Get a certified Indiana Death Certificate

A certified copy of an Indiana death certificate costs $8 from the Indiana State Department of Health. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $4. Expedited processing and shipping are available for additional fees.

When ordering directly from the Indiana State Department of Health by mail, standard processing for a death certificate takes approximately 60 days. Processing times may increase during peak periods such as holidays, tax season, and school enrollment months. For faster service, the Indiana Department of Health recommends contacting the local health department in the county where the death occurred, as they may be able to provide certified copies more quickly. Expedited online and phone orders through authorized third-party services may also offer shorter turnaround times for an additional fee.

Yes, you can order an Indiana death certificate online through an approved service provider. You may also apply by mail or in person at the Indiana State Department of Health or your local health department office.

In Indiana, eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child, a sibling, the executor of the estate, or a legal representative. If you need to request a death certificate on behalf of an eligible family member, you may submit a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) or a signed affidavit from the authorized person.

Indiana death certificates are considered public records. However, access to certain information such as the Social Security number may be restricted. You can request certified copies from the Indiana State Department of Health or your local health department office.

An officially certified death certificate from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. The appearance of an official death certificate may vary depending on the year of issue. Still, it will contain essential details confirming the individual's identity at death. Official death certificates from Indiana typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar's signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The IDOH issues these certificates to state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.

To change an Indiana death certificate, contact the funeral director and the physician or coroner who filed the original certificate to request the necessary amendments. The funeral director is responsible for making the changes, signing, and refiling the amended certificate. Additionally, the medical certifier must also sign the amended document. If it is not possible to obtain the original signatures, a court order will be required. To ensure you follow the proper procedure for the correction you request, contact the Indiana Vital Records office at (317) 233-2700.

Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State for records initially filed with the Indiana Department of Public Health, such as death certificates.

You need an apostille when you file documents with a foreign government. It is a special certificate that verifies the authenticity of vital records for international use and is acceptable in countries that are part of the Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for death certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO’s service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Indiana Secretary of State's Office, you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of your death certificate, with the original signature and seal of the current Indiana State Registrar;
2. A completed Authentication and Apostille Form (specify the country you will submit the document to); and
3. A payment of $10.00 per document – checks and money orders should be made payable to the "Indiana Secretary of State," or you can provide your credit card information.

Submit your request to the Indiana Secretary of State Authentication and Apostille Division at the following addresses:

In-person/by mail (standard or express courier):