Find Birth Records in Cass County
Cass County birth records are available from the health department in Logansport, Indiana. The office on Smith Street handles requests for certified birth certificates, genealogical copies, and other vital records. Cass County keeps birth files going back over a century, and the department also has a WPA birth index available online for historical research. This page explains the fees, office hours, payment rules, and steps for getting your Cass County birth certificate in person or by mail.
Cass County Quick Facts
Cass County Birth Certificate Office
The Cass County Health Department handles birth records for the county. Dr. Dori Ditty serves as the health officer. Their office is at 1616 Smith Street in Logansport. This is the only local source for certified Cass County birth certificates.
The office has unusual hours, so pay close attention. Monday they are open from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tuesday and Wednesday the hours are 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Thursday is 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Friday the office is closed. This is a detail that trips people up since most county health departments are open five days a week. If you plan to visit on a Friday, you are out of luck. Cass County closes that day. Plan your trip for Monday through Thursday.
Payment is cash or money order only. No checks are accepted at the Cass County Health Department. This is strict. If you show up with a check, they will turn you away. Bring cash or pick up a money order before your visit. For mail requests, include a money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). The office will not mail records back without a return envelope from you.
| Address | 1616 Smith Street, Logansport, IN 46947 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (574) 753-7760 |
| Health Officer | Dr. Dori Ditty |
| Hours | Mon 7-4, Tue-Wed 7:30-4:30, Thu 7-4, Fri CLOSED |
| Payment | Cash or money order only (NO CHECKS) |
How to Get Cass County Birth Records
Walk-in requests are the simplest way to get a Cass County birth certificate. Go to 1616 Smith Street in Logansport any day except Friday. Bring your photo ID and cash or a money order for the fee. Fill out the request form at the counter. Staff will look up the record and print a certified copy of your Cass County birth certificate. Small county offices like this one tend to have short wait times.
Mail requests require more pieces. Send your letter to the Cass County Health Department, 1616 Smith Street, Logansport, IN 46947. Include the full name on the birth record, date of birth, and place of birth within Cass County. State your relationship to the person. Cash or money order only, no checks accepted, and accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The SASE is required. Without it, the office will not send the Cass County birth certificate back to you. Under IC 16-37-1-10, only authorized individuals can receive a certified copy, so include a photocopy of your ID.
Note: If you forget the self-addressed stamped envelope, your Cass County mail request will be delayed until you send one.
Cass County Birth Records for Genealogy
Genealogy researchers have a couple of good options in Cass County. A genealogical copy of a birth or death record costs $5, which is a search fee that includes a copy of the record if one is found. This is affordable compared to certified copies and works well for family history research where you do not need a legal document.
Cass County also has a WPA birth index available online. The Works Progress Administration created these indexes in the 1930s and 1940s as part of a federal project to catalog vital records across Indiana. The Cass County WPA birth index lets you search for births by name before you contact the health department. This is a free tool that can save you time and money. If you find a name in the index, you know the record exists and can then request a copy from the Cass County Health Department with confidence.
The WPA index does not replace a certified birth certificate. It is just a finding aid. But for genealogists working on Cass County families, it is a valuable starting point that many counties do not offer online.
Who Can Get Cass County Birth Certificates
Indiana law limits who can request a certified birth certificate. These rules apply in Cass County the same as everywhere else in the state. The restrictions protect personal information on the birth record. Certified copies are security documents under IC 16-37-1-7 with watermarks and other anti-fraud features.
You can request a certified Cass County birth certificate if you are the person named on the record and at least 18, a parent on the certificate, a legal guardian, an attorney for the person, or a government agency with a lawful need. Everyone else should ask about informational or genealogical copies. The $5 genealogy fee gets you an uncertified copy from Cass County that contains the same facts. It works for family history but cannot be used as legal ID.
State Options for Cass County Birth Certificates
If you cannot get to Logansport, the Indiana Department of Health has Cass County birth records on file too. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the state registrar keeps copies of all births recorded in Indiana. The state charges $10 for the first copy and $4 for extras. Phone orders go to (866) 601-0891 at any time. Online orders use VitalChek, which adds a service fee.
State orders take 10 to 15 business days after they receive your request. Mail goes to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. The state does not do walk-in service. If you need a Cass County birth certificate fast, the Logansport office is quicker since you can get it the same day. But for people who live far from north-central Indiana, the state route is more practical.
Correcting Cass County Birth Records
If your Cass County birth certificate has an error, the health department in Logansport can help fix it. Under IC 16-37-1-8, Indiana allows amendments to birth records. Minor errors like a misspelled name need supporting documents as proof. Bring a hospital record, school record, or other official document that shows the correct information.
Larger corrections require a court order from the Cass County Circuit Court. This applies to adding or removing a parent, legal name changes, and significant date corrections. Once you have the court order, take it to the health department with the correction fee. Paternity affidavits are also processed at the Cass County Health Department. Both parents must sign the form. The office then issues an updated birth certificate for Cass County with the new information.
Cass County Birth Records Resources
The Cass County Health Department page on the state website has contact details and service information.
Use this page to find the office address, phone number, and links to other Cass County departments. It is the best starting point for any birth certificate request.
The Cass County WPA Birth Index is a free online tool for searching historical birth records in the county.
This index was created as part of the federal WPA project in the 1930s and 1940s. It covers older Cass County birth records and can help genealogists confirm a record exists before requesting a formal copy.
Cities in Cass County
Cass County includes Logansport, which is the county seat and largest city. Other communities include Royal Center, Walton, and Galveston. None have populations over 25,000. All Cass County birth records are handled through the health department on Smith Street in Logansport.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Cass County. If a birth happened at a hospital in a neighboring county, the record will be filed there instead of in Cass County. Check which county the hospital is in before making your request.