Posey County Death Records

Posey County death index records are held at the health department in Mount Vernon, Indiana. This county sits at the southwestern tip of the state where the Wabash River meets the Ohio River. Death certificates here go back to 1882, giving access to more than 140 years of vital records. The Posey County Health Department on East Third Street is the local registrar. All death record requests for events within Posey County go through this office. You can visit in person, phone the staff, or send a written request by mail to search for the record you need.

Posey County Health Department

The Posey County Health Department sits at 126 E. 3rd St., Mount Vernon, IN 47620. Call (812) 838-1320 to reach the staff. This office handles all death index searches and issues certified death certificates for deaths that happened in Posey County. Mount Vernon is a small town, and the health department reflects that. The office does not get the volume of requests that bigger county offices see, so wait times are usually short. Walk-in service is available during business hours.

Bring your photo ID. You will need it no matter how you request the record. The staff checks your identity and your relationship to the person on the certificate before they hand over a copy. If you are not sure whether the record is on file, call first. The staff can do a quick check by phone and save you a trip.

Requesting Posey County Death Certificates

Walk-in requests are the fastest method. Go to the Mount Vernon office, show your ID, and give the staff the full name and date of death. They search the death index and can often issue a certified copy while you wait. The cost is $15.00 for the search and one certified copy. Cash and checks are standard payment options. Call ahead to ask about card payments since policies vary by office.

Mail orders are also accepted. Send a written request to the Posey County Health Department at 126 E. 3rd St., Mount Vernon, IN 47620. Your letter should include the full name of the deceased, date of death, your name and relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. Attach a check or money order for $15.00. Allow a couple of weeks for the office to process your request and send the certificate back. This is the best option if you live far from Mount Vernon and cannot visit in person.

Death Index Eligibility

Indiana limits who can get a certified death certificate. Under IC 16-37-1-10, you must have a direct connection to the person named on the record. The Posey County Health Department follows these same rules. You cannot request any death record without showing your link to the deceased.

Eligible people include the surviving spouse, a parent listed on the record, and adult children, grandchildren, or siblings who are 18 or older. Grandparents, aunts, and uncles qualify too. Attorneys acting for an eligible person and court-appointed guardians can also get copies. Government agencies at the state and federal level are allowed to make requests as well. You always need a primary photo ID and two secondary documents. A driver's license is the most common primary ID. A Social Security card or voter registration card counts as secondary.

Posey County Death Records Fees

Each certified copy from Posey County costs $15.00. The fee covers the search and one certificate. Under IC 16-37-1-11, the search fee is not refundable. If the staff searches the death index and finds nothing, you still pay. This applies everywhere in Indiana, not just in Posey County.

Through the state, the fee is $8.00. The Indiana Department of Health processes death record requests for all 92 counties. State orders are cheaper on paper but slower in practice. Mail orders take about two weeks to arrive at the state office and then 10 to 15 business days for processing. For Posey County residents, the local office is often the better deal when you factor in speed and convenience.

Genealogy and Posey County Death Index

Posey County has been settled since the early 1800s. Families in this part of Indiana have deep roots. The death index going back to 1882 is a strong resource for anyone researching family lines in the far southwestern corner of the state. Death certificates can reveal details like birthplace, parents' names, and occupation. For deaths before 1900, the local office is the only source since the state did not start its own collection until that year.

Genealogy requests require that the person on the record has been dead for at least 75 years. You need proof they have passed. The Indiana State Library in Indianapolis keeps a large genealogy collection at 315 W. Ohio Street. The reference desk is at 317-232-3689. Their holdings include death record indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and county histories. Posey County researchers should check both the local health department and the state library for the most complete picture.

State Resources for Posey County

The Indiana Department of Health death information page explains the full process for state-level death record orders. Posey County records from 1900 forward are in the state's central database. The state order page has forms and detailed instructions for mail, phone, and online requests.

Below is the state health department's map page, which shows where to find every county health department in Indiana including Posey County.

Use the LHD map to look up contact details for the Posey County office or any neighboring county. Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's approved vendor. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the $8.00 state charge. Indiana's electronic death registration system under IC 16-37-1-3.1 allows funeral directors to file death records digitally. The state's Access to Public Records Act under IC 5-14-3 supports the right to access government records, though death certificates have separate eligibility rules.

Nearby Counties

Indiana files death records by the county where the death took place. If the death happened outside Posey County, you need to contact the right neighboring county office.