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:

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

Return to top: Choose another birth year

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 - Indianalaw required counties to record births

Return to top: Choose another birth year

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.

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.

West Virginia Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1880-1920	($) Indiana Births, 1880-1920 at Ancestry.com - $; WPA Indexes most counties go to1920: list of county coverage (right side of the screen); collection also contains delayed birth records (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

Births from 1907 thru 1920

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

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 Indiana Department of Health office.

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
Next try:
Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	18-- -19-- - 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 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

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

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 Indiana State Department of Health.

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

Includes Index Only
Choose one of the following:
	18-- -19-- - 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 search the index listed above?	Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the Indiana State Department of Health .
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 after 1969

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.
How to Find Indiana Birth Records

How to Find Indiana Birth Records

Return to top: Choose another birth year

How to Find Indiana Birth Records

Next Step: When did the birth occur?

Births before 1816

Births from 1816 thru 1881

Births from 1881-1907

Births from 1907 thru 1920

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

Births from 1920 to the Present

STEP ONE: Find Birth Information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

Births after 1969

Related Wiki Articles