Obituary Records in Boone County
Boone County obituary and death records are maintained by the Boone County Health Department in Lebanon, Indiana. If you need to search for a death certificate or access obituary records from this central Indiana county, the health department handles all vital records requests. Records go back to 1882, and you can request them in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Note that genealogy requests are handled separately and require more lead time than standard certificate orders.
Boone County Quick Facts
Boone County Health Department Vital Records
The Boone County Health Department is at 116 W. Washington St., Suite B202 in Lebanon, Indiana 46052. Call 765-482-3942 and press option 2 to reach the vital records staff. The fax is 765-483-4450 and the email is records@co.boone.in.us. The main website is at boonecounty.in.gov/offices/health-department. The death certificate page is at boonecounty.in.gov.
Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Certified death certificates are $15 each. Boone County does not accept out-of-state checks. Use cash, an in-state check, a money order, or a debit or credit card. Note that card payments may carry an additional processing fee. If you are mailing a request from outside Indiana, use a money order instead of a check to avoid problems.
| Address | 116 W. Washington St., Suite B202, Lebanon, IN 46052 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 765-482-3942 (Option 2 for Vital Records) |
| Fax | 765-483-4450 |
| records@co.boone.in.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Death Certificate Fee | $15 per copy |
| Genealogy Fee | $15 (non-refundable) |
| Website | boonecounty.in.gov/vital-records |
The image below shows the Indiana VitalChek page where Boone County residents can order death certificates online through the state's authorized vendor.
Visit the VitalChek Indiana page to start an online order for a Boone County death certificate or obituary record copy.
VitalChek is the Indiana Department of Health's only authorized online vendor for ordering certified death certificates, including those for Boone County records.
Requesting Boone County Death Records
Walk-in service is available at the Lebanon office on any weekday during posted hours. This is the fastest option. Bring government-issued photo ID and payment. Certified copies cost $15. Out-of-state checks are not accepted, so use cash, a money order, or a card if you are coming from out of state.
Mail requests work for those who cannot make the drive to Lebanon. Send a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order or in-state check payable to the Boone County Health Department to Suite B202 at 116 W. Washington St., Lebanon, IN 46052. Processing time is longer than walk-in service. The vital records page at boonecounty.in.gov has application forms available to download.
VitalChek processes online orders for Boone County death certificates. Go to vitalchek.com or call 866-601-0891 anytime. VitalChek adds a service fee. This method is convenient but slower than walking in.
Under IC 16-37-1-11, the search fee is charged when you submit your request. The fee does not depend on whether the record is found. It is non-refundable in all cases.
Genealogy Searches for Boone County Obituary Records
Genealogy searches are not available on a walk-in basis in Boone County. This is different from the standard certificate process. For genealogy requests, allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing. The genealogy fee is $15, and it is non-refundable even if no matching record is found. Call 765-482-3942 to ask about the genealogy request process and what documentation you need to provide.
Records from 1882 to 1920 may have incomplete information. This is common across Indiana counties for that early period, as record-keeping standards were not yet uniform. If you cannot find a specific Boone County record from this era, try the Indiana Legacy database or the Indiana State Library as alternatives.
Under Indiana vital records law, genealogy access is available for records of people who died more than 75 years ago. Proof of death may be required. The genealogy copy is typically a non-certified version that contains the core identifying information from the death record.
State Resources for Boone County Obituary Research
The Indiana Department of Health in Indianapolis holds statewide death records from 1900 and can issue certified copies for Boone County events. Phone: 317-233-2700. Online orders go through VitalChek. Mail orders use State Form 49606 from in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now. The state office charges $8 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record.
The Indiana Legacy database holds obituary records, death entries, cemetery data, and more for all Indiana counties including Boone. It is searchable for free and holds over 5 million records from genealogy societies, libraries, and historical groups across the state. This is a great place to start before ordering a certified copy.
Historic newspaper obituaries for Boone County appear in the Hoosier State Chronicles digital newspaper archive. Many older obituaries from the Lebanon area are available through this free state library resource. The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division also maintains Indiana county research guides and family history collections that can supplement the health department's records.
Under IC 16-37-3-9, the Boone County health officer keeps a permanent register of all deaths. This record-keeping obligation has been in force since 1882 and forms the foundation of the county's death record archive.
Boone County Clerk and Related Records
The Boone County Clerk's office in Lebanon handles marriage records, divorce filings, and probate matters. If you need to show proof of a family relationship in order to request a death certificate, marriage and birth records from the clerk can help. Probate records are useful when you are researching what happened to a person's estate after their death.
Probate proceedings in Boone County go through the county circuit court. The clerk maintains the files for these proceedings. To contact the Boone County Clerk, reach the courthouse in Lebanon. These records complement the health department's death certificates and can give you a more complete picture of a person's final affairs in Boone County.
Under IC 5-14-3, court records including probate filings are generally public. Basic details are accessible without needing to show a direct interest, though some sensitive family court records may have restrictions.
Cities in Boone County
Boone County's largest community is Lebanon, the county seat. No cities in Boone County have a population over 25,000. All death records and obituary records for Boone County are handled by the health department in Lebanon.
Nearby Counties
Boone County is in central Indiana and borders several counties. Each has its own health department for local death records.