Death certificates in Indiana
If the death happened in St. Joseph County, the fastest way is the county health department in the County-City Building in downtown South Bend. A copy costs $20. Bring a photo ID and something that shows how you're related. Often the funeral home orders the first copies for you, so ask them before you order more.
How many copies you'll need
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests asking the funeral home for 10 to 12 certified copies. Banks, life insurance companies, pension plans and others often want one each. Some will accept a photocopy or a scan, so ask before you mail a certified copy away. You can always order more later.
You usually don't need one to tell Social Security: in most cases the funeral director reports the death for you.
Where to order, and what it costs
| St. Joseph County Health Department | Indiana Department of Health (state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per copy | $20 each | $8 for the first, $4 for each extra |
| Extra fees | $3 if mailed; card fee of 2.55% or $1.55, whichever is more | Third-party and shipping fees if you order online or by phone |
| In person | Yes, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | No walk-in service |
| Online or by phone | Online form (upload a photo of your ID), or VitalChek for overnight delivery | VitalChek, or 866-601-0891 (any time) |
| By mail | Yes; money order, cashier's check or business check | Yes, with State Form 49606 |
| Speed | Same visit in person. By mail, allow about 3 weeks. | Slower. The state itself says ordering from the county is faster. |
Ordering in St. Joseph County
- Bring: a valid photo ID, and proof of how you're related to the person who died (a birth or marriage certificate, for example).
- Paying: cash or card in person. Personal checks and $100 bills aren't accepted.
- Online: use the county's online request form; you'll upload a picture of your ID.
- Death in another county? Since January 2026 the county office can also issue certificates for deaths elsewhere in Indiana, for an extra $10 per name.
Who can order a certified copy
Indiana law only gives certified copies to people with a “direct interest”, and the record has to be needed for personal or property rights, or for a legal reason. In practice that means:
- A spouse, parent, adult child, grandchild, sibling, aunt or uncle, with proof of the relationship
- A beneficiary of the person's life insurance, annuity, retirement or transfer-on-death account
- A court-appointed guardian, or an attorney with a letter explaining the need
- Anyone else who can show a document with both names and the reason, such as closing a bank account or clearing a deed
Anyone can get a non-certified copy. It has the Social Security number removed and is for information only. Banks and insurers won't accept it, but it's enough for family records. In St. Joseph County it costs the same $20, and you still need an ID.
Certified or not, with or without cause of death
A certified copy is the official one, and it's what banks, insurers and courts ask for. When ordering from the state, you can choose a copy with or without the cause of death. If you're not sure, ask the bank or insurer which they need.
If there's a mistake on it
Contact the funeral director, doctor or coroner who filed the certificate. They make the change, sign it, and file it again; the state charges $8 for an amendment. If the original signers can't be reached, a court order is needed.
Older records and family history
St. Joseph County records go back to 1882 (recording wasn't required by law until 1907). For a death before 1955 the county charges a $25 search fee for up to five names, plus $20 per copy. Unofficial copies of Indiana death certificates from 1899 to 2011 are also on Ancestry.com, according to the Indiana State Archives.
What comes next
With the certificates in hand, families usually turn to paying for the funeral and deciding about the ashes or the burial. What cremation really costs · All guides
- St. Joseph County Department of Health, Vital Records, in.gov/localhealth/stjosephcounty/vital-records; 2026 fee schedule (effective Mar 29, 2026) and 2026 death certificate application. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records and “Order Now”, in.gov/health/vital-records/order-now; State Form 49606. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Indiana Code 16-37-1-10 (who may get a certified copy; non-certified copies are public) and 16-37-1-11 (state fees), iga.in.gov. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Indiana Department of Health, “Corrections and Amendments”, in.gov/health/vital-records/corrections-and-amendments. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, surviving spouse guide (May 2022), consumerfinance.gov.
- Social Security, “How do I report a death?”, ssa.gov. Checked Oct 21, 2026.
- St. Joseph County genealogy application (2026); Indiana State Archives, vital records, in.gov/iara. Checked Oct 21, 2026.