DeKalb County Death Index Search

DeKalb County death index records are held by the health department in Auburn, Indiana. The office keeps death certificates from 1882 to the present and offers both in-person and online ordering options. If you need a certified copy of a death record from DeKalb County for legal matters, insurance, or genealogy research, this health department in the county seat of Auburn is the place to go. You can walk in, use their online system, or send a request through the mail to search for death records.

DeKalb County Death Records Office

The DeKalb County Health Department is at 220 E 7th Street, Suite 110, Auburn, IN 46706. Call (260) 333-0741 to reach the office. The fax number is (260) 333-0701. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM. The office handles all death index requests for DeKalb County. Staff can search the death index and issue certified copies while you wait during walk-in hours.

The DeKalb County Health Department website shows the office and its services for vital records.

Records at this office go back to 1882. However, for deaths between 1882 and 1920, the office may not be able to supply complete information. Those early records were sometimes incomplete when they were first filed. The state did not start its own death index until 1900, so for deaths in DeKalb County before that year, this Auburn office is the only source available.

DeKalb County Online Death Record Orders

DeKalb County offers an online vital records ordering system through Permitium. This is one of the more convenient features that not all Indiana counties provide. You can submit your death certificate request through the online portal and expect processing within two business days. The system walks you through the application step by step.

Starting January 1, 2026, death certificate prices increased to $15 per certificate. The online system charges this same fee plus any payment processing costs. Online ordering is a good choice when you cannot make it to the Auburn office during business hours. Just keep in mind that you still need to meet the eligibility requirements under Indiana law. The system will ask for your relationship to the person on the record and require identification information.

Death Index Eligibility in DeKalb County

A certified record of death in DeKalb County can only be obtained from the county in which the individual passed away, no matter where they were buried. This is an important rule. Just because someone was buried in DeKalb County does not mean the death record is here. The record is filed where the death happened.

Under IC 16-37-1-10, Indiana limits who can request certified death records. The DeKalb County Health Department requires proof of your relationship to the person on the record. Eligible applicants must be 18 or older and include:

• Mother or father of the deceased
• Sister or brother of the deceased
• Grandparent (with birth certificate proof of relationship)
• Son or daughter of the deceased
• Spouse (with proof of marriage)
• Court-appointed legal guardian or attorney

Persons can now obtain birth certificates from any county in Indiana or through the Indiana State Department of Health. But death records work differently. A certified death certificate can only come from the county where the death took place. This distinction matters for people searching the DeKalb County death index who may not know where a family member actually died.

How to Get DeKalb County Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate from DeKalb County. The online system through Permitium is the newest option. Submit your request online and get your certificate within two business days. Walk-in service at 220 E 7th Street, Suite 110, Auburn is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM. This is the fastest option for same-day service. The third method is US Mail. Send a written request with the person's name, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your ID, and the $15.00 fee to the office address.

You can also order through the state. The Indiana Department of Health has DeKalb County death records from 1900 forward. The state fee is $8.00, which is not refundable under IC 16-37-1-11. Online state orders go through VitalChek, which adds a service fee. Mail orders to the state use Form 49606 and go to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125.

DeKalb County Death Certificate Fees

Each certified death certificate from DeKalb County costs $15.00. This fee took effect on January 1, 2026. It covers the search of the death index and one certified copy. If the record is not found, the search fee still applies. The $15.00 rate is in line with what most Indiana counties charge. The state fee of $8.00 is lower, but state orders do not offer walk-in or online convenience at the county level.

Payment for walk-in requests can be made at the Auburn office. For online orders through Permitium, payment is handled through the portal. For mail requests, include a check or money order with your application. Call (260) 333-0741 if you have questions about payment before placing your order.

Genealogy and DeKalb County Death Index

The DeKalb County death index is a helpful resource for tracing family lines through northeastern Indiana. Records date back to 1882, though records between 1882 and 1920 may not be complete. The staff at the Auburn office can tell you what information is available for older records. For genealogy requests, the person must have been dead at least 75 years and you need proof of death.

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis has death record indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and family histories that can support your DeKalb County research. Call 317-232-3689 to reach the genealogy reference desk. Under IC 16-37-1-3.1, Indiana uses an electronic death registration system that gets new records into the death index faster than the old paper method. The Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, supports public access to government records, with death certificates subject to the eligibility rules described on this page.

Nearby Counties

Death records in Indiana are filed where the death happened. If the person died outside DeKalb County, check these neighboring counties for the record.