Kokomo Obituary Records
Kokomo obituary and death records are issued by the Howard County Health Department, which serves this city of about 59,000 in north-central Indiana. You can request certified Kokomo death certificates in person at 120 E. Mulberry St., Room 209, or by submitting a form electronically before calling to provide payment by phone. Howard County maintains death records going back to 1875, which is earlier than most Indiana counties, though records from 1875 to 1920 may have gaps in coverage.
Kokomo Quick Facts
Howard County Health Department
The Howard County Health Department at 120 E. Mulberry St., Room 209, Kokomo, IN 46901 handles all death certificate requests for Kokomo and Howard County. Phone: 765-456-2403. Fax: 765-456-2417. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The fee is $10 per certified death certificate, which is among the lower rates in Indiana.
Howard County uses an unusual submission process compared to most Indiana counties. You fill out the application form and submit it by email or fax along with a copy of your photo ID. The office then calls you by phone to collect your credit card payment. This phone-based payment system means you cannot simply mail a check and wait for the certificate. Plan for a call from the office after you submit your application.
Personal checks are not accepted at Howard County. Payment is by credit card over the phone after the office reviews your application. Records go back to 1875, though the period from 1875 to 1920 may have incomplete entries. The Howard County vital records page is at in.gov/localhealth/howardcounty/vital-records. Review it before submitting to understand the current process.
How to Request Kokomo Obituary Records
The standard process for a Kokomo death record starts with filling out the application form. Email or fax it to the office at 765-456-2417 along with a copy of your government-issued photo ID. The office reviews the application and calls you to take a credit card payment. Once payment is confirmed, they process the certificate.
Walk-in service during office hours is also an option. Bring your photo ID and be ready to pay by card. The $10 fee is the same for in-person and remote requests. Indiana law under IC 16-37-1-11 requires that you have a "direct interest" to get a certified copy. Close family members, legal representatives, and those with a legal need qualify. Genealogy researchers looking at Kokomo death records older than 50 years may have broader access options.
Howard County's genealogy access rules require that the person whose record you are requesting be deceased and over 75 years old. If that condition is met, genealogy access may be available. Ask the office at 765-456-2403 for current rules before submitting a genealogy request for a Kokomo obituary record.
Note: Records from 1875 to 1920 may have gaps or incomplete entries due to inconsistent early recording practices. Older Kokomo deaths may be better documented in newspaper archives and library collections than in official county files.
Kokomo Obituary Research and Genealogy
Kokomo has a long industrial history, and its residents appear in extensive newspaper archives from the Howard County-area press. The Kokomo Tribune has published obituary notices for the city and surrounding area for well over a century. Back issues are available at the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library and through microfilm collections at the Indiana State Library.
The Indiana State Library genealogy collection at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm holds Howard County genealogy materials including newspaper obituary indexes and historical vital records finding aids. The collection is one of the strongest in the state for central Indiana research. Remote access to some materials is available for researchers who cannot visit Indianapolis.
The Indiana Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy is free and holds digitized Indiana vital records including Howard County entries. For Kokomo deaths from the late 1800s, Legacy can help confirm which year and county to focus on before you contact the health department or library for a physical record.
The Indiana Department of Health FAQ page answers common questions about vital records access, fees, and eligibility rules that apply to Kokomo and all Indiana county health departments handling obituary record requests.
Statewide and Online Resources
VitalChek at vitalchek.com/v/death-certificates/indiana processes Indiana death certificate orders around the clock. Call 866-601-0891 to order by phone. VitalChek adds a processing fee to the $10 Howard County rate. The Indiana Department of Health at 317-233-2700 holds the statewide database and can assist when the county cannot fulfill a request. State Form 49606 for mail-in orders is at in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now.
Indiana Code IC 16-37-3-9 defines what must appear on certified death records in Indiana. Howard County follows these standards for every Kokomo obituary and death certificate request. Certified copies carry the county and state seal and are valid for all legal purposes.
Howard County Obituary Records
Kokomo is the county seat of Howard County, and all local death records go through Howard County systems. Visit the county page for the full overview of vital records offices and resources.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Indiana cities near Kokomo in north-central Indiana:
- Anderson - Madison County
- Muncie - Delaware County
- Lafayette - Tippecanoe County
- Indianapolis - Marion County
- Noblesville - Hamilton County