Search Allen County Obituary Records
Allen County obituary and death records are managed by the Allen County Department of Health, located in downtown Fort Wayne at Citizens Square. This is one of Indiana's most populated counties, and the vital records office handles a high volume of requests. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal purposes or want to research family history, the health department can help. Records are available from 1882 to the present through walk-in, mail, and online options.
Allen County Quick Facts
Allen County Department of Health - Vital Records
The Allen County Department of Health vital records office is on the third floor of Citizens Square in Fort Wayne. The address is 200 E. Berry St., Suite 360, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. You can call 260-449-7147 or fax to 260-449-3015. The main health department website is allencountyhealth.com, and the records page is at allencountyhealth.com/records/birth-death.
Walk-in service runs Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This office offers same-day service for walk-in requests, with an average wait of 10 to 20 minutes. That makes it a good choice if you need a death certificate fast. Personal checks are not accepted. Pay with cash, a money order, or a debit or credit card. Note that card payments carry a minimum processing fee of $1.75.
The vital records page at allencountyhealth.com/records has application forms and details on what to bring. Look it over before your visit so you have everything ready.
| Address | Citizens Square, 200 E. Berry St., Suite 360, Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 260-449-7147 |
| Fax | 260-449-3015 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (3rd Floor) |
| Certified Death Fee | $20 per copy |
| Non-Certified Fee | $3 per copy |
| Website | allencountyhealth.com/records/birth-death |
The screenshot below is from the Allen County Health Department vital records page, where you can find death certificate applications and information on how to order Allen County obituary records.
View the Allen County Health Department vital records page for full details on requesting death certificates.
This page shows the death certificate application form and instructions for Allen County residents requesting obituary and vital records.
How to Request Allen County Obituary Records
Allen County offers three ways to get a death certificate. Walk-in is the fastest. Go to Citizens Square on any weekday during business hours. Same-day service is typical, and most requests are completed in under 30 minutes. Bring your government-issued photo ID and payment. Personal checks are not accepted, so come with cash, a money order, or a card.
Mail requests work for those who cannot come in person. Download the application form, fill it out, attach a copy of your photo ID, and mail everything to the Suite 360 address with a check or money order. Mail requests take longer to process than walk-in visits, so build in extra time if you are working against a deadline for legal or financial matters.
Online orders go through VitalChek, which is the state-authorized vendor for Indiana vital records. One important note: genealogy requests for Allen County records cannot be processed through VitalChek. If you need a genealogy search, call the department directly at 260-449-7147 to ask about the process and any appointment requirements.
Note: Under IC 16-37-1-11, the search fee is charged regardless of whether the record is found. Make sure you have enough identifying information before you submit your request.
Who Can Access Allen County Death Records
You must have a direct and tangible interest in the record to get a certified copy from Allen County. This is a requirement under Indiana law and applies to all certified death certificates. Family members such as spouses, parents, children, grandchildren, and siblings qualify. Attorneys and legal guardians can also request records if they bring the right documentation.
The state's identification requirements apply here. Bring a government-issued driver's license or state ID, a US military ID, a passport, or another accepted primary document. If you only have secondary documents, you need two of them. Secondary documents include things like a Social Security card, voter registration card, or current vehicle registration.
Genealogy access is available for records more than 75 years old. The deceased must have been dead for at least 75 years. For older records, the office may require proof of death before issuing a genealogy copy.
The records page at allencountyhealth.com/records has a full list of what to bring and who qualifies under current Indiana rules.
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
For obituary research and historical death records, the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center is a standout resource. It is located at 900 Webster Street in Fort Wayne, right in Allen County. You can reach them at 260-421-1225 or by email at Genealogy@ACPL.Info. The main genealogy page is at acpl.info/genealogy.
The Genealogy Center holds the second largest genealogy research collection in the United States, and the largest in any public library. Their Indiana collection includes obituary indexes, family histories, cemetery transcriptions, and microfilm records. They have marriage records for 31 of Indiana's 92 counties on microfilm. For Allen County family history research, this library is hard to beat. Staff genealogists can help you navigate the collection and find older obituary records that may not appear in online databases.
The screenshot below is from the Allen County Public Library genealogy page, where researchers can access obituary indexes and other death-related records for Allen County and surrounding areas.
Visit the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center to explore their collection of Indiana obituary and death records.
The library's genealogy division holds obituary collections, cemetery transcriptions, and historical death records covering Allen County and Indiana more broadly.
State-Level Resources for Allen County Obituary Research
The Indiana Department of Health at 2 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis can also issue death certificates for Allen County events. Their phone is 317-233-2700 and they accept orders through VitalChek online or by calling 866-601-0891.
The Indiana Legacy database is a free, searchable online resource with over 5 million records from Indiana libraries, historical societies, and genealogy groups. It includes obituary records, death records, and cemetery data from Allen County and across the state. This is a great first stop for anyone doing family history research in Indiana.
Under IC 5-14-3, the public has a right to access certain information from death records, including name, gender, age, and place of death. Certified copies with full detail require showing your direct interest as outlined under Indiana law.
Cities in Allen County
Fort Wayne is Allen County's major city and the county seat. It is the only city in Allen County with a population over 25,000. All death records and obituary records for Allen County are handled through the Allen County Department of Health in Fort Wayne.
Nearby Counties
Allen County borders several counties in northeast Indiana. Each has its own health department handling local death records and obituary requests.