Shelby County Birth Records Search

Shelby County birth records are kept at the health department in Shelbyville, Indiana. Located just southeast of Indianapolis, Shelby County handles birth certificate requests for all births that took place within its borders. The health department has records going back to 1882 and processes both walk-in and mail requests. This page covers everything you need to know about searching for and getting a Shelby County birth certificate, including office details, fees, who can make a request, and what forms of ID you will need to bring along.

Shelby County Birth Certificate Office

The Shelby County Health Department is the place to go for birth records in this county. Their office is at 1600 East State Road 44 in Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Call 317-392-6470 with questions about fees, hours, or what you need to bring. The staff handles all birth certificate requests for Shelby County during regular business hours.

Walk-in service is the fastest option. Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to fill out a short request form. You will need the full name on the birth certificate, the date of birth, and your relationship to the person named. Staff search the Shelby County records and print your certified copy while you wait. Most people are in and out the same day. All Shelby County birth certificates are printed on security paper with watermarks and forgery-resistant features that meet IC 16-37-1-7 standards. These certificates are accepted for Real ID, passports, and every other legal use where proof of birth is needed.

Call the office to verify current fees and payment methods before your visit.

Who Can Request Shelby County Birth Records

State law determines who can get a certified birth certificate. This is the same in Shelby County as in the rest of Indiana. Under IC 16-37-1-10, birth records are confidential and can only be released to people with a direct interest in the record.

The person named on the Shelby County birth certificate can request it if they are 18 or older. Parents listed on the record can also make the request. Legal guardians with court-issued papers, grandparents, siblings over 18, and a current spouse all qualify as long as they show proof of their relationship. Attorneys acting for the person named and government agencies with a lawful need round out the list of eligible requesters. For genealogy, the person on the record must be deceased and at least 75 years old. A non-certified informational copy may be available for older Shelby County records used in family research.

How to Get Birth Certificates in Shelby County

Walking into the Shelbyville office is the quickest route. Bring your ID, complete the form, pay the fee, and wait. Same-day service is typical for walk-in visitors at Shelby County.

You can order by mail too. Send your request to the Shelby County Health Department at 1600 East State Road 44, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Include the full name on the birth record, date of birth, your relationship to the person, a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order for the fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail orders from the Shelby County office take about one to two weeks depending on how busy they are at that time. The same eligibility rules under IC 16-37-1-10 apply for mail orders as they do for walk-in requests.

The Indiana Department of Health also keeps copies of all Indiana birth records from 1907 onward. That includes Shelby County births. The state fee is $10 for the first certified copy and $4 for extras in the same order. Order online through VitalChek, the only authorized vendor, or call (866) 601-0891 at any time. State orders ship in 10 to 15 business days. For Shelby County births before 1907, you need to contact the local health department in Shelbyville since the state did not start collecting records at that level until 1907.

Note: Under IC 16-37-1-11, the search fee is non-refundable whether a record is found or not.

Correcting Shelby County Birth Records

Errors on a Shelby County birth certificate can be corrected. IC 16-37-1-8 allows the health department to fix minor mistakes without a court order. Misspelled names, a date off by one day, and a parent's birthplace are common corrections. You need supporting documents that are at least ten years old as proof.

Bigger changes need a court order. Legal name changes and records already amended once require a judge to sign off first. After the court issues the order, the state updates the record and Shelby County prints a new certificate. Adding a father's name through a Paternity Affidavit is handled at the Shelby County Health Department. Both parents come in with valid ID and sign the form. The process adds the father to the birth record, and a new certificate is issued with the updated information.

Shelby County Historical Birth Records

Indiana started requiring birth records in 1882. The state began collecting records at the state level in 1907. For Shelby County births between 1882 and 1906, you need to go through the health department in Shelbyville directly. Those older records are only at the county level.

For births in Shelby County before 1882, look to other sources. Church records, local newspapers, family bibles, and probate records can sometimes fill in the gaps. The Indiana State Archives has some historical vital records and can guide you to other research tools. Ancestry.com also has unofficial copies of Indiana birth certificates from 1907 to 1945 that may help with genealogy work. These are not certified but contain the same information as the originals.

Shelby County Birth Records Resources

The Shelby County Health Department page on the state website has office information and links to vital records services.

Check this page before heading to the Shelbyville office for the latest hours and directions to the Shelby County Health Department.

Cities in Shelby County

Shelby County includes Shelbyville, Edinburgh (partly), and several smaller towns. None of these communities have a population above 25,000. All birth records for people born in Shelby County are filed with the health department in Shelbyville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Shelby County. Birth records are filed in the county where the birth took place. If you are unsure which county a hospital is in, call before you make a request.