Decatur County Genealogy Records
Decatur County genealogy records are held in Greensburg, the county seat, and at state offices in Indianapolis. Researchers searching for ancestors in Decatur County can access birth and death records through the county health department, marriage and court records through the clerk, and land documents through the recorder. State-level resources at the Indiana State Library and IARA provide further depth for family history searches in this county.
Decatur County Quick Facts
Decatur County Vital Records
The Decatur County Health Department holds birth and death records for events in the county from 1882 forward. Indiana required counties to begin registering these events in 1882. If you need a record from before that year, church records, burial lists, and probate files are the alternatives. Many of these older Decatur County sources have been transcribed and published by genealogical societies.
The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, maintains statewide death records from 1900 and birth records from 1907. Orders can be placed by phone at (866) 601-0891, online via VitalChek, or by mail. Genealogy requests require proof that the individual named on the record is deceased and was over 75 years old. The Indiana local health department map gives you contact details for the Decatur County health office in Greensburg.
Decatur County Clerk and Marriage Records
The Decatur County Clerk maintains marriage records going back to the county's formation in 1821, as well as court records, probate filings, and guardianship papers. For marriages before 1958, the clerk in Greensburg is the only source, since Indiana's statewide marriage index begins that year. Marriage license applications typically include the names, ages, and residences of both parties, which makes them a reliable genealogy source for Decatur County research.
Probate files held by the clerk list heirs, describe property, and can reveal family structures that vital records do not show. If an ancestor died with land or personal property in Decatur County, there is likely a probate file that names their children, siblings, and other heirs. Civil court records may also list family members in cases involving land disputes, debt, or guardianship. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) gives the public the right to inspect these records, and under IC 5-14-3-4, older restricted records become open 75 years after creation.
Note: Call the Decatur County Clerk ahead of your visit to confirm current hours and any copy fees.
Decatur County Land Records
The Decatur County Recorder holds deeds, mortgages, and plats for land in the county. Land records are a core genealogy source because they trace property ownership across generations. A deed may name a buyer, a seller, witnesses, and sometimes family members who have an interest in the land. If your ancestor owned or farmed land in Decatur County, the recorder's deed books can help you confirm dates and family connections.
Older Decatur County land records may have been microfilmed and transferred to the Indiana Archives and Records Administration. IARA can be reached at (317) 591-5220 or arc@iara.in.gov, and their online catalog at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov is searchable before you visit. The agency's microfilming standards ensure that documents filmed today remain readable for up to 500 years, which matters when you are working with fragile 1800s-era Decatur County papers.
Indiana State Library for Decatur County Genealogy
The Indiana State Library at 315 West Ohio Street in Indianapolis has one of the Midwest's largest genealogy collections. For Decatur County, the library holds family histories, cemetery transcriptions, and indexes to marriage and court records. The reference desk is at 317-232-3689. Decatur County research guides are listed on the Indiana County Research Guides page.
DAR volunteers are at the library on Wednesday afternoons and the second Saturday of each month to help patrons searching family history. The library is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Second Saturday one-on-one consultations are available by appointment for researchers who want personal guidance on Decatur County or other Indiana research.
The Indiana State Library genealogy page provides county-specific guides and statewide record indexes relevant to Decatur County research. Indiana State Library genealogy page
The library's collection includes more than 40,000 print items covering Indiana counties, including Decatur County family histories and record indexes.
More Resources for Decatur County Research
The Indiana Historical Society at (317) 232-1882 publishes research indexes and family history guides relevant to Decatur County. Their online county resources page lists local history contacts and primary source guides for this area. The society has more than 50 years of experience indexing Indiana's primary source material.
FamilySearch provides free access to Indiana census records, vital record indexes, and church registers for Decatur County. The site's Indiana genealogy wiki outlines what is available on microfilm and what has been digitized. The Indiana Genealogical Society at indgensoc.org offers county-specific resources and can connect you with researchers who specialize in Decatur County lines. Their county pages list local contacts and published indexes for the area.
The Indiana Archives and Records Administration holds older county records including those transferred from Decatur County offices over the years. Indiana Archives and Records Administration
Older Decatur County documents held at IARA may include court records, land files, and other items no longer kept at the local courthouse.
Cities in Decatur County
Greensburg is the county seat and largest city in Decatur County. No cities in Decatur County meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. All genealogy records for the county are held at offices in Greensburg.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Decatur County. If an ancestor lived near a county line, records may appear in more than one courthouse.