Jeffersonville Death Records
Jeffersonville obituary and death records are issued by the Clark County Health Department, which serves this city of about 49,000 across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. You can request certified Jeffersonville death certificates in person at 1201 Wall Street, Jeffersonville, or by mail. Clark County maintains death records going back to 1882. The Jeffersonville Township Public Library also holds birth records on microfilm from 1882 to 1922 and death records from 1882 to 1971 for genealogy research.
Jeffersonville Quick Facts
Clark County Health Department
The Clark County Health Department at 1201 Wall Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 handles all death record requests for Jeffersonville and Clark County. Phone: 812-282-7521. Fax: 812-288-2711. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The health department is your primary contact for certified death certificates and obituary record documentation in Clark County.
Clark County has a two-tier fee structure. A genealogy name search costs $5 for up to five names. This is a non-refundable fee, so it applies whether or not the search finds a match. If you need a certified copy after the genealogy search, there is an additional $15 fee. For most legal purposes, you will need the certified copy, not just the genealogy search result. Payment by personal check or money order is accepted.
The Clark County vital records page at clarkhealth.net/index.php/vital-records/death-records covers current fees, hours, and the request process. Review this page before submitting a request to make sure you have the right form and payment amount.
How to Request Jeffersonville Obituary Records
Walk-in service at the Clark County Health Department on Wall Street is available during weekday business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and basic information about the death. Know the full name of the deceased and the approximate date. If you are doing a genealogy name search, have up to five names ready and bring $5 for the search fee.
Indiana law under IC 16-37-1-11 requires that requestors have a "direct interest" to receive a certified copy. Immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a documented legal need qualify. The genealogy name search option is available for researchers who do not qualify as direct-interest parties, particularly for older Jeffersonville death records.
Mail requests go to Clark County Health Department, 1201 Wall Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. Include a request form, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the appropriate fee. Personal checks are accepted, which is different from many Indiana county offices. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.
For marriage and divorce records related to Jeffersonville residents, contact the Clark County Clerk at 812-285-6244. The health department handles only vital records like birth and death certificates, not court records.
Jeffersonville Library Death Records
The Jeffersonville Township Public Library holds a unique local resource for obituary research. The library has birth records on microfilm from 1882 to 1922 and death records on microfilm from 1882 to 1971. These microfilmed records cover the earliest decades of Clark County's vital records history and are a significant source for genealogy research that predates modern digital systems.
If you are researching a Jeffersonville death from the late 1800s or early 1900s, the library's microfilm collection may be the most direct path to finding that record. The collection is not online, so you or a researcher working on your behalf would need to visit the library in person. Library staff can advise on how to access and copy records from the microfilm collection.
The Indiana State Library at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm also holds Clark County genealogy materials and obituary indexes from Southern Indiana newspapers. The Jeffersonville Evening News and its successors published obituary notices for Jeffersonville residents for generations. Many of these are indexed in state library and genealogy collections.
Online and Statewide Resources
VitalChek at vitalchek.com/v/death-certificates/indiana processes Indiana death certificate orders 24 hours a day at 866-601-0891. VitalChek adds a processing fee to the Clark County rate. The state mail-in form, State Form 49606, is at in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now. The Indiana Department of Health at 317-233-2700 can process Jeffersonville death records if the county cannot assist.
The Indiana Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy is free and holds digitized Indiana vital records including Clark County entries. For Jeffersonville deaths from the 1800s and early 1900s, Legacy can help narrow dates before you contact the county or library for a physical copy.
The Clark County Health Department vital records page covers the fee structure for genealogy searches and certified death certificates, plus hours and contact information for Jeffersonville obituary record requests.
Indiana Vital Records Law
Indiana Code IC 16-37-3-9 sets out what information must appear on certified death records statewide. The Clark County Health Department follows these rules for all Jeffersonville death certificate requests. Certified copies carry the county and state seal and are valid for legal purposes including estate settlement and insurance claims.
The broader public records framework at IC 5-14-3 governs records access in Indiana. Vital records have their own statutory framework, but the public records law provides context for how agencies handle requests and what recourse is available when a request is denied.
Clark County Obituary Records
Jeffersonville is the county seat of Clark County, and all city death records go through Clark County systems. For the full county overview of vital records offices and resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Indiana cities near Jeffersonville in the Louisville metro and southern Indiana:
- Columbus - Bartholomew County
- Bloomington - Monroe County
- Indianapolis - Marion County
- Greenwood - Johnson County