Hammond Obituary Lookup
Hammond obituary and death records are now handled by the Lake County Health Department, which took over vital records services for Hammond after the Hammond Health Department permanently closed on January 7, 2008. This city of about 77,000 in Lake County no longer has a local health office, so all certified Hammond death certificate requests go to Lake County at 2900 West 93rd Avenue, Crown Point. Records from 1882 forward are maintained in the county system.
Hammond Quick Facts
Lake County Health Department
The Lake County Health Department at 2900 West 93rd Avenue, Crown Point, IN 46307 is the office that handles Hammond death records and obituary requests. The toll-free number is 888-985-7536. You can also reach vital records at the direct line 219-755-3655. Since the Hammond Health Department closed in January 2008, all Hammond residents must go through Lake County for certified death certificates. There is no city-level alternative.
Lake County charges $20 per certified death certificate. Personal checks are not accepted at the Lake County office except from funeral homes. Bring cash, a money order, or a debit or credit card. VitalChek online ordering is also available for certified copies. The Lake County vital records page at lakecountyin.gov/departments/health/vital-records-division lists current fees and procedures.
Indiana law under IC 16-37-1-11 requires requestors to have a "direct interest" to receive a certified death certificate. This applies to Hammond requests processed through the Lake County office just as it does for any other Indiana vital records request. Immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a documented legal need qualify.
How to Request Hammond Death Records
Walk-in service is available at 2900 West 93rd Avenue, Crown Point, during regular business hours. The drive from Hammond to Crown Point is about 25 miles south. If you cannot make the trip, mail and online options work too.
Online ordering through VitalChek at 866-601-0891 is available 24 hours a day and adds a service fee to the $20 Lake County rate. Mail requests go to 2900 West 93rd Avenue, Crown Point, IN 46307. Include a completed application form, a photocopy of your government-issued photo ID, and a money order for $20. Do not send cash or personal checks by mail.
For the state mail-in form, use State Form 49606 at in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now. The Indiana Department of Health at 317-233-2700 can also process Hammond death record requests through the statewide database if the county office cannot help.
Note: The Hammond Health Department permanently closed on January 7, 2008. Any attempt to contact a Hammond city health office for vital records will not succeed. Always contact Lake County at 888-985-7536 or 219-755-3655.
Hammond Obituary Research and Genealogy
Hammond has a rich industrial history in the Lake Michigan region, and its residents appear frequently in Northwest Indiana newspaper archives. The Hammond Times, the Post-Tribune, and other local papers published obituary notices for Hammond residents for generations. Many of these are indexed in genealogy databases and library collections.
The Indiana State Library genealogy collection at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm holds Lake County materials including newspaper obituary indexes and microfilmed records. For deaths before 1882 or for records from the Hammond Health Department era before 2008, the library's holdings may have documentation that helps fill gaps.
The Indiana Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy is free to search and holds digitized Indiana vital records including Lake County entries. If you are unsure of the exact date or year of a Hammond death, Legacy can help narrow the search before you contact Lake County for a physical certificate.
Since the Hammond Health Department closed in 2008, the Lake County Health Department in Crown Point handles all Hammond obituary and death certificate requests through its vital records division.
Indiana Vital Records Law and Access
Indiana Code IC 16-37-3-9 defines what information must appear on a certified death record and how the state registers deaths. The Lake County Health Department follows these rules for all Hammond obituary requests it processes. Certified copies carry the state and county seal and are legally valid for estate settlement, Social Security claims, and insurance purposes.
For genealogy research on older Hammond records, restrictions on access ease for records more than 50 years old. The Lake County office can advise on genealogy access procedures and fees if you do not qualify as a direct-interest party. The public records statute at IC 5-14-3 provides the broader framework for records access in Indiana.
The Indiana State Archives at in.gov/icpr/archives may hold very old Hammond records predating modern county vital records systems. Contact the archives for records from the 1800s that may not be in the current Lake County database.
Lake County Obituary Records
Hammond is in Lake County, and all vital records for the city go through the Lake County Health Department in Crown Point. For the full overview of Lake County vital records offices and resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Indiana cities near Hammond in Lake County and Northwest Indiana:
- Gary - Lake County
- East Chicago - Lake County
- Hobart - Lake County
- Schererville - Lake County
- Valparaiso - Porter County