Adams County Birth Records

Adams County birth records go back to 1882 and are held at the local health department in Decatur, Indiana. If you need a certified birth certificate for someone born in Adams County, the Vital Records division is the place to start. They handle all requests for copies, whether you walk in or send a letter. The process is straightforward once you know what forms to bring and who can make the request. This guide walks through every step so you can get the Adams County birth record you need without delays or extra trips.

Adams County Birth Records Office

The Adams County Health Department runs the Vital Records division in Decatur. This office is charged with the registration, maintenance, and issuance of birth and death records for Adams County. They keep files from 1882 to the present day. The office sits on the third floor of the county building at 313 West Jefferson Street, Room 314. Walk-in service runs Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. You do not need an appointment, but plan to arrive well before closing since staff stop taking new requests at 3:30.

A certified birth certificate from Adams County costs $15 per copy. The office takes cash, checks, and money orders only. They do not accept credit or debit cards. Make checks payable to the Adams County Health Department. If you need more than one copy, each extra will also be $15. A certified birth certificate is the legal registration of a birth and is only issued by county or state government, so this office or the Indiana Department of Health are your two options for Adams County records.

The Vital Records division issues full-size certificates only. Wallet-size copies are no longer available from Adams County. Each certificate is printed on safety paper with a watermark and other security features that meet state standards under IC 16-37-1-7.

Who Can Get Adams County Birth Certificates

Indiana law limits who can get a certified birth certificate. Not just anyone can walk in and get a copy. Under IC 16-37-1-10, only certain people may request a certified copy of a birth record from Adams County. The rules exist to protect personal information while still letting the right people access what they need.

The person named on the record can request their own Adams County birth certificate if they are at least 18 years old. Parents listed on the certificate can also make the request. A legal guardian or someone with power of attorney has the right to get a copy too. Courts can order the release of birth records in Adams County for legal matters. If you are doing genealogy research, you can get a non-certified informational copy, but it will not serve as legal ID.

Note: Bring a valid photo ID when you visit the Adams County Health Department to pick up birth records.

How to Get Birth Records in Adams County

There are two main ways to get a birth certificate from Adams County. You can go in person to the health department in Decatur. Or you can mail your request. Each method has its own steps. The in-person route is faster since you can often get your Adams County birth certificate the same day.

For walk-in requests, go to Room 314 at 313 West Jefferson Street in Decatur. Fill out the birth certificate request form at the front desk. You will need to show your ID. The staff will search their records and print your Adams County birth certificate while you wait in most cases. Bring cash or a check for the $15 fee since the office does not take cards. Many hospitals issue a souvenir certificate with foot or hand prints when a child is born, but this is not a birth certificate and has no legal value. You need the certified version from the Adams County Health Department for any official use.

For mail requests, send a letter to the Adams County Health Department at 313 West Jefferson Street, Room 314, Decatur, IN 46733. Include the full name on the birth record, date of birth, and your relationship to the person. Add a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for $15 made out to the Adams County Health Department. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the birth certificate back to you. Mail requests from Adams County take longer than walk-in visits, so plan for a week or two of processing time.

Adams County Birth Certificates Through the State

You do not have to go through Adams County directly. The Indiana Department of Health also has copies of birth records from every county in the state. Their office is in Indianapolis. You can order by mail, phone, or online through VitalChek. The state charges $10 for the first copy and $4 for each extra.

To order Adams County birth records by phone, call the state toll-free line at (866) 601-0891. This line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Online orders go through VitalChek, which adds a service fee on top of the state charge. Mail orders go to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. State orders take 10 to 15 business days once they get your request. The state office does not offer walk-in service, so if you need your Adams County birth certificate fast, the Decatur office is the better choice.

Under IC 16-37-1-11, the state registrar keeps a copy of every birth recorded in Indiana. So even if the Adams County office has trouble finding your record, the state may have it on file. This is helpful for older records from the 1880s and 1890s when local filing was not always complete.

Fixing Adams County Birth Records

Sometimes a birth record has a mistake. Names get misspelled. Dates are off by a day. These things happen. If you find an error on your Adams County birth certificate, you can file for a correction. Indiana law under IC 16-37-1-8 sets out the process for amending a birth record. The steps depend on what needs to change and how old the record is.

For small corrections like a spelling fix, you work with the Adams County Health Department. They can make the change if you bring the right paperwork. You may need a court order for bigger changes like adding or removing a parent from the record. Legal name changes also need a court order before the Adams County office can update the birth certificate. The health department can tell you exactly what documents you need when you call.

Paternity additions are another common change on Adams County birth records. If a father was not listed at the time of birth, a Paternity Affidavit can be filed to add that name. Both parents must sign the form. The Adams County Health Department processes these requests and issues an updated birth certificate once everything checks out.

Adams County Birth Records Resources

The Adams County Health Department provides birth record services through their online portal. You can view hours, fees, and forms on the Adams County Vital Records page before you visit.

This page lists all the requirements for getting a birth certificate from Adams County. Check it before your trip to make sure you bring the right documents and payment.

The main Adams County government website has links to all county departments, including the health office that handles birth records.

From the homepage you can find phone numbers, office locations, and directions to the health department building in Decatur where Adams County birth records are kept.

For quick access to phone numbers and email addresses, the Adams County contact page is a handy reference.

Use the contact page if you have questions about Adams County birth records before making the trip to Decatur. Staff can tell you over the phone if they have the record you need.

Cities in Adams County

Adams County includes the city of Decatur, which serves as the county seat, along with smaller towns like Berne, Geneva, and Monroe. None of these cities meet the 25,000 population mark. All birth records for people born anywhere in Adams County are filed with and issued by the Adams County Health Department in Decatur.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Adams County. If you are not sure where a birth took place, check with the county where the hospital is. Birth records are filed in the county where the birth happened, not where the family lives.