To order a birth certificate in Indiana, submit State Form 49607 with a copy of your government-issued photo ID and a $10 fee to the Indiana Department of Health by mail, through VitalChek online, or in person at the local health department in the county where the birth occurred. Additional copies in the same order cost $4 each. Mail is the fastest route at two to three weeks; the online portal, despite feeling quicker, currently runs 12 to 16 weeks.1Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates
Who Can Request the Record
Indiana restricts certified birth certificates to people with a direct interest in the record. A local health officer issues a copy only after verifying eligibility and identification.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code 16-37-1-8 – Prerequisites to Issuance of Birth Certificate; Judicial Review; Missing Child Certificates; Excluded Information Eligible requesters are:
- The person named on the certificate, if 18 or older
- A parent listed on the certificate
- A grandparent, adult sibling, adult child, or spouse of the person named
- A legal guardian, with a court order establishing guardianship
- A legal representative such as an attorney, with supporting documentation
Anyone who isn’t the registrant or a listed parent must prove the relationship. A marriage certificate, another birth certificate linking you to the registrant, or a court order will do.3Indiana Department of Health. Identification and Relationship Requirements
What to Gather Before You Apply
The official application is State Form 49607, “Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record,” available on the Indiana Department of Health website.1Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates You’ll need:
- Full name at birth, and any other name the birth might be recorded under
- Date of birth
- Place of birth, including city, county, and hospital
- Full names of both parents, including mother’s maiden name
- Whether the person has been adopted, and the post-adoption name if so
- Your relationship to the person on the certificate
- The purpose for which you need the record
The mailing address on your form must match the address on your ID, or the request comes back unprocessed.4Indiana Department of Health. State Form 49607 – Application for Search and Certified Copy of Birth Record
Identification
Every applicant must provide a valid, government-issued photo ID: a driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID.3Indiana Department of Health. Identification and Relationship Requirements For mail applications, include a photocopy of the front and back.
Without a photo ID, some local health departments accept a combination of secondary documents bearing your signature, such as a voter registration card, Social Security card, vehicle registration, employment ID, or an expired driver’s license. Requirements differ by county, so call the local health department where the birth occurred before you go.
Three Ways to Submit
Indiana offers mail, online, and in-person ordering. The processing times are not close, so the method matters.
By Mail
Send the completed State Form 49607, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order payable to the Indiana Department of Health to:
Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records
P.O. Box 7125
Indianapolis, IN 46206-71255CDC. Where to Write for Vital Records – Indiana
Cash is not accepted for mail orders. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return delivery.1Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates
h3>Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek Network, Inc. is the state’s only authorized online vendor. You upload scans of your ID and pay by credit or debit card. VitalChek adds a $12.95 processing fee to the state certificate fee. Standard USPS return shipping is free; UPS Air within the continental U.S. is $21.6Indiana Department of Health. Vital Records Online – VitalChek Network
The catch: VitalChek orders currently take 12 to 16 weeks to process once the state receives and approves your documents. That is processing time, not shipping time. If you need the certificate within a month or two, mail is faster despite feeling like the slower option.6Indiana Department of Health. Vital Records Online – VitalChek Network
In Person at a Local Health Department
Walk-in service is not available at the state office in Indianapolis. For in-person requests, visit the local health department in the county where the birth took place. Bring the completed application, your original photo ID, any relationship documentation, and payment. Accepted payment methods vary by county but often include cash, money orders, and credit or debit cards.1Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates
Fees and Processing Times
The state fee is $10 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy in the same order. Fees are non-refundable, even if no record is found.1Indiana Department of Health. Order Certificates
- Mail-in, standard form: 2 to 3 weeks
- Mail-in, long form: 6 to 8 weeks
- Online through VitalChek: 12 to 16 weeks
These times start once the state receives and approves the application and can stretch during peak periods like school enrollment or holidays. Local health departments set their own turnaround times, which can be faster for records they hold on file.
Total cost is worth checking before you choose a method. A standard birth certificate ordered through VitalChek with regular mail delivery comes to about $23 before tax once the processing fee is added. The same certificate by mail is $10 plus postage.
Fixing an Error on the Record
Ordering a copy will not correct a mistake. Indiana handles amendments separately.
Simple corrections without a court order include minor spelling changes, a correction to the day of birth (not the month or year), and a parent’s birthplace. Supporting documents must be at least 10 years old.7Indiana Department of Health. Corrections and Amendments
A court order is required for a legal name change and for any record already corrected once before. Only the person named on the certificate, or a parent or guardian of a minor, can request a correction. Because the process varies, the Indiana Department of Health asks that you call Vital Records at (317) 233-2700 before submitting anything.
If You Need the Certificate for Use Abroad
For countries in the Hague Apostille Convention, you’ll also need an apostille from the Indiana Secretary of State. Birth certificates are exempt from the standard $2 authentication fee, so this step is free. Download the Authentication Request Form, specify the destination country, and submit it with your certified birth certificate by mail or in person by appointment.8Indiana Secretary of State. Authentications Order the certificate first, and give yourself time before any international deadline.
If You Were Adopted
Adoption records in Indiana are sealed by court order. Adopted adults seeking identifying information about a birth family go through the Adoption Matching Registry rather than the standard birth certificate order process. Registration is open at 18, but identifying information is released only from age 21, and release depends on what consent forms the birth parent has on file. Full details and forms are available through the Indiana Department of Health.9Indiana Department of Health. Adoptions