Daviess County Death Records

Daviess County death index records are managed by the local health department in Washington, Indiana. The office has been keeping death certificates since 1882, providing access to a collection that spans well over a century. Residents, family members, and researchers who need a certified copy of a death record from Daviess County start their search at this office. You can contact the health department by phone, submit a request through the mail, or walk in during business hours to look up a record from the Daviess County death index.

Daviess County Death Records Office

The Daviess County Health Department is located at 121 E. Main St., Washington, IN 47501. This office is the central point for all death index requests in Daviess County. You can reach them by phone at (812) 254-8666. Walking in during regular hours is usually the best way to get a death certificate fast. The staff can search the Daviess County death index while you wait and have a certified copy ready for you if all your paperwork is in order. Bring valid photo ID and the name and date of death for the person whose record you need.

Daviess County death records go back to 1882. That is more than 140 years of entries in one office. The Indiana Department of Health did not start its own death index until 1900. So for any death in Daviess County from 1882 through 1899, the health department in Washington is the only place to find the record. These early records are especially useful for genealogy researchers who are tracing family lines through southwestern Indiana.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written request with the person's name, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your ID, and the fee to the address above.

Death Index Eligibility in Daviess County

Indiana limits who can get a certified death certificate. The rules come from IC 16-37-1-10. Only people with a direct link to the person on the record can request a certified copy. The Daviess County Health Department enforces these same rules. You will need to show your connection to the person and present valid ID before the office will release a death certificate.

Family members who qualify include parents listed on the record, a current spouse with proof of marriage, siblings who are at least 18, and children or grandchildren age 18 or older. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles also qualify if they can show proof of the family link. Legal guardians appointed by a court and attorneys acting for eligible parties have access as well. Primary ID includes a driver's license, state ID, US passport, or military ID. Two secondary documents are also needed, such as a Social Security card or voter registration card.

How to Search Daviess County Death Records

Start by calling the Daviess County Health Department at (812) 254-8666. Tell them the full name of the person and the date of death. They will check the death index and tell you if the record exists. You can also go to 121 E. Main St. in Washington during office hours to make your request face to face. In-person requests are often handled the same day.

The state is another option. The Indiana Department of Health has Daviess County death records from 1900 to the present. The state fee is $8.00 per search. This fee is not refundable under IC 16-37-1-11, whether or not a record is found. One certified copy is included if the record does turn up. Extra copies in the same order cost $4.00 each.

Online orders go through VitalChek, which charges an additional service fee. Phone orders can be placed through VitalChek at (866) 601-0891 at any time. Mail requests use State Form 49606 and should be sent with $8.00 to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Allow two to three weeks for mail processing.

Daviess County Death Certificate Fees

The Daviess County Health Department sets its own fee for death certificates. Most Indiana county offices charge $15 to $20 per copy. Call (812) 254-8666 to confirm the current rate before you visit. The fee covers the search and one certified copy of the death record. If the record cannot be found, the search fee still applies. Payment methods vary by county, so ask the staff what they accept.

At the state level, the fee is $8.00 per search. But the state does not offer walk-in service. If you need a Daviess County death record quickly, the local office in Washington is the better option since many walk-in requests can be completed the same day.

Genealogy and Daviess County Death Index

Researchers tracing family roots through southwestern Indiana rely on the Daviess County death index. Records date to 1882. That long history makes the collection valuable for anyone building a family tree that passes through this area. Deaths from the late 1800s are especially useful since the state office has no records from before 1900. The county is the only source for those early death index entries.

For genealogy access, the person must have been dead at least 75 years. Proof of death is required. These rules are the same at every county office in Indiana. The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis holds cemetery transcriptions, death indexes, and family histories that can help with Daviess County research. Their genealogy reference desk is at 317-232-3689. Free consultations are available on the second Saturday of each month.

State Death Index Resources for Daviess County

The IDOH death information page covers all the details on ordering death records through the state office.

That page lists forms, fees, and ID requirements for state-level requests. The state keeps Daviess County death records from 1900 forward. For deaths before 1900, contact the Daviess County Health Department at 121 E. Main St. in Washington.

The IDOH order page walks you through each step for online, phone, and mail requests. The LHD map helps you find the health department for any Indiana county. Under IC 16-37-1-3.1, Indiana uses an electronic death registration system that gets new records into the index faster than the old paper process. The state's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, gives the public a right to access government records, though death certificates have eligibility limits that must be met first.

Nearby Counties

Death certificates in Indiana are filed in the county where the death happened. If the person died outside Daviess County, you will need to contact the correct county. These counties border Daviess County.