo to unmarried parents, the father can be added to the birth certificate through a paternity affidavit. Both parents must visit the Howard County Health Department in person to sign the notarized document. Under IC 16-37-1-7, the registrar updates the record and sends it to the state. The hospital can handle this within the first 72 hours after birth. After that, it must be done at the county health department where the birth took place.
Both parents need valid photo ID. The process takes about 30 minutes. There are separate fees for the paternity affidavit and for the new birth certificate that includes the father's name. Once the update is complete, the new certificate replaces the old one.
Note: Paternity affidavits cannot be filed by mail or online in Kokomo.
Older Birth Records in Kokomo
Indiana did not begin state-level birth registration until 1907. For Kokomo birth records between 1882 and 1906, contact the Howard County Health Department directly because those records are kept at the county level only. For anything before 1882, the Indiana State Archives recommends looking at local newspapers and church records from that period. Unofficial copies of Indiana birth certificates from 1907 to 1945 are available on Ancestry.com for people doing genealogy research.
Howard County Birth Records
Kokomo is the county seat of Howard County. All birth records for the city are filed under Howard County jurisdiction. For more on the county office and its resources, visit the Howard County birth records page.
Nearby Cities With Birth Records
Anderson and Noblesville are the closest qualifying cities to Kokomo, though they are in different counties. If you need records from those areas, check the pages below.