Pulaski County Death Index

Pulaski County death index records are on file at the health department in Winamac, Indiana. This north-central Indiana county has maintained death certificates since 1882, well before the state began its own collection. The Pulaski County Health Department on South Riverside Drive is the local registrar and the go-to office for anyone looking for a death record from this area. Whether you need a certified copy for a legal matter, to close out a bank account, or for a genealogy project, the Winamac office handles all death index requests for events that took place within Pulaski County.

Pulaski County Health Department

The Pulaski County Health Department is at 125 S. Riverside Dr., Winamac, IN 46996. Phone the office at (574) 946-6080. You can also fax documents to (574) 946-6654. The email address is eguffey@pulaskicounty.in.gov. Dr. Timothy Day serves as the health officer. The staff handles all death record requests for Pulaski County. Walk-in visits are the simplest way to get a certified copy since the office can often process requests while you wait.

Pulaski County has a population of about 12,500. It is one of the less populated counties in Indiana. The upside is that the health department rarely has a long line. Most walk-in requests are handled quickly. Call ahead if you are traveling from outside the area. The office may have limited hours, and you do not want to make the drive only to find the door locked.

How to Search Pulaski County Death Records

To search the Pulaski County death index, start with a phone call. Dial (574) 946-6080 and give the staff the name and date of death. They can check the index and tell you if the record is on file. You can also walk in during business hours or send an email to eguffey@pulaskicounty.in.gov with your question. The staff is helpful and used to working with people who are not sure what they need.

For a certified copy, you need to pay the $15.00 fee. The fee covers the search and one copy. Under IC 16-37-1-11, that fee is not refundable even if the search turns up nothing. This is state law and applies at every county health department in Indiana.

Pulaski County death records go back to 1882. The state did not start recording deaths until 1900. For any death that took place in Pulaski County before 1900, the Winamac office is the only source.

Who Can Request Death Records

Indiana law limits who can get a certified death certificate. The rules are laid out in IC 16-37-1-10. You must have a direct and tangible interest in the record. The Pulaski County Health Department checks your ID and asks about your relationship before releasing any certified copy. This is not optional. It is the same rule at every county office across the state.

Eligible requesters include a surviving spouse, parents listed on the record, adult children and grandchildren age 18 or older, siblings age 18 or older, and grandparents. Aunts and uncles qualify with proof of the family link. Attorneys acting for an eligible person, court-appointed guardians, and state or federal agencies can also request records. You need one primary photo ID such as a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID. Two secondary documents are required as well.

Ordering by Mail

If you cannot visit the Winamac office, you can order a Pulaski County death certificate by mail. Write a letter with the full name of the deceased, date of death, your name and relationship to the person, and a copy of your valid photo ID. Attach a check or money order for $15.00 made payable to the Pulaski County Health Department. Mail it to 125 S. Riverside Dr., Winamac, IN 46996. You can also fax supporting documents to (574) 946-6654 if the office needs more information to process your request.

Allow a few weeks for mail processing. The office handles requests in the order they come in. Once the staff finds the record in the death index and verifies your eligibility, they mail the certified copy back to you. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want to speed things up on the return trip.

Genealogy and Pulaski County

Pulaski County is a rural county with a long agricultural heritage. Families here have often stayed for generations. The death index dating back to 1882 is a strong tool for tracing those family lines. Death certificates from that era can show a person's birthplace, parents' names, and cause of death. These details help plug gaps that census records alone cannot fill.

For genealogy requests, the person on the record must have been dead for 75 years or more. You need proof of death. The Indiana State Library at 315 W. Ohio Street in Indianapolis holds genealogy materials that may cover Pulaski County. Their reference desk number is 317-232-3689. Death record indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and family histories are all part of their collection. Checking both the county and state library gives you the best shot at finding what you need.

State Death Records for Pulaski County

The Indiana Department of Health holds Pulaski County death records from 1900 forward. The state fee is $8.00 per search. Mail orders use State Form 49606 and go to P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's approved vendor. VitalChek adds a service fee. Call them at (866) 601-0891 any time.

The image below shows the Indiana Department of Health death information page, which lays out the full process for requesting records at the state level.

This page covers what forms to use, what ID you need, and where to send your request. The state order page has downloadable forms. The LHD map shows contact details for every county health department. Indiana's electronic death registration system under IC 16-37-1-3.1 lets funeral directors file death records digitally, which gets new records into the index faster. The state's public records law under IC 5-14-3 protects the public's right to inspect government records, but death certificates have their own eligibility limits.

Nearby Counties

Indiana only issues death certificates from the county where the death took place. If the death happened outside Pulaski County, you will need to contact the correct neighboring county.