Where can I find birth records?
Answer
Indiana began issuing birth certificates in 1882; however, these were optional until 1907 and even after 1907, not every birth was registered. Birth records issued 1882-1907 are kept by the county health department in the county where the birth took place. Birth records issued 1907-present are kept by the Indiana State Department of Health in addition to the local health departments. Due to privacy restrictions, birth certificates are not available to the public for 75 years. Birth certificates 1907-1940 are now available through Ancestry Library Edition (and Ancestry.com). For records not covered by these dates, you will need to contact the county health department or the Indiana State Department of Health. The Indiana State Library also has print indexes to birth records, with the dates covered varying by county. To view our holdings, please consult our research guides.