How to Find Indiana Birth Records
How to Find United States Births 
Indiana Births
Indiana was created in 1816.Statewide registration of births began in 1907 in Indiana and was generally complied with by 1920.The counties have copies of these records.
Next Step: When did the birth occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Births before 1816[edit | edit source]
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: | ||
Births from 1816 thru 1907[edit | edit source]
In 1816, Indiana was created a state from Indiana Territory. Birth records were recorded by the county health office beginning in 1882. Statewide registration of births began in October 1907. If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.
- 1882 - County health offices for record births
- Some cities have earlier birth registration: Ft. Wayne (1870), Indinanapolis (1872), Kokomo (1875), and Logansport (1874)
- 1907 - Statewide registration began
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for birth information in other records.
For births that exist during the time period, try the following databases.
| Indiana Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1853-1930 - At West Virginia Division of Culture and History | Free; most counties go to 1930: list of county coverage (right side of the screen); collection also contains delayed birth records | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| 1853-1930 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; not all counties are complete to 1930: list of county coverage (right side of the screen); collection also contains delayed birth records; click on "view partner website" to see a copy of the image | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the index? | Tips for searching indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
Pre-1882 indiana Births from Secondary Sources. by Dawne Slater-Putt. Vol. 1-2 (Fort Wayne, Ind.: Heritage Pathways. Inc., C. 1999. FHL book / film:
For the years: 1882-1920 sixty-eight of the ninety-two counties had their birth records indexed by the Works Projects Administration (WPA) FHL
Births from October 1907 thru 1920[edit | edit source]
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the West Virginia Department of Health office.
| West Virginia Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1853-1930 - At West Virginia Division of Culture and History | Free; most counties go to 1930: list of county coverage (right side of the screen); collection also contains delayed birth records | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| 1853-1930 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; not all counties are complete to 1930: list of county coverage (right side of the screen); collection also contains delayed birth records; click on "view partner website" to see a copy of the image | |||
| Next try: | ||||
| Includes Index Only | ||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| 1853-1969 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| 1853-1969 - use your Ancestry subscription | $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free | |||
| Can't search the index listed above? | Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the West Virginia Department of Health State Office. | |||
| 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[edit | edit source]
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 WV 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:
For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.
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.
Births from 1920 to the Present[edit | edit source]
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the West Virginia Vital Registration office.
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information[edit | edit source]
| Includes Index Only | ||||
| Choose one of the following: | ||||
| 1853-1969 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries | Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| 1853-1969 - use your Ancestry subscription | $, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for free | |||
| Can't search the index listed above? | Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the West Virginia Department of Health State Office. | |||
| 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[edit | edit source]
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:
For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.
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.
Where to Write or Visit
Indian State Department of Health
2 North Meridian St.
P.O. Box 7125
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206
Phone: 1-317-233-2700
web site: http://www.in.gov/isdh/index.htm
For Certificates: http://www.in/gov/isdh/20444.htm
Births after 1969[edit | edit source]
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 WV 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:
For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search.
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.
How to Find Indiana Birth Records
How to Find Indiana Birth Records