Floyd County Death Records

Floyd County death index records are available through the Floyd County Health Department in New Albany, Indiana. The department holds birth and death records going back to 1882, giving residents and researchers access to more than 140 years of vital records. New Albany sits along the Ohio River in southern Indiana, and the health department serves as the primary source for anyone searching for a death certificate filed in Floyd County. You can request records in person at the office, by mail, or by phone to start the process.

Floyd County Death Index Office

The Floyd County Health Department handles death record requests at 1917 Bono Road, New Albany, IN 47150. Call the office at (812) 948-4726 or send a fax to (812) 948-4784. The health department can only provide copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Floyd County. If the death happened in another county, you need to contact that county's health department instead.

Floyd County death records begin in the year 1882. That is almost two decades before Indiana started keeping state-level vital records. For deaths between 1882 and 1899, the Floyd County Health Department is the only place where you will find these records. The early records may have less detail than modern death certificates, but they still hold value for family research and legal proof of death. Each certified copy costs $15.00, and the office accepts standard payment methods.

You can learn more about the Floyd County Health Department and its services on their official website.

How to Search Floyd County Death Records

Start by calling the Floyd County Health Department at (812) 948-4726. Give the staff the name of the person and the approximate date of death. They will search the death index and let you know if a record exists. If you want to visit in person, the New Albany office can usually process your request the same day as long as you have the right paperwork and ID with you.

For mail requests, send a letter to 1917 Bono Road, New Albany, IN 47150. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death (or a range of years if you are not sure), your name, your relationship to the person, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose payment of $15.00 by check or money order made out to the Floyd County Health Department. Mail requests take longer than walk-in visits, but they work well for people who live outside the area.

You can also contact the department through their contact page for questions about availability or office hours before making the trip.

Death Index Eligibility Rules

Not just anyone can get a certified death certificate in Indiana. State law limits access to people who have a direct connection to the person named on the record. Under IC 16-37-1-10, eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, parents, adult siblings, children over 18, and grandchildren over 18. Court-appointed guardians, attorneys, and certain government agencies can also request copies.

You must show valid photo ID at the Floyd County Health Department. The staff will verify your identity and your relationship to the deceased before releasing any record. For genealogy requests, the person on the record must have been dead for at least 75 years. This rule helps balance privacy with the need for historical research access.

Floyd County Death Certificate Costs

A certified copy from Floyd County costs $15.00. The state office charges $8.00 per copy, so you do have a cheaper option if you don't mind waiting. State orders go through the Indiana Department of Health by mail or through VitalChek online. VitalChek charges its own service fee on top of the state's $8.00, so the total cost may end up close to what you would pay at the county level anyway.

Search fees are non-refundable under IC 16-37-1-11. Even if the office cannot find a match in their death index, you still owe the search fee. This is the same at every county in Indiana. Keep that in mind if you are not sure whether a death took place in Floyd County.

Floyd County Health Department Website

The Floyd County Health Department has an online presence where you can find details about vital records services, including death certificates.

The screenshot below shows the Floyd County Health Department homepage, which lists the services available at the New Albany office.

From this page you can navigate to their vital records section for more details on what documents you need to bring when requesting a death certificate in person.

The vital records section of the Floyd County Health Department website provides further guidance on birth and death certificate requests.

This resource page confirms that birth and death records begin in 1882 and outlines the steps for submitting a request to the office.

Genealogy and the Floyd County Death Index

Family history researchers often search the Floyd County death index for records tied to southern Indiana. New Albany was one of the larger cities in Indiana during the 1800s, and many families passed through or settled in Floyd County during that time. Death records from 1882 forward can reveal details like a person's birthplace, parents' names, occupation, and cause of death. These facts help genealogists build out family trees and connect branches that might otherwise be lost.

The Indiana State Library has a genealogy division that covers all 92 counties. Their collection includes death indexes, cemetery transcriptions, obituary files, and county histories. You can visit the library in Indianapolis or call them at 317-232-3689 to ask about Floyd County holdings. Using both the county health department and the state library gives you the best chance of finding what you need.

State Death Index Resources

The Indiana Department of Health death information page covers the full process for getting death records at the state level. This includes Floyd County records from 1900 forward. You can also use the IDOH order page to start a request by mail, phone, or online.

Indiana uses an electronic death registration system under IC 16-37-1-3.1. This means new death records get entered into the state system quickly. For older records, especially those from before 1900, you still need to go through the Floyd County Health Department. The local health department map can help you find contact info for any county in Indiana.

Under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3), the public has a right to inspect government records. Death certificates have eligibility limits, but the law ensures that qualified requesters can get what they need.

City in Floyd County

New Albany is the county seat of Floyd County and the main city in the area. If you are searching for death records tied to New Albany, those records are filed through the Floyd County Health Department. You can find more details about searching for records in the city on the New Albany page.

Nearby Counties

If the death did not happen in Floyd County, the record may be on file in one of these neighboring counties instead. Indiana issues death certificates from the county where the death took place.