In Indiana, certified death certificates are issued by Division of Vital Records, Indiana Department of Health. The state fee is $8 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Indiana
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $8 |
| Each additional copy | $4 |
$8 non-refundable search fee includes one copy; $4 each additional copy of the same record bought at the same time (IC 16-37-1-11). VitalChek fees extra. Local health department fees may differ.
Who can order a certified copy
People with a direct interest: parent listed on the record, grandparent, adult sibling, adult child or grandchild, current spouse, aunt or uncle, stepparent, court-appointed guardian, or an attorney (with documents), each with proof of relationship. Genealogy requests are allowed only if the person named was over 75 years old and is deceased.
A non-certified informational copy is also available. It cannot be used for legal or financial purposes such as closing accounts or claiming benefits.
How to order
- Online (official vendor: VitalChek)
- County/local office
Walk-up service is at the local health department in the county where the death occurred; IDOH itself has no walk-in service.
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How long it takes
IDOH Order Certificates page: death certificates "60 Days" ("Processing times may vary on a case-by-case basis").
The funeral home’s role
The office’s pages do not describe the funeral home’s role. Many families ask the funeral director to order the first copies when arrangements are made.
State records begin in 1900; earlier deaths were filed only with local health departments. The State Form 49606 fee grid offers non-certified copies with cause of death and certified copies without cause of death. Phone orders: (866) 601-0891.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Indiana
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Indiana.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- Division of Vital Records, Indiana Department of Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Indiana)
- Division of Vital Records, Indiana Department of Health
- Division of Vital Records, Indiana Department of Health
- Division of Vital Records, Indiana Department of Health
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.