Marion County Obituary Records
Marion County obituary and death records are managed by the Marion County Public Health Department in Indianapolis, Indiana. As Indiana's most populous county, Marion County processes a high volume of death certificate requests and offers multiple access options including in-person visits, online ordering through VitalChek, and phone ordering. Records go back to 1900 for Marion County deaths. The office has extended hours including Saturday walk-in service on select days. Marriage and divorce records in Marion County are held separately at the Marion County Clerk's office.
Marion County Quick Facts
Marion County Public Health Department Vital Records
The Marion County Public Health Department vital records office is in the Hasbrook Building, First Floor, 3838 North Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205-2930. The main phone is 317-221-2400 and fax is 317-221-2475. The website at marionhealth.org provides current service details. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended hours on Wednesday. Saturday walk-in service is occasionally available; call ahead at 317-221-2400 to confirm. Marion County death records go back to 1900 for events occurring within the county.
The fee structure for Marion County death certificates is $8 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. This is one of the lower fee rates in Indiana. Credit and debit card payments carry a processing fee: $2 for transactions up to $100, and 3% for amounts over $100. Cash and checks avoid the card surcharge. Under IC 16-37-1-11, certified copies are restricted to those with a qualifying interest. Photo ID is required and must be current. The office does not accept expired or temporary IDs. If a third party is requesting on your behalf, a notarized authorization form is needed.
Marion County also processes requests through VitalChek phone ordering at 866-601-0891, which operates 24 hours a day. This 24-hour phone option is useful for people outside Indianapolis who want to order without visiting the Hasbrook Building. The dedicated fees and hours page at marionhealth.org/vital-records/hours-fees has the most current information on all Marion County vital records costs and schedules.
The Marion County Health Department vital records page is shown below, giving a direct view of the official online resource for requesting death and obituary records in Marion County.
The Marion County vital records page is the starting point for all official death certificate requests in Indianapolis and the surrounding county.
Marion County Office Hours and Fees Detail
Marion County's extended hours make it more accessible than many Indiana county health departments. The Saturday walk-in option is particularly useful for working residents who cannot take time off during the week. Call before visiting on a Saturday, as this service is not available every week and hours can change. The Wednesday extended hours serve a similar purpose for those who cannot make the standard Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5 PM window.
The fees and hours page at marionhealth.org provides a current breakdown of all services and costs. For families handling an estate, ordering multiple certified copies of a death certificate at the same time makes financial sense: the first copy is $8, but each additional copy drops to $4. If you need five copies, for example, the total is $24 rather than $40 if ordered separately. Planning your order quantity in advance saves money in Marion County.
The Marion County fees and hours page screenshot below shows current service details including pricing, payment options, and office schedule for the Indianapolis vital records office.
This page is the authoritative source for current Marion County death certificate costs and should be checked before visiting or mailing a request to the 3838 North Rural Street office.
Online Ordering for Marion County Death Records
VitalChek provides online ordering for Marion County death certificates at vitalchek.com/marion-county-hd. Orders placed through VitalChek are fulfilled by the Marion County Health Department and shipped by mail. A service fee is added to the $8 base certificate cost. VitalChek accepts major credit cards and offers expedited shipping for urgent requests. The phone line at 866-601-0891 is available around the clock for phone orders. This channel is especially useful for people who live outside Indianapolis or who prefer not to visit the Hasbrook Building in person.
The Indiana Department of Health in Indianapolis holds the statewide death registry and can be reached at 317-233-2700. For Marion County deaths before 1900, the state archives and historical databases are the primary resources since the Marion County office records start at 1900. The Indiana Legacy database and the Indiana State Library genealogy division are free resources for historical Indianapolis and Marion County obituary records going back into the 19th century.
Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana restricts access to vital records. Marion County enforces these restrictions rigorously given the high volume of requests it processes. If a Marion County death certificate contains an error, the amendment process under IC 16-37-3-9 applies. Marriage and divorce records in Marion County are at the Marion County Clerk's office, not the health department.
Cities in Marion County
Marion County is a consolidated city-county government with Indianapolis as the primary city. Several communities within Marion County have dedicated city pages.
Other incorporated communities in Marion County include Beech Grove, Southport, Speedway, and Cumberland. Deaths in all areas of Marion County are registered with the Marion County Public Health Department.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Marion County. Contact the right county health department for deaths outside Marion County.