Brown County Birth Records Lookup
Brown County birth records are kept at the health department in Nashville, Indiana. This small, scenic county in south-central Indiana has maintained birth certificates since 1882. If you need a certified copy for legal use, the Brown County Health Department is the primary local source. The county clerk's office also holds some court-ordered birth records from 1942 onward. This page explains how to get your Brown County birth certificate, what it costs, and where to go for both current and historical records.
Brown County Quick Facts
Brown County Birth Certificate Office
The Brown County Health Department handles birth records for the county. The health officer is Dr. Norman Oestrike. Their office is at 201 Locust Lane in Nashville. The mailing address is P.O. Box 281, Nashville, IN 47448. Call 812-988-2255 to check current hours and ask about the status of a specific record before visiting.
Birth certificates from Brown County cost $12 per copy. Death certificates are also $12 a copy. This makes Brown County one of the more affordable places to get a birth certificate in Indiana. The office handles a smaller volume of requests than larger counties, which means shorter wait times. Most walk-in requests are processed the same day. Bring your photo ID and cash or check for the fee.
Brown County birth records go back to 1882. The health department has maintained these files for over 140 years. Earlier records, before Indiana standardized vital records, may not exist at the county level. For those you would need to check church records, family Bibles, or the Indiana State Archives. The certified copies issued by Brown County meet all state requirements under IC 16-37-1-7 with proper security features.
| Address | 201 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN 47448 |
|---|---|
| Mailing | P.O. Box 281, Nashville, IN 47448 |
| Phone | 812-988-2255 |
| Health Officer | Norman Oestrike, MD |
| Fee | $12 per certified copy |
Brown County Clerk Birth Records
The Brown County Clerk's office is a second source for some birth records. The clerk has court-ordered birth records from 1942 onward. These are births that were registered late through a court order rather than at the time of the event. If a birth was not recorded when it happened, a parent or the person could petition the court to establish a birth record. The Brown County Clerk filed those court orders.
The clerk also has marriage and probate records from 1836 and divorce records from 1850. These are separate from birth records, but they can be useful for genealogy research in Brown County. If you are building a family tree and need multiple types of records, both the health department and the clerk's office in Nashville may have what you need. The health department handles standard birth certificates. The clerk handles court-ordered ones from 1942 and later.
How to Get Brown County Birth Records
Walk in to the health department at 201 Locust Lane in Nashville. Bring your ID. Fill out the request form and pay $12. Staff will look up the Brown County birth record and print a certified copy for you. Small offices like Brown County tend to have quick turnaround since there is less of a crowd than in bigger cities. You can usually be done in 15 minutes or less.
For mail requests, send a letter to P.O. Box 281, Nashville, IN 47448. Include the full name on the birth record, date of birth, place of birth within Brown County, and your relationship to the person on the record. Under IC 16-37-1-10, only certain people can get a certified birth certificate. Include a copy of your photo ID, a check for $12 made out to the Brown County Health Department, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take a bit longer than walk-in visits, so allow a week or two for processing.
You can also order through the Indiana Department of Health. The state office charges $10 for the first copy and $4 for extras. Order by phone at (866) 601-0891 or online through VitalChek. State orders take 10 to 15 business days. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the state registrar keeps copies of all Indiana birth records, so your Brown County record is in their files too.
Who Can Get Brown County Birth Certificates
Indiana law limits access to certified birth certificates. This protects personal data. The rules are the same in Brown County as they are statewide.
You can get a certified Brown County birth certificate if you are the person named on the record and at least 18, a parent listed on the certificate, a legal guardian, an attorney for the person, or a government agency with a lawful need. Everyone else can request a non-certified informational copy for genealogy or personal use. Non-certified copies from Brown County have the same facts but lack the security features that make them valid for legal ID. They work well for family history research.
Note: Always bring a valid photo ID when requesting Brown County birth records in person.
Fixing Brown County Birth Records
If your Brown County birth certificate has a mistake, it can be corrected. Under IC 16-37-1-8, Indiana allows amendments to birth records. Minor errors like a misspelled name can be fixed with proof of the correct spelling. A hospital record, school transcript, or church baptism record can serve as evidence. The Brown County Health Department handles these simple corrections.
More significant changes need a court order from the Brown County Circuit Court. This includes things like adding a parent's name, changing a name after a legal name change, or correcting a date of birth by more than a trivial amount. Once you have the court order, take it to the health department. They will update the Brown County birth record and issue a new certificate. Paternity affidavits are processed at the health department as well. Both parents must sign the form for the father's name to be added to the Brown County birth certificate.
Brown County Birth Records Resources
The Brown County Health Department page on the state website gives an overview of services in the county.
This page has contact information and links to the vital records division where Brown County birth certificates are issued.
For specific details about birth certificate requests, see the Brown County Vital Records page.
Check the vital records page for current fees and hours before you make the trip to Nashville for your Brown County birth certificate.
The Brown County government website has links to all county offices and departments.
Use this site to find directions to the courthouse in Nashville and contact information for other Brown County offices you may need to visit.
Cities in Brown County
Brown County is one of Indiana's least populated counties. Nashville is the county seat and the main town. Other small communities include Bean Blossom, Helmsburg, and Story. None have a population near 25,000. All Brown County birth records are filed at the health department in Nashville regardless of which community the birth took place in.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Brown County. Since Brown County has no hospital, many births to Brown County residents happen in neighboring counties. The birth certificate is filed in the county where the birth actually took place, so check with the hospital's county.