Birth & death certificates may be obtained through any of the following ways*:
Walk-In Service
The vital records office issues certificates Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am-11am and 1pm-4pm. Proper identification must be provided to request a birth certificate, and only immediate family may apply. A person who has no form of ID should have an immediate family member apply for them. Family members must be over 18 years of age and have proof of relationship, as well as personal identification. If you wish to fill out the application prior to your visit, you can print out an Application for Birth Certificate and bring it with you along with valid ID.
US Mail
Those requesting a certified birth or death record by mail should print the appropriate application, Application for Birth Certificate, or Application for Death Certificate, and follow the directions closely. Mail your fully completed application, along with a photo copy of your identification and appropriate fees to the Wells County Health Department at the address listed above. Certificate requests are usually honored the same day as received, but omissions and errors may cause delays.
Online
For your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that Wells County Health Department has partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc. VitalChek can be reached through their website; VitalChek. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard®, or Visa®. Delivery may be expedited by choosing overnight or priority mail. Certificate requests are usually honored the same day as received, but omissions and errors may cause delays.
*For birth and death records occurring in other Indiana counties, please contact that county health department regarding application procedures and fees. A list of Indiana county health departments and their websites can be found at http://www.in.gov/isdh/24822.htm. If you were born in another state, or wish to obtain a family member’s death certificate, you can apply online at www.vitalchek.com, or contact the Health Department in the state in which the event occurred.
- Mother
- Father
- Sister
- Brother
- Grandmother
- Grandfather
- Son
- Daughter
- Spouse
Individuals must be 18 or older to apply
- Valid Driver’s License (current address & not expired)
- Military ID
- State Issued ID Card
- Valid Passport
- Department of Correction ID issued within past 6 months
- School ID with signature and/or photo for current school year
If none of the above types of identification are available, the Health Department will accept two of the following documents (all must be current and valid):
- Employment ID with name, signature, photo, and date of employment
- Health Insurance card with name
- Bank card with signature (not credit card)
- Voter Registration card with signature
- Previous year’s tax return with signature and Social Security Card
- Marriage application/license issued by Clerk of Court with signatures
- Gun permit with signature
- Expired driver’s license
NOTE: These prices increased on April 3rd 2023.
Birth Certificates – Full & Wallet Size – $15.00
Death Certificates – $20.00
Birth Certificates – Resulting in Still Birth – $12.00
Birth Record Amendments – $15.00
Genealogy Request for Birth or Death Record (Uncertified Copy) – $2.00
We accept cash, check, money orders, and credit card as payment. Credit card has a 3% convenience fee.
Click the forms below to download the PDF version.
