Search Allen County Birth Records
Allen County birth records are managed by the Department of Health in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As one of the largest counties in the state, Allen County processes a high volume of birth certificate requests each year. The Vital Records Division at Citizens Square handles walk-in and mail orders for anyone who needs a certified copy. Whether you were born at a Fort Wayne hospital or another facility in Allen County, this office has your record on file. Here is what you need to know about fees, wait times, and how to get your Allen County birth certificate.
Allen County Quick Facts
Allen County Birth Certificate Office
The Allen County Department of Health operates the Vital Records Division at Citizens Square in downtown Fort Wayne. This is the main office for all Allen County birth records. They sit in Suite 360 at 200 East Berry Street. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. No appointment is needed. After completing a form, your average wait time to receive your birth or death certificate is 10 to 20 minutes.
Birth certificates from Allen County cost $20 per copy. The office accepts cash, money orders, and debit or credit cards. A minimum card fee of $1.75 applies to all card transactions. They do not accept personal checks. Hospital births are transmitted electronically by the hospital to the local health department usually within five days. So if you just had a baby in Allen County, give it about a week before you go to pick up the certificate.
Birth certificates are forgery-resistant documents printed on safety paper with watermarks, engraving, background security patterns, and sequential numbers. The Allen County office issues certificates that meet all state and federal standards under IC 16-37-1-7 for identity verification.
| Address | Citizens Square, 200 E. Berry St., Suite 360, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 260-449-7147 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Fee | $20 per certified copy |
| Payment | Cash, money order, debit/credit card ($1.75 min card fee). No personal checks. |
Getting Allen County Birth Records In Person
Walking into the Allen County Health Department is the fastest way to get a birth certificate. The office at Citizens Square in Fort Wayne sees steady traffic, but the staff keeps things moving. Most people are in and out in under half an hour. Bring a valid photo ID. You will fill out a short request form at the counter, pay the $20 fee, and wait while they pull the Allen County birth record from their system.
The in-person process at Allen County works well for urgent needs. If you have a passport appointment next week or need the certificate for school enrollment, this is the route to take. Staff can tell you right away if they have the record on file. For births that happened at hospitals in Fort Wayne or anywhere else in Allen County, the record should be in their database. Older records from the late 1800s may take a bit longer to locate since those were filed on paper.
Note: The Allen County office closes at 4:30 PM sharp, so arrive with enough time for processing.
Allen County Birth Records by Mail
If you cannot visit Fort Wayne in person, you can order Allen County birth records by mail. Send your request to the Allen County Department of Health, 200 E. Berry Street, Suite 360, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Include the full name on the birth certificate, date of birth, place of birth within Allen County, and your relationship to the person named on the record.
Mail orders for Allen County birth certificates take 7 to 10 business days from the time the office gets your letter. Include a money order for $20 made out to the Allen County Department of Health. Do not send personal checks since they will not be accepted. Include a copy of your photo ID and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Under IC 16-37-1-10, the same rules about who can request a certified copy apply whether you go in person or use the mail. Only the person named, a parent, a legal guardian, or someone with a court order can get a certified Allen County birth certificate.
Online Options for Allen County Birth Certificates
You can also order Allen County birth records through the state. The Indiana Department of Health accepts orders by phone and online. Call (866) 601-0891 any time of day to place a phone order. For online orders, use VitalChek, which is the only vendor authorized by the state. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the state's $10 base price.
The state route takes longer than going to Allen County directly. Expect 10 to 15 business days for processing. But it is useful if you live out of state or cannot get to Fort Wayne. The state registrar has copies of all Indiana birth records under IC 16-37-1-11, so your Allen County record is in their files too. Phone orders through the toll-free line are processed in the same time frame as mail orders from the state office.
Who Can Request Allen County Birth Records
Indiana has clear rules about who can get a certified birth certificate. These rules apply in Allen County just as they do everywhere else in the state. The law is meant to keep personal records safe while letting the right people access them.
The following people can request a certified Allen County birth certificate:
- The person named on the record, if they are 18 or older
- A parent listed on the birth certificate
- A legal guardian with court papers
- An attorney representing the person or a parent
- Someone with a signed, notarized release from the person named
- A government agency with a lawful need
If you do not fit one of those groups, you may still get a non-certified copy for genealogy or informational use from Allen County. Non-certified copies are not valid as legal ID but they do contain the same facts. Ask the Vital Records Division in Fort Wayne about genealogy copies if you are researching family history in Allen County.
Correcting Allen County Birth Certificates
Mistakes on birth records happen more often than you might think. A misspelled first name. The wrong middle initial. Sometimes a date is off by a day. If your Allen County birth certificate has an error, you can get it fixed. The process is set out in IC 16-37-1-8 and involves paperwork through the health department.
For minor corrections on an Allen County birth record, the health department can handle it with supporting documents. Bring proof of the correct information, like a hospital record or a baptismal certificate. For bigger changes, a court order is needed first. Adding a father through a Paternity Affidavit is also done through the Allen County Health Department. Both parents must sign the form at the office. Once the change is processed, the office issues a new Allen County birth certificate with the updated details.
Allen County Birth Records Online Resources
The Allen County Health Department website is the starting point for all birth record requests in the county.
From the main site you can find links to the Vital Records Division, office hours, and contact information for birth certificate requests in Allen County.
The dedicated birth and death records page has specific instructions for Allen County birth certificate orders.
This page explains fees, wait times, and what documents you need to bring for your Allen County birth certificate request. It is worth reading before your visit.
The general records page gives an overview of all vital records services offered by the Allen County Health Department.
Use this page to learn about related services like death certificates and genealogy searches in Allen County.
Cities in Allen County
Allen County is home to Fort Wayne, the second largest city in Indiana. All birth records for the county are handled by the Allen County Department of Health, no matter which city the birth took place in.
Other communities in Allen County include New Haven, Huntertown, Grabill, Monroeville, and Woodburn. Birth records for all of these are filed through the Allen County Health Department in Fort Wayne.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Allen County. Birth records are filed in the county where the birth took place. If a hospital sits near the county line, check which side it is on to find the right office.