Clark County Birth Records Search
Clark County birth records are managed by the health department in the Jeffersonville area of southern Indiana. Sitting right across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, Clark County is one of the more active vital records offices in the state. You can apply for a certified birth record at the Clark County Health Department and receive it immediately in most cases. This page covers the full process, from who can request records to what it costs and how to handle corrections on a Clark County birth certificate.
Clark County Quick Facts
Clark County Birth Certificate Office
The Clark County Health Department handles all birth records for the county. Clark County Health Department services include certified copies of birth and death records, genealogy searches, and maintaining vital records. The office is in the Jeffersonville area and serves all communities in Clark County. Call 812-284-6609 for general questions about birth records. For the registrar directly, call 812-282-7521.
Walk-in service is a strong point for the Clark County office. You may apply for the certified record at the Clark County Health Department and receive the record immediately in most cases. This same-day service makes Clark County one of the more convenient places to get a birth certificate in southern Indiana. Bring your photo ID and be ready to fill out a request form. The staff will search the files and print your Clark County birth certificate while you wait.
The office keeps birth records on file from 1882 forward. For births at hospitals in Jeffersonville, Clarksville, or Sellersburg, the record will be in the Clark County system. If you are not sure where the birth was recorded, call ahead and the staff can check.
| Phone (General) | 812-284-6609 |
|---|---|
| Phone (Registrar) | 812-282-7521 |
| Website | clarkhealth.net |
| Walk-in | Available, same-day service in most cases |
| Records Available | 1882 to present |
Who Can Get Clark County Birth Records
A certified birth certificate from Clark County will only be issued to certain people. Indiana law under IC 16-37-1-10 spells out who qualifies. The rules are designed to keep personal records safe while still letting the right people get what they need.
The following people can request a certified Clark County birth certificate:
- Person named on the record who is over 18 years of age
- Parent or parents listed on the birth certificate
- Legal guardian with proper court documentation
- Attorney acting on behalf of the person named
- Government agency with a lawful need for the record
- Someone with a signed notarized release from the person named
If you do not fall into one of those groups, you can still request a non-certified copy from Clark County for genealogy or informational use. Non-certified copies contain the same data but lack the security features required by IC 16-37-1-7 for legal identification. They work fine for family history research and personal records.
How to Get Birth Records in Clark County
The fastest way is to walk in. The Clark County Health Department processes most walk-in requests the same day. Show up during business hours with your photo ID. Fill out the form. Pay the fee. Wait a few minutes. Your Clark County birth certificate is printed and handed to you. For people in the Jeffersonville, Clarksville, or Sellersburg area, this is hard to beat in terms of speed.
Mail requests are also an option for people who cannot visit the office in Clark County. Send a letter to the Clark County Health Department. Include the full name on the record, date of birth, place of birth within Clark County, and your relationship to the person named. Under IC 16-37-1-10, you must show you are authorized to receive a certified copy. Include a photocopy of your ID, payment for the fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take longer than walk-in service but they work if you live outside the area.
Note: For questions about paternity affidavits in Clark County, call the registrar directly at 812-282-7521.
State-Level Clark County Birth Certificates
The Indiana Department of Health also has Clark County birth records. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the state registrar keeps a copy of every birth filed in the state. The state fee is $10 for the first copy and $4 for additional copies. You can order by phone at (866) 601-0891 any time. Online orders go through VitalChek, which charges a service fee on top of the state price.
State orders take 10 to 15 business days from when they receive your request. Mail goes to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. The state office does not do walk-in service. Since the Clark County Health Department offers same-day walk-in copies, the local office is clearly faster if you are anywhere near Jeffersonville. But for people who have moved out of state, the state route through VitalChek is the most convenient way to get a Clark County birth certificate.
Correcting Clark County Birth Certificates
Errors on birth certificates are not uncommon. A wrong middle name. A date that is off by one digit. If your Clark County birth record has a mistake, it can be fixed. The process follows IC 16-37-1-8, which governs amendments to vital records in Indiana.
For minor corrections like a misspelled name, bring supporting documents to the Clark County Health Department. A hospital record, school transcript, or baptismal certificate that shows the correct spelling will work as proof. Bigger changes need a court order from the Clark County Circuit Court. This includes adding or removing a parent from the record, legal name changes, and major corrections. Once you have the court order, bring it to the health department. They update the Clark County birth record and issue a new certified certificate.
Paternity affidavits can be filed through the Clark County registrar at 812-282-7521. Both parents sign the form. The father's name is then added to the birth certificate. This creates a new version of the Clark County birth record that replaces the old one.
Clark County Birth Records Resources
The Clark County Health Department website is the main online resource for birth record services in the county.
Start here for general information about the health department, office locations, and links to the vital records division serving Clark County.
The Clark County birth records page has specific details about who can request certified copies and what to bring.
This is the most useful page for anyone planning to request a Clark County birth certificate. It lists the eligibility rules, fees, and required documents in detail.
The Clark County government info page provides additional contact details and general health department information.
Check this page for hours, directions, and contact numbers for the Clark County Health Department. It also links to other county government services.
Cities in Clark County
Clark County includes Jeffersonville, the county seat, along with Clarksville, Sellersburg, and other communities. Jeffersonville is the largest city in the county and the only one with a population over 25,000.
Other communities in Clark County include Clarksville, Sellersburg, Charlestown, and Borden. All birth records from these areas are filed through the Clark County Health Department.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Clark County in southern Indiana. Since Clark County sits along the Ohio River across from Louisville, some residents may use Kentucky hospitals. If the birth happened in Kentucky, the record would be filed there, not in Clark County. For Indiana births, check which county the hospital is in.