Boone County Indiana Genealogy Records

Boone County genealogy records are handled by the county health department and the Boone County Historical Society in Lebanon, Indiana. Birth and death records go back to 1882, with genealogy search services available by mail or by appointment. If you are tracing family history in Boone County, this page covers the health department's vital records services, fees, and processing times, along with state-level resources that support deeper genealogy research.

Boone County Health Department Vital Records

The Boone County Health Department is the primary source for birth and death genealogy records in the county. The office is at 116 W. Washington St., Suite B202, Lebanon, IN 46052. The main phone is 765-482-3942; press option 2 for vital records. Fax is 765-483-4450, and email goes to records@co.boone.in.us. Administrator Lisa Younts, RN, oversees vital records services.

Birth or death records must have occurred in Boone County and after 1882 to be available from this office. The health department is not able to offer genealogy services on a walk-in basis. For genealogy searches, plan to submit a written request and allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing. This longer timeline is worth knowing before you start your genealogy project in Boone County, so that you can plan requests early.

Fees at the Boone County Health Department are:

• Certified Birth Certificate: $15
• Certified Death Certificate: $15
• Uncertified Birth/Death Records (genealogy): $15 each

For state-level access, the Indiana Department of Health at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis holds statewide birth records from 1907 and death records from 1900. You can order online through VitalChek, by phone at (866) 601-0891, or by mail. For genealogy orders at the state level, the person named on the certificate must be over 75 years old and deceased.

Note: The Boone County Health Department's no-walk-in policy for genealogy services means all genealogy searches must be submitted in advance, either by mail or by appointment.

Marriage and Court Records in Boone County

Marriage records for Boone County are held by the county clerk's office. The Indiana IDOH maintains a statewide marriage index from 1958 onward, but for marriages before 1958, you must contact the Boone County Clerk directly. Marriage and divorce records in the clerk's office can be important genealogy sources, as they list full names, dates, and sometimes residences.

Court records including probate, estate, guardianship, and civil case filings are also held at the Boone County Clerk's office. Probate records in particular are useful for genealogy because they name heirs, assets, and family relationships. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, these public records are open to inspection. The statute at IC 5-14-3-4 adds that confidential records open up 75 years after creation, making older Boone County records accessible for genealogy purposes.

For older records that may have been transferred out of the clerk's office, contact the Indiana Archives and Records Administration at 6440 E 30th St, Indianapolis, phone (317) 591-5220. IARA holds historical Indiana court and government records that may include Boone County material no longer kept locally.

Boone County Historical Society

The Boone County Indiana Historical Society meets at the historic Cragun House at 404 West Main Street, Lebanon, IN 46052. Mailing address is P.O. Box 141, Lebanon, IN 46052. Their phone is 765-483-9414 and email is boonecountyinhistorical@gmail.com. Society meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m., and they are open to general membership and prospective members.

The historical society holds local records, photographs, and materials related to Boone County family history that go beyond what is available at government offices. Early settler records, local newspaper archives, and county histories from the 1800s can be found through the society. If you have Boone County ancestors from the period before official state registration, the historical society may be your best source for verifying family connections. Contacting them before your visit helps ensure the right materials will be ready when you arrive.

The VitalChek online ordering portal shown below handles remote requests for Boone County genealogy records:

Use VitalChek to order certified birth and death records from Boone County online with a credit card, avoiding the need to visit Lebanon in person.

VitalChek adds a processing fee to the state's standard certificate costs but provides a convenient remote option for Boone County record requests.

Indiana State Library and Archives for Boone County

The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division in Indianapolis at 315 W Ohio St holds county-specific research guides and one of the Midwest's largest family history collections. Call 317-232-3689 to reach the reference desk. The Indiana County Research Guides include a Boone County guide that identifies available records, their locations, and whether they have been digitized.

The state library's genealogy collection includes more than 40,000 print items. For Boone County researchers, the library holds regional Indiana materials that cover central Indiana counties. The library offers Second Saturday one-on-one family history consultations that can help researchers new to Boone County genealogy plan their record searches more effectively. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some Saturday hours; see the website for current schedules.

The Indiana Archives and Records site is shown below, where Boone County researchers can search for historical state and county documents:

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration holds historical court records and government documents that may include material relevant to Boone County genealogy research.

IARA's collections include transferred county records from across Indiana, making it a valuable stop when local offices in Lebanon cannot locate specific older Boone County records.

The Indiana Historical Society at (317) 232-1882 holds photographs, manuscripts, and local history materials from across Indiana, including Boone County. The FamilySearch Indiana Genealogy wiki and the Indiana Genealogical Society are free online resources that can guide you to digitized Boone County records and connect you with local genealogy volunteers.

Planning a Boone County Genealogy Search

Because the Boone County Health Department requires 6 to 8 weeks for genealogy searches, planning ahead is essential. Submit your written request to records@co.boone.in.us or by fax at 765-483-4450 before making any plans to visit Lebanon. Include as much detail as possible in your request: full name, approximate dates, and type of event. This reduces back-and-forth and speeds up the process.

While waiting for the health department's response, use the time to search the Indiana State Library online resources and the FamilySearch Indiana wiki for digitized Boone County records. Newspaper indexes, census records, and cemetery transcriptions available online can fill gaps while the health department processes your request. The Boone County Historical Society meetings are open to the public and can be a good way to connect with other researchers who have already done Boone County genealogy work.

Cities in Boone County

Boone County includes Lebanon, Zionsville, Whitestown, and several smaller communities. No Boone County city currently meets the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Genealogy records for all Boone County cities and towns are filed at the county-level offices in Lebanon.

Nearby Counties

Boone County is in central Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis. If your ancestor lived near a county line, check the surrounding counties' genealogy pages for additional records.