DeKalb County Death Records
DeKalb County obituary and death records are available from the DeKalb County Health Department in Auburn, Indiana. This northeast Indiana county maintains vital records going back to 1882, though records from the 1882 to 1920 period may have some gaps. The county offers an online ordering portal in addition to walk-in and mail options, making it one of the more accessible health departments in the region for requesting obituary and death certificate records.
DeKalb County Quick Facts
DeKalb County Health Department - Vital Records
The DeKalb County Health Department is at 220 E 7th Street, Suite 110 in Auburn, Indiana 46706. Call 260-925-2220 or fax to 260-925-2090. The email is HDepartment@co.dekalb.in.us. The main website is at co.dekalb.in.us. The department also has an online ordering portal at dekalbinvitals.permitium.com, which is their own county-run system separate from VitalChek.
Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Note that the office stops issuing records at 4:15 p.m., so come before that time if you plan to walk in near closing. Death certificates cost $15 each as of January 1, 2026. Online orders through the county portal have an additional $5 service fee. Birth and death records go back to 1882, though records from 1882 to 1920 may be incomplete in some cases.
| Address | 220 E 7th Street, Suite 110, Auburn, IN 46706 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 260-925-2220 |
| Fax | 260-925-2090 |
| HDepartment@co.dekalb.in.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (stop issuing at 4:15 p.m.) |
| Death Certificate Fee | $15 (effective January 1, 2026) |
| Online Fee | $15 + $5 service fee |
| Online Portal | dekalbinvitals.permitium.com |
The image below is from the Indiana Department of Health's VitalChek page, an alternative online ordering option for DeKalb County residents who prefer using the state's authorized vendor over the county portal.
Visit the Indiana VitalChek page as an alternative online option for ordering DeKalb County obituary and death certificate records.
VitalChek is the Indiana Department of Health's authorized online vendor and an alternative to the county's own portal for ordering DeKalb County death certificates.
How to Request DeKalb County Death Certificates
Walk-in service at the Auburn office is available Monday through Friday. Remember that while the office stays open until 4:30 p.m., it stops issuing certificates at 4:15 p.m. Plan to arrive well before that cutoff. Bring photo ID and $15 in your preferred payment form. Call 260-925-2220 to confirm accepted payment types before your visit.
Mail requests are an option for those outside the Auburn area. Send a completed application, copy of your photo ID, and payment to 220 E 7th Street, Suite 110, Auburn, IN 46706. Or email HDepartment@co.dekalb.in.us to ask about the process before sending. Processing time by mail is longer than walk-in.
Online orders can go through the county's own portal at dekalbinvitals.permitium.com, which charges $15 plus a $5 service fee. Alternatively, use VitalChek or call them at 866-601-0891 around the clock. The state mail route via Form 49606 at in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now is also available for $8 per copy through the state office.
Under IC 16-37-1-11, all search fees are non-refundable. This applies whether you order through the county, the state, or VitalChek.
Who Can Access DeKalb County Obituary Records
Certified death certificates from DeKalb County are restricted to those with a direct interest in the record. This includes immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized agents. Bring government-issued photo ID and documentation of your relationship to the deceased. The direct interest requirement is set by Indiana state law and applies uniformly across all counties.
Genealogy requests are available for records of people who died more than 75 years ago. Note that records from 1882 to 1920 may have incomplete information in DeKalb County, which is common for Indiana counties from that early period. Proof of death may be required for genealogy requests. Non-certified copies contain key facts but do not carry the raised seal of a certified copy.
Under IC 5-14-3, certain basic death record information is open to the public. Getting a full certified copy requires showing direct interest. Email HDepartment@co.dekalb.in.us if you have questions about your eligibility before visiting the office.
State and Genealogy Resources for DeKalb County
The Indiana Department of Health at 2 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis holds statewide death records from 1900 forward. Phone: 317-233-2700. They can issue certified DeKalb County death certificates through VitalChek or the Form 49606 mail route. State fees are $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 includes obituary records, death entries, and cemetery data for DeKalb County and all of Indiana. Over 5 million records are indexed. This is a good free resource before paying for a certified copy. The Hoosier State Chronicles digital newspaper archive holds Auburn-area papers with older DeKalb County obituary notices.
The Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in nearby Fort Wayne at acpl.info/genealogy is another strong resource for DeKalb County genealogy. Their collection covers all of northeast Indiana and includes obituary indexes and family history materials. Under IC 16-37-3-9, DeKalb County keeps a permanent death register from every certificate filed, dating to 1882.
DeKalb County Clerk Records
The DeKalb County Clerk in Auburn holds marriage records, divorce filings, and probate court documents. These records often connect with death records, especially when settling estates or tracing family lines. Probate proceedings in DeKalb County document how a person's assets were distributed after death. If you need to show a qualifying relationship to request a death certificate, marriage or birth records from the clerk are useful.
Contact the DeKalb County Courthouse in Auburn to reach the clerk's office. Ask about current hours and fees for clerk records. Combined with the health department's death certificates and the state's online resources, clerk records give you a complete picture of any person's life and final affairs in DeKalb County.
Cities in DeKalb County
Auburn is DeKalb County's county seat and largest city. No cities in DeKalb County have a population over 25,000. All death records and obituary records for DeKalb County are handled through the health department in Auburn.
Nearby Counties
DeKalb County is in northeast Indiana and borders several counties. Each has a health department handling local death records.