Hammond Death Index Search

Hammond death index records are managed by the Lake County Health Department. Hammond sits in the northwest corner of Indiana, right across the state line from Chicago. As the second largest city in Lake County, Hammond generates a steady volume of death certificate requests each year. All death records for Hammond go through the county health department in Crown Point. This guide walks you through how to search the Hammond death index, what forms of ID you need, and how to order certified copies.

Hammond Death Records Office

The Lake County Health Department handles all death records for Hammond. Their office is at 2900 W. 93rd Ave., Crown Point, IN 46307. Call (219) 755-3650 for questions. There is no separate city vital records office in Hammond. Lake County manages death certificates for every city in the county, including Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, and Crown Point.

The office is in Crown Point, which is the county seat. From Hammond, the drive is about 25 minutes south depending on traffic. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get a death certificate. Bring your photo ID and the name and date of death of the person whose record you need. Staff will search the Hammond death index and pull a certified copy if the record is on file. Most walk-in requests are processed the same day, so you can leave with your copy in hand.

The Lake County vital records division page has information on services, fees, and required documents.

The screenshot above shows the Lake County Health Department website with contact details and directions to the office.

How to Get Hammond Death Certificates

Walk in to the Lake County Health Department in Crown Point during office hours. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of the person you need a record for. Payment is accepted at the window. If the death record is in the index, you get a certified copy that same visit. This is the quickest method.

Mail orders are an option too. Send a letter to the Lake County Health Department at 2900 W. 93rd Ave., Crown Point, IN 46307. Include the deceased person's full name, date of death, your name and address, your relationship to the person, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order. Allow two to three weeks for processing and mail delivery. The county handles a lot of requests, so busy times can push wait times up a bit.

Online orders go through VitalChek. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor. They charge a service fee on top of the base price. Phone orders through VitalChek are available at (866) 601-0891 around the clock. This works well for Hammond residents who cannot make the drive to Crown Point during business hours.

Hammond Death Index Search Fees

Under IC 16-37-1-11, search fees in Indiana are not refundable. You pay for the search, not the copy. If a record is found, one certified copy comes with the fee. If nothing turns up, you still owe the full amount. This applies to Lake County and every other county in Indiana. It is state law.

Lake County death records go back to 1882. Hammond was already a growing community by that time, so the death index covers a large number of older records. For deaths between 1882 and 1899, the county is the only source. The state started collecting death records in 1900. Lake County is one of the most populated counties in Indiana, and its death index reflects that volume.

Death Index Eligibility Rules

Indiana law limits who can get a certified death certificate. Under IC 16-37-1-10, you must have a direct relationship to the deceased person. The Lake County office verifies your identity and your connection before releasing any certified copy.

Eligible people include the following:

• Parents listed on the record
• Grandparents, adult siblings, and adult children
• The surviving spouse
• Aunts, uncles, attorneys, and court-appointed guardians

You need one primary photo ID and two secondary documents. A driver's license or passport works as primary ID. A signed Social Security card, voter registration card, or vehicle registration serves as secondary proof. No expired documents are accepted at any Indiana vital records office.

Genealogy and Hammond Death Records

Hammond death records going back to 1882 make the Lake County death index a rich source for family history research. Older certificates often contain the deceased person's birthplace, parents' names, and occupation. These details are valuable for connecting family lines across generations. Hammond and the broader Lake County area have deep roots in the industrial Midwest, so many families can trace several generations through these records.

For genealogy requests, the person on the record must have been dead for at least 75 years. You need proof of death. The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis at 315 W. Ohio Street has over 40,000 genealogy items. Call 317-232-3689 for research help. Indiana's electronic death registration system under IC 16-37-1-3.1 has made recent records easier to access and process.

State Resources for Hammond

The Indiana Department of Health also keeps Hammond death records from 1900 forward. The state fee is $8.00 per search with $4.00 for additional copies. The state order page has forms and instructions. State Form 49606 is the mail-in application. Send it to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. State processing takes 10 to 15 business days once they receive your order.

Under Indiana's public records act (IC 5-14-3), the public has broad access to government records. Death certificates still carry eligibility rules. See the Lake County page for the full picture of the county health department that serves Hammond.

Nearby Cities

Several cities near Hammond also have their death records handled by the Lake County Health Department or other nearby county offices. Check the links below if you need records from a neighboring area.