Crawford County Death Index

Crawford County death index records are maintained by the health department in English, Indiana. This rural county in southern Indiana has kept death certificates since 1882, giving access to more than a century of vital records. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate from Crawford County for legal or personal reasons, the health department in English handles all such requests. You can call ahead to check on a record, mail in a written request, or visit the office in person during regular hours to search the Crawford County death index.

Crawford County Death Records Office

The Crawford County Health Department is located at 107 N. Main St., English, IN 47118. This office handles all death index requests for the county. Call them at (812) 338-2923 during business hours. Crawford County is one of the smaller counties in Indiana, but it still keeps a full set of death records going back to 1882. The office in English is the only local source for these records.

If you plan to visit in person, call first to confirm the current hours. Small county health departments sometimes have limited schedules. The staff can tell you what documents to bring and how to pay for your death certificate copy. Bringing your photo ID and knowing the full name and approximate date of death for the person you are searching for will make the process go faster. The Crawford County staff will look through their death index and pull the record if it exists in their files.

For deaths that took place in Crawford County before 1900, this local office is your only option. The state did not begin its death index until 1900.

Eligibility for Crawford County Death Records

Not everyone can get a certified death certificate in Indiana. Under IC 16-37-1-10, both the state registrar and county health departments limit who can request death records. The Crawford County Health Department follows these same eligibility rules. You must have a direct relationship to the person on the death record or a legal reason for needing it.

Eligible people include parents named on the record, a current spouse with marriage proof, siblings 18 or older, and children or grandchildren who are at least 18 years old. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles can get copies if they can prove the family bond. Court-appointed legal guardians and attorneys also have access. Bring valid photo ID to the office. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, or military ID will work. You also need two secondary documents. The state accepts a signed Social Security card, voter registration card, current vehicle registration, or military discharge form as secondary ID.

How to Search Crawford County Death Records

Call the Crawford County Health Department at (812) 338-2923. This is the most direct way to search the death index. Give them the name of the person and the date of death. The staff will check their records and tell you if a match exists. You can also visit the English office in person to make your request.

The Indiana Department of Health holds Crawford County death records from 1900 forward. The state search fee is $8.00, which is not refundable under IC 16-37-1-11. If a record is found, one certified copy comes with the fee. Extra copies cost $4.00 each. Online orders go through VitalChek, which adds its own fee. Phone orders through VitalChek can be placed at (866) 601-0891 around the clock.

Mail requests to the state use Form 49606. Send the form with an $8.00 check payable to Indiana Department of Health to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days after the office gets your request.

Death Certificate Fees in Crawford County

Crawford County sets its own fee for death certificates. Most Indiana counties charge between $15 and $20 per certified copy. The fee pays for the search and one copy. Even if no record is found, the search fee still applies. Call the office at (812) 338-2923 to confirm the current fee and accepted payment methods before you visit or mail a request.

The state fee of $8.00 is lower than what most counties charge. But state orders take longer since the state office does not accept walk-in visitors. For same-day service, the Crawford County Health Department in English is typically faster. Payment methods vary by county, so ask about cash, checks, and card acceptance when you call ahead.

Crawford County Death Index for Genealogy

Genealogists researching family ties in southern Indiana often need Crawford County death records. The death index goes back to 1882. That means it covers a span of time that few other sources can match. For researchers building family trees, death records from the 1880s and 1890s are especially hard to find through other channels. Crawford County kept its own records during that period, making this office a key stop for anyone tracing family lines through this area.

The person on the death record must have been dead for at least 75 years for genealogy access. You need to show proof of death. This requirement applies at both the county and state level. The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis holds a large collection of genealogy materials, including death indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and family histories. Call 317-232-3689 for the reference desk. The library offers free family history consultations that can help guide your Crawford County research.

State Resources for Crawford County Records

The Indiana Department of Health death information page explains how to order death records at the state level.

That page has forms, fees, and ID requirements all in one place. The state holds Crawford County death records from 1900 forward. For anything before that year, contact the Crawford County Health Department directly.

The IDOH order page gives step-by-step directions for all order types. Find the local health department for any county on the LHD map page. Indiana files new death records through an electronic system under IC 16-37-1-3.1, which speeds up the process compared to the old paper method. The public has a right to inspect government records under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, though death certificates still carry eligibility restrictions.

Nearby Counties

If the death you need happened outside Crawford County, the record will be on file in the county where it occurred. Indiana issues death certificates only from the county of death. These neighbors border Crawford County.