Hendricks County Obituary Lookup

Hendricks County obituary and death records are maintained by the Hendricks County Health Department in Danville, Indiana. The office keeps death certificates for events in Hendricks County going back to 1882 and provides certified copies to qualifying individuals in person or by mail. Genealogy copies are also available at a different rate for research purposes. If you need to search Hendricks County obituary records or obtain a death certificate for legal or personal reasons, this page covers the key details you need to get started.

Hendricks County Health Department Death Certificates

The Hendricks County Health Department vital records division is located at 1800 E. Main St., Danville, IN 46122. Phone contact is 317-745-9618. The department website at co.hendricks.in.us has current hours and a description of available services. Death records in Hendricks County start in 1882 and are available through the health department. Certified copies of death certificates are $15 each and are restricted to qualifying individuals under Indiana law.

Hendricks County offers a separate genealogy copy option for researchers. Genealogy copies are $5 per name searched. This lower-cost option is designed for family history researchers who need to access older records but do not require a certified copy for legal use. Paternity affidavits, when applicable, carry a fee of $25. These different fee tiers reflect the county's effort to serve both legal requesters and genealogical researchers at appropriate price points. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the rules for certified copy access apply to Hendricks County the same as the rest of Indiana, meaning a qualifying relationship to the deceased must be shown.

The Hendricks County Health Department main page provides additional contact details and links to other services offered by the department. If your question falls outside vital records, the main department page is a useful starting point for finding the right contact in Danville.

Online ordering through VitalChek is available for Hendricks County death certificates and ships certified copies directly to your address.

Searching Hendricks County Obituary Records

To search for a death record in Hendricks County, visit the Danville office in person during regular hours. Bring a valid photo ID and the appropriate fee: $15 for a certified copy or $5 for a genealogy copy. Tell the clerk the full name of the deceased and the approximate date of death. Staff will search the registry and provide the certificate if the record is found. Most in-person requests are handled the same day for recent deaths, while older records may take a bit more time to locate.

Mail requests are accepted for those who cannot visit in person. Write a letter that states your request, explains your relationship to the deceased, and gives the details of the death you are researching. Include a photocopy of your photo ID and a check or money order for the appropriate fee made payable to the Hendricks County Health Department. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to 1800 E. Main St., Danville, IN 46122. Processing times for mail vary, so send your request early if you have a deadline.

Genealogical researchers looking for older Hendricks County obituary records can use the Indiana Legacy database, which includes historical death indexes and newspaper obituaries covering Hendricks County from the 1880s onward. The Indiana State Library genealogy division in Indianapolis holds additional research resources including microfilm of county records, family history books, and Indiana death indexes that span the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Statewide Resources for Hendricks County Death Records

The Indiana Department of Health in Indianapolis maintains the statewide death registry for Indiana. The IDOH can be reached at 317-233-2700 and holds records from 1900 onward. When a Hendricks County search at the local level comes up empty, contacting the state office is the next step. Mail orders through the state use State Form 49606, available for download from the IDOH website. State processing times are typically longer than county-level requests, so plan accordingly.

The VitalChek online platform provides 24-hour ordering for Hendricks County death certificates. Orders placed through VitalChek are fulfilled by the appropriate office and delivered by mail. A service fee is charged in addition to the base certificate fee. Phone orders are available at 866-601-0891 for those who prefer to speak with someone rather than ordering online. Expedited shipping options are available if you need the certificate quickly.

Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's public access law gives people the right to access government records, but vital records like death certificates are subject to restrictions that limit who can obtain certified copies. The Hendricks County Health Department applies these restrictions consistently, and staff will verify your eligibility before releasing a certified document. If an amendment to a death certificate is needed, the process under IC 16-37-3-9 applies.

Related Records in Hendricks County

Other county offices hold records that may be relevant when researching a death in Hendricks County. The Hendricks County Clerk's office maintains probate court records, which are opened when someone dies with or without a will. Probate files can include lists of assets, named heirs, and correspondence about the estate. These records are public and are filed at the courthouse in Danville. The Recorder's office holds deeds and property transfers that often occur after a death, which can help trace what happened to a person's estate.

The Hendricks County Circuit Court and Superior Court hold civil and criminal records that may relate to a death in certain circumstances, such as wrongful death lawsuits or criminal cases. Court records are generally public and can be searched at the courthouse. The Indiana State Archives holds older records from Hendricks County predating the modern health department system, and staff there can help you identify the right collection for the time period you are researching.

Cities in Hendricks County

Hendricks County includes Danville as its county seat, along with Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, and other growing communities in the Indianapolis metro area. No city in Hendricks County currently meets the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. Death and obituary records for all events in Hendricks County are handled through the county health department in Danville.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Hendricks County. Contact the right county health department for deaths that occurred outside Hendricks County.