Access Dubois County Death Records

Dubois County death index records are on file at the health department in Jasper, Indiana. The vital records office at the Dubois County Health Department issues certified death certificates for deaths that took place within the county. If you need a copy of a death record from Dubois County for settling an estate, claiming insurance benefits, or researching your family history, this office at One Courthouse Square in Jasper is the local source. You can call ahead, walk in during office hours, or mail a written request to search for death records.

Dubois County Death Records Office

The Dubois County Health Department is located at One Courthouse Square, Jasper, IN 47546. Call the office at (812) 481-7050. The fax number is (812) 481-7051. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The health department handles all death index requests for Dubois County. Walk-in visits during regular hours are the fastest way to get a certified copy of a death certificate since many requests are processed the same day.

The Dubois County government website shows the health department and its various services.

Individuals can request a certified death certificate from the health department for any death that happened in Dubois County. The office keeps records from 1882 to the present. That is well over a century of death index entries. The state did not start its own death index until 1900, so for deaths in Dubois County between 1882 and 1899, this office in Jasper is the only place where those records exist.

Dubois County Death Index Vital Records

The Dubois County vital records page has more details on how to request death certificates. The office issues certified copies for legal use and can also provide information for genealogy research. When you visit, bring the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your valid photo ID. The staff will search the Dubois County death index and pull the record if it is in their files.

If you plan to visit in person, arrive well before 4:00 PM to give the staff enough time to process your request before closing. Phone ahead at (812) 481-7050 if you want to confirm the record is on file before making the trip to Jasper. This can save you time, especially if you are driving from outside the county.

Eligibility for Dubois County Death Certificates

Under IC 16-37-1-10, Indiana restricts who can request certified death records. The Dubois County Health Department follows these rules. Only people with a qualifying relationship to the person on the record can get a certified copy. You must show valid photo ID at the office before any death record is released.

Eligible people include a parent named on the record, a current spouse with proof of marriage, a sibling who is 18 or older, and a child or grandchild at least 18 years old. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles qualify with proof of the family connection. Court-appointed guardians and attorneys acting on behalf of eligible parties can also request records. The office accepts a driver's license, state-issued ID, US passport, or military ID as primary identification. Two secondary documents are required as well. The state accepts a signed Social Security card, voter registration card, or vehicle registration as secondary ID.

How to Search Dubois County Death Records

Start by calling the Dubois County Health Department at (812) 481-7050. Give the staff the full name and date of death. They will check the death index. You can also walk in at One Courthouse Square in Jasper during office hours with your ID and payment ready.

The Indiana Department of Health holds Dubois County death records from 1900 to the present. The state search fee is $8.00 and is not refundable under IC 16-37-1-11, whether or not a record is found. One certified copy is included with the fee if the search is successful. Extra copies cost $4.00 each. Online orders go through VitalChek, which charges an additional service fee. Phone orders through VitalChek are at (866) 601-0891.

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. Allow two weeks for the mail to arrive and 10 to 15 business days for processing after that.

Dubois County Death Certificate Costs

Fees at the Dubois County Health Department are set locally. Most Indiana counties charge between $15 and $20 per certified death certificate. Call (812) 481-7050 to confirm the current fee and accepted payment methods before you visit. The fee covers the search of the death index and one certified copy. If no record turns up, the search fee still applies. This is consistent across all Indiana counties.

At the state level, the fee is $8.00 per search. State orders are cheaper but slower since the state office does not take walk-in requests. For people who can get to Jasper during business hours, the local office is the faster option.

Genealogy and Dubois County Death Index

Researchers tracing family lines through southwestern Indiana use the Dubois County death index as a key resource. Records start in 1882, covering a long stretch of time that is hard to find through other sources. Deaths from before 1900 are only available at the county level. The state has no records from that era. For genealogy access, the person on the record must have been dead at least 75 years and you need to show proof of death.

The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis has death indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and family histories that support Dubois County research. The genealogy reference desk number is 317-232-3689. Free consultations are held on the second Saturday of each month. Indiana's electronic death registration system under IC 16-37-1-3.1 makes newer records available faster. The Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, gives the public a right to government records, with death certificates subject to eligibility limits.

Nearby Counties

Death records in Indiana are filed in the county where the death occurred. If you need a record from outside Dubois County, contact the right county office. These counties border Dubois County.