How to Find Indiana Birth Records

How to Find United States Births Indiana Births

Indiana was created in 1816. In 1881 law required the counties to record births. Statewide registration of births began in 1907. Indiana, generally complied by 1920. The counties have copies of these records.

Next Step: When did the birth occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record: Births Before 1816 Births From 1816 thru 1881 Birth From 1881-1907 Births from October 1907 thru 1920 Births from 1920 to the Present I don't know when the birth is

Learn more about U.S. Birth Records

Births before 1816

Before 1816, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

Records that give birth information:
Death Records Cemetery Records Newspapers	Church Records Census Military Records

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Births from 1816 thru 1881

In 1816, Indiana was created a state from Indian Lands and Indiana Territory. In 1816 there were thirty-seven counties by 1881 there were ninety-two counties. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.

• 1881 - Indiana law required counties to record births
  

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Births from 1881-1907

Statewide registration of births began in 1907. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed only with the local health department in the county where the birth occurred.

• 1881 - Indiana law required counties to record births.
  

For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.

Indiana Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
1880-1920  - use Ancestry Institutions at FamilySearch Centtters/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center Find your local FamilySearch Center
($) Indiana Births, 1880-1920 at Ancestry.com -WPA Indexes most counties go to 1920.
$,  Ancestry is often available for free through you local public library    To obtain a subscription to Ancestry	List of counties covered: Adams, Allen, Boone, Cass, Clay, Davies, De Kalb, Harrison, Hendricks, Henry, Howard,Huntington, Jay, Johnson, Know, Madison, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Orange, Owen, Parke,Perry, Posey, Putnam, Spencer, Vanderburgh, Vigo, Warrick, and Washington Counties, Indiana
Try 2nd:
1773-1933
Indiana Births and Christenings
Free; FamilySearch.org not all counties are complete

Search for birth information in other records.

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Births from October 1907 thru 1920

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Indiana Department of Health office.

	Next try:
Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	- use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center
	1880-1920 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No birth record for your ancestor?		Other records with birth information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Birth Certificates
From County of Birth		From IN Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:

• The person on the certificate
• The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
• The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
• The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
• The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births from 1920 to the Present

If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Indiana State Department of Health.

Obtain the Certificate

With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Birth Certificates
From County of Birth		From IN Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:

Restrictions for persons born within the last 100 years:
To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 100 years, you must be:

• The person on the certificate
• The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
• The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
• The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
• The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the birth record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 100 years have passed from the date of the birth.

If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

• Learn more about U.S. Birth Records
• How to find U.S. death records
• United States Record Selection Table
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Death Records
• United States Marriage Records

References

Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Indiana. by The Indiana historical Records Survey Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration. Indianapolis, IN.The Indiana Historical Records Survey. July 194.1 FHL Film: 874,046 Item 5. Microfiche: 6,051,202 or Book 977.2 A5h.

Additional Information

Some counties have delayed birth records, Home birth registration, and Paternity affidavit.

Some cities have vital records

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)