Find Perry County Birth Records

Perry County birth records are available through the health department in Tell City, Indiana. This southern Indiana county sits along the Ohio River and has kept vital records since the early 1880s. If you need a certified birth certificate from Perry County, the health department on Tell Street is the local source. Walk-in service and mail requests are both available. This page covers the steps for getting a Perry County birth record, including who can request one and what ID you need to bring.

Perry County Health Department Birth Records

The Perry County Health Department is at 3214 Tell St. in Tell City. This office handles all birth and death certificate requests for the county. They keep records from 1882 to the present. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours. Most requests are handled the same day when you come in with your ID and payment.

Tell City serves as the county seat of Perry County. The health department is the sole local source for certified birth certificates in this area. Whether the birth happened in Tell City, Cannelton, Troy, or any other part of Perry County, the record is filed at this office. Call 812-547-2746 before you visit to confirm the office is open and to check if the record you need is on file. Staff can often do a quick check over the phone. Bring a valid photo ID and cash or a check when you visit the Perry County Health Department.

Under IC 16-37-1-7, the Perry County health officer must log every birth certificate request in a permanent record. This includes the applicant's name, address, relationship to the person on the certificate, and the reason for the request.

Birth Certificate Eligibility in Perry County

Not everyone can get a certified birth certificate. IC 16-37-1-10 makes birth records confidential in Indiana. The Perry County Health Department applies these rules to each request.

You can get your own Perry County birth certificate once you turn 18. Parents named on the record can request a copy at any time. Grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, aunts, uncles, legal guardians, and attorneys with court documents also qualify. You must prove your relationship to the person on the birth record. A valid government-issued photo ID is required. For genealogy work, informational copies may be available if the person has been deceased for at least 75 years. These are non-certified copies that work for family research but not for legal use in Perry County.

Note: The Perry County Health Department will check your ID and relationship before releasing any certified birth record.

How to Get Perry County Birth Certificates

A walk-in visit to Tell City is the fastest way. Go to 3214 Tell St. Bring your ID. Fill out the request form. Pay at the counter. The staff will search the files and print your Perry County birth certificate while you wait.

Mail requests are another option. Send a letter to the Perry County Health Department, 3214 Tell St., Tell City, IN 47586. Include the full name on the birth certificate, date of birth, parents' names, your name and address, your relationship, and why you need the copy. Add a copy of your photo ID, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the fee covers the search of the records, not just the copy. If the record is not found, the fee is not returned. Mail orders from Perry County take about one to two weeks.

Online and phone orders go through the state. Call (866) 601-0891 any time to order by phone. Or use VitalChek online. Both options process through the Indiana Department of Health, not the Perry County office. The state fee is $10 for the first copy and $4 for extras. VitalChek adds a service fee. State orders take 10 to 15 business days.

Correcting Perry County Birth Certificates

If a Perry County birth certificate has an error, you can file for a correction. Minor mistakes like a spelling error or a wrong day are handled at the health department in Tell City. Under IC 16-37-1-8, the health officer can issue an amended certificate once you bring in the right paperwork.

Bigger changes need a court order. Legal name changes, adding a parent, or removing a name from the record require a judge. Get the court order, then bring it to the Perry County office. Paternity additions are done through a Paternity Affidavit signed by both parents. The health department processes the form and issues an updated Perry County birth certificate after the paperwork is complete.

Historical Birth Records in Perry County

Indiana required birth registration starting in 1882. The state did not take over central filing until 1907. For Perry County births between 1882 and 1906, the local health department is the only source. Older records from that period may be incomplete since not all births were registered consistently.

For births before 1882, you need to look at other sources. Church records and family bibles are often the best bet for that era. Old newspaper archives from the Perry County area may have birth announcements. The Indiana State Archives has some historical vital records data. The Indiana State Library holds WPA birth and death indexes for some counties. These are not certified records, but they can help confirm a birth date or name when the Perry County office does not have a formal record.

Perry County Birth Records Resources

The Perry County Health Department has a page on the Indiana state website. Visit the Perry County health page for the latest office information.

This page shows the address and phone number for the Perry County Health Department in Tell City. Check it before your visit to make sure the details are current.

Cities in Perry County

Perry County includes Tell City, Cannelton, and Troy. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a separate page. All birth records for people born in Perry County are filed with the health department in Tell City. There are no city-level vital records offices here.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Perry County. Birth records go to the county where the birth happened, not where the family lived. Check with the neighboring county if you think the birth was across a county line.