Vanderburgh County Death Records

Vanderburgh County obituary and death records are maintained by the Vanderburgh County Health Department at 420 Mulberry St. in Evansville, Indiana. Death registrations in Vanderburgh County go back to 1882. Families settling estates, attorneys, and genealogy researchers can request certified death certificates for legal use or uncertified copies for research through the county health department or the Indiana State Department of Health. This page covers how to find and obtain Vanderburgh County obituary records and death certificates.

Vanderburgh County Health Department Obituary Records

The Vanderburgh County Health Department (VCHD) is located at 420 Mulberry St., Oak Park Professional Building, Evansville, IN 47713. Call 812-435-2400 or fax 812-435-5468. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. For more information and a full fee schedule, visit vanderburghhealth.org/death-certificates.

Certified death certificates for Vanderburgh County residents cost $20 per copy for county residents and $25 per copy for out-of-county requesters. Non-certified copies for genealogy or research purposes cost $18 each. Non-certified copies cannot be used for any legal purpose and are clearly labeled as such. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, debit and credit card, Apple Pay, and Cash App. The VCHD does not take responsibility for mail items that are not received, so keep records of what you send.

Genealogy requests at the Vanderburgh County Health Department are processed in 5 to 7 business days. For deaths that occurred in Kentucky, contact VitalChek at vitalchek.com or call 1-800-241-8322. Browning Genealogy in Evansville operates an Evansville Area Obituary Search that may have additional obituary records for Vanderburgh County residents. Access to certified death records is governed by Indiana Code 16-37-1-11. Genealogy copies under IC 16-37-3-9 are available for older records without requiring a family relationship.

Vanderburgh County Obituary Screenshot

The Vanderburgh County Health Department death certificates page at vanderburghhealth.org/death-certificates shows the current fee schedule, office hours, payment methods, and how to submit a request in person or by mail.

Review this page before submitting your request to make sure you have the right fee and know what documents to bring or include with a mail request.

How to Request Vanderburgh County Death Records

Walk-in requests at the VCHD office in Evansville are the fastest way to get a death record. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death of the person whose record you need. Certified copies for county residents cost $20 and out-of-county requests cost $25. For genealogy copies, the fee is $18. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, debit/credit card, Apple Pay, or Cash App.

Mail requests are accepted. Send your written request with the deceased's full name, date of death, your name and mailing address, your relationship to the deceased, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Note that the VCHD is not responsible for mail items that do not arrive, so consider using a trackable mailing method. Allow at least 5 to 7 business days for genealogy requests, with some variation for other request types.

Online ordering through VitalChek is available for Indiana death records including Vanderburgh County. Phone orders go through VitalChek at 866-601-0891. The Indiana State Department of Health at 317-233-2700 also processes requests by mail using State Form 49606. More FAQ information is available at vanderburghhealth.org/faqs-2.

Searching Vanderburgh County Obituaries

The Evansville Courier and Press is the main daily paper serving Vanderburgh County and regularly publishes obituary notices. Their online archives allow searching by name for recent obituaries. The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library holds back issues of the Courier and other local papers on microfilm. Library staff can help you identify what collections are available for specific time periods.

Browning Genealogy in Evansville operates an Evansville Area Obituary Search that is specific to Vanderburgh County and the surrounding region. This is a specialized local resource that may have indexed obituary data going back further than standard online searches. The Indiana State Library at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm also has genealogy resources including newspaper archives. The Indiana Digital Archives at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy holds some digitized historical records including Vanderburgh County vital data.

Note: Vanderburgh County borders both Kentucky and Illinois, so some Evansville-area residents may have death records in neighboring states. If you cannot find a record in Indiana, check Kentucky and Illinois records as well.

Vanderburgh County Death Record Contents

Indiana death certificates for Vanderburgh County include the deceased's full legal name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, cause of death, the certifying physician's name and license number, the informant's name and relationship to the deceased, and information about final disposition. Certified copies include the Social Security number of the deceased. Non-certified genealogy copies do not include the Social Security number.

Obituary notices in Evansville-area newspapers often include details about surviving family members by name, church affiliations, military service records, and brief life accounts. These personal details are not part of the official death certificate. Combining the official record with an obituary clipping from a local paper gives the most complete picture for genealogy research. For early Vanderburgh County death records from 1882-1920, cross-referencing with census data, probate files from the Vanderburgh County Courthouse, and church records helps fill in gaps.

Indiana Statewide Death Record Services

The Indiana Department of Health vital records office at in.gov/health/vital-records issues certified copies of Vanderburgh County death records for $20 per copy. Orders go through VitalChek online or by phone at 866-601-0891, or by mail using State Form 49606. Indiana's public records law at IC 5-14-3 and the Title 16 vital records statutes govern access to death records across Indiana. Note that ordering directly from the Vanderburgh County Health Department costs $20 for county residents, the same as the state fee.

Cities in Vanderburgh County

Evansville is the county seat and by far the largest city in Vanderburgh County. It is the third largest city in Indiana. One city in Vanderburgh County meets the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site.

Other Vanderburgh County communities include Darmstadt and Melody Hill. All death records for Vanderburgh County residents are maintained by the county health department in Evansville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Vanderburgh County. Each has a local health department that handles death records and obituary files.