Perry County Death Records

Perry County death index records are managed by the health department in Tell City, Indiana. Sitting along the Ohio River in southern Indiana, Perry County has kept death certificates on file since 1882. The local health department on Tell Street handles all death record requests for this county. Whether you need a certified copy for probate, insurance, or personal records, the Tell City office is your starting point. You can visit in person, call the office, or send a written request by mail to search the Perry County death index for the record you need.

Perry County Health Department

The Perry County Health Department is at 3214 Tell St. #1, Tell City, IN 47586. Phone the office at (812) 547-2746. You can also fax requests to (812) 547-0415. Dr. William Marcrum serves as the health officer. The department handles all death index searches and issues certified copies for deaths that occurred anywhere in Perry County. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a copy. Bring your photo ID and the name and date of death for the person whose record you need.

Perry County is a smaller county along the Ohio River. The population is around 19,000. Because of the lower volume of requests, the staff can often process walk-in orders while you wait. That is a nice advantage over larger county offices where you might sit for a while. If you cannot make it to Tell City, a phone call to (812) 547-2746 is the next best step. The staff can confirm whether a record is on file and walk you through the mail order process.

How to Request Death Records

There are a few ways to get a death certificate from Perry County. The simplest is to walk into the health department during regular hours. You will need a valid photo ID and some basic facts about the death. The staff searches the death index, and if they find a match, they can issue a certified copy right away. The fee is $15.00 and covers both the search and one certified copy.

Mail orders are another option. Write a letter that includes the full name of the deceased, date of death, your name and your relationship to the person, and a copy of your photo ID. Include a check or money order for $15.00 made out to the Perry County Health Department. Mail everything to 3214 Tell St. #1, Tell City, IN 47586. You can also fax supporting documents to (812) 547-0415 if needed. Give the office a couple of weeks to process your request.

Perry County death records go back to 1882. The state of Indiana did not start its own death index until 1900. So for deaths that happened between 1882 and 1899, this local office is the only place where a record exists.

Death Index Eligibility

Not just anyone can get a certified death certificate in Indiana. State law sets clear limits. Under IC 16-37-1-10, you must have a direct and tangible interest in the record. The Perry County Health Department follows these rules the same as every other county office in the state. You cannot walk in and request any death record you want without showing a connection to the person.

Eligible requesters include a surviving spouse, parents named on the certificate, adult children and grandchildren, and siblings who are at least 18. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles also qualify. Attorneys, court-appointed guardians, and government agencies can request records too. Bring a primary ID like a driver's license or passport. You will also need two secondary documents. A Social Security card, voter registration card, or utility bill works for that.

Perry County Death Certificate Fees

A certified death certificate from Perry County costs $15.00. The fee includes the search and one copy. If the staff searches the death index and finds nothing, the fee still applies. That is the rule under IC 16-37-1-11. It holds at every county in Indiana, not just Perry County. Additional copies beyond the first one may cost extra. Call the office to confirm the current rate for extra copies before you order.

The state charges less. Through the Indiana Department of Health, the search fee is $8.00. But state orders take more time. A mail request needs about two weeks for delivery and then 10 to 15 business days for processing. For people near Tell City, the county office is usually the better choice because you can walk out with a copy the same day.

Genealogy Research in Perry County

Family researchers working on southern Indiana lines will find the Perry County death index useful. Records stretch back to 1882. Death certificates from that period may list the person's birthplace, parents' names, and cause of death. These details can fill in blanks that census records and church records leave open. Perry County sits along the Ohio River, and many families in this area have roots that cross into Kentucky. Knowing where a person died helps connect the dots between states.

For genealogy purposes, the person on the record must have been dead for at least 75 years. You also need proof they are no longer living. The Indiana State Library at 315 W. Ohio Street in Indianapolis has a large genealogy collection. Their reference desk number is 317-232-3689. They hold death record indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and county histories that may include Perry County material. Combining local and state sources gives you the best chance of finding what you need.

State Resources for Perry County

The Indiana Department of Health death information page covers the full state-level process for ordering death records. Perry County records from 1900 forward are in the state's central files.

The state's order page is shown below. It walks you through every step for requesting death certificates by mail, phone, or online.

Use the IDOH order page to download forms or start an online order. Online orders go through VitalChek, the state-approved vendor. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the base price. You can call VitalChek at (866) 601-0891 any time, day or night.

The local health department map shows contact info for every county office in Indiana. Indiana's electronic death registration system, created under IC 16-37-1-3.1, lets funeral directors file death records digitally. This speeds up how fast new records enter the death index. The state's public records law under IC 5-14-3 gives the public a right to inspect government records, though death certificates have their own eligibility rules that limit access.

Nearby Counties

Indiana files death records in the county where the death happened. If the death took place outside Perry County, the record is held by the neighboring county. Check these bordering counties if you need to widen your search.