Clark County Death Records

Clark County obituary and death records are kept at the Clark County Health Department in Jeffersonville, Indiana. This southern Indiana county, which sits across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, maintains vital records going back to 1882. If you need a death certificate or want to search for older obituary records from Clark County, the health department handles both certified copies and genealogy searches. The Jeffersonville Public Library also holds historical microfilm records.

Clark County Health Department - Vital Records

The Clark County Health Department is at 1201 Wall Street in Jeffersonville, Indiana 47130. Call 812-282-7521 or fax to 812-288-2711. The main website is at clarkhealth.net. The death records page is at clarkhealth.net/index.php/vital-records/death-records, and the genealogy page is at clarkhealth.net/index.php/vital-records/genealogy. The contact page is at clarkhealth.net/contact.

Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fee for a genealogy search is $5 for up to 5 names, and that fee is non-refundable. If a certified death certificate is found and you want a copy, it is an additional $15 per certified copy. A certified birth certificate found through a genealogy search costs an additional $12. Payment by personal check or money order is accepted for Clark County records.

The image below is from the Clark County Health Department vital records page, which shows options for requesting death certificates and searching obituary records in Clark County.

The Clark County Health Department page shows how to request certified death certificates and genealogy records for Clark County obituary research.

Requesting Clark County Obituary and Death Records

Walk-in service at the Jeffersonville office is the fastest option. Come any weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a personal check or money order and your photo ID. For a genealogy search covering up to 5 names, the fee is $5. If a record is found and you want a certified copy, add $15 to that. Staff can process your request during the visit.

Mail requests are available for Clark County death certificates. Visit the death records or genealogy pages at clarkhealth.net to find the application form. Fill it out, include a copy of your photo ID, and mail it with a personal check or money order to 1201 Wall Street, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. Mail processing takes longer than walk-in service.

Online orders for Clark County can go through the Indiana Department of Health's partner, VitalChek. VitalChek adds a service fee and operates around the clock. Call them at 866-601-0891 for phone orders. Mail orders can also go to the state using Form 49606 from in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now.

Under IC 16-37-1-11, the search fee is charged when you submit your request, not when the record is found. It is non-refundable in all cases.

Clark County Library Historical Obituary Records

The Jeffersonville Public Library is an important resource for older Clark County obituary and death records. The library holds birth records on microfilm from 1882 to 1922 and death records on microfilm from 1882 to 1971. These microfilm records are especially useful for genealogy research, allowing you to view originals without needing a certified copy from the health department.

If you are tracing family history in Clark County from the early 20th century, the library's microfilm collection can save time and money. You can view the records there without paying a fee and use them to confirm basic details before ordering a certified copy if you need one for legal purposes. Contact the Jeffersonville Public Library for hours and access information.

Marriage and divorce records for Clark County are held at the Clark County Clerk's Office. You can reach the clerk at 812-285-6244. The clerk handles court and civil records including divorce filings and marriage licenses, which may tie into death record research.

Who Can Get Clark County Death Records

Certified death certificates from Clark County require a direct interest in the record. Indiana law sets out who qualifies: immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized agents. Bring government-issued photo ID and any supporting documentation of your relationship to the deceased. The Clark County Health Department follows Indiana's statewide direct interest rules.

Genealogy requests are open to more people, especially for records more than 75 years old. The $5 search fee covers up to 5 names in the genealogy index, and the fee is non-refundable. If a match is found and you want a certified copy, that costs an additional $15. Call the department or visit the genealogy page to understand the process before submitting.

Under IC 5-14-3, the public has a right to access basic death record information including name, gender, age, and place of death. Full certified copies with all detail require meeting the direct interest standard set by Indiana vital records law.

State Resources for Clark County Obituary Research

The Indiana Department of Health in Indianapolis can issue certified death certificates for Clark County events. Their phone is 317-233-2700. Online orders go through VitalChek. Mail orders use Form 49606. The state office holds records from 1900 to present and charges $8 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy of the same record.

The Indiana Legacy database is free and searchable online. It holds over 5 million records including obituary entries, death records, and cemetery data for Clark County and across Indiana. This is a strong research tool before you pay for certified copies. Search by name, county, and event type.

For historic newspaper obituaries, Hoosier State Chronicles offers free access to digitized Indiana newspapers including Jeffersonville-area papers. Under IC 16-37-3-9, the Clark County local health officer maintains a permanent death record archive from each certificate filed, going back to 1882.

Cities in Clark County

Clark County's largest city is Jeffersonville, the county seat. Jeffersonville is the only city in Clark County with a population over 25,000 and has its own city records page.

Nearby Counties

Clark County sits in southern Indiana and borders several other counties. Each has a health department managing local death records.