DeKalb County Genealogy Records

DeKalb County genealogy records are kept in Auburn, the county seat, and at state agencies in Indianapolis. Family history researchers will find birth and death records at the county health department, marriage and court records at the county clerk, and land documents at the recorder's office. This page covers each local source and the state-level resources that supplement county-level genealogy research in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Health Department and Vital Records

The DeKalb County Health Department handles birth and death records for events that took place in the county. The health department can be reached at 260-925-2220. Indiana began requiring county-level registration of births and deaths in 1882, so records from that year forward are maintained here. For older events, church records, cemetery files, and probate documents are the primary alternatives, as no official government registration existed before 1882.

The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, holds statewide death records from 1900 and birth records from 1907. Phone orders are available 24 hours a day at (866) 601-0891. Online orders go through VitalChek. Mail orders use official IDOH forms. A birth certificate costs $10 and a death certificate costs $8 from the state. For genealogy requests, you must show that the individual named is deceased and was over 75 years old at the time of the request.

The Indiana local health department map confirms contact details for the DeKalb County office in Auburn. Walk-in service at the local level is typically the fastest way to get copies of vital records for research.

DeKalb County Clerk and Marriage Records

The DeKalb County Clerk in Auburn maintains marriage records, civil court records, and probate filings. Marriage records at the clerk's office go back to the county's organization in 1835. Indiana started a statewide marriage index in 1958, so for marriages before that year, the county clerk is the only source. Marriage license applications list the names, ages, and often the residences of both parties, which makes them a reliable genealogy document for DeKalb County research.

Probate records held by the clerk name heirs, describe property, and can reveal family connections that do not appear in vital records. If a DeKalb County ancestor died with real estate or personal property, a probate file almost certainly exists in Greensburg and may name their children, siblings, and other heirs. Guardianship cases are similarly useful for tracing minor children after a parent's death. Indiana's Access to Public Records Act (IC 5-14-3) allows the public to inspect and copy these records. Under IC 5-14-3-4, restricted records become fully public 75 years after creation.

DeKalb County Land Records

The DeKalb County Recorder holds deeds, mortgages, and plats for county land. Land records are one of the most reliable genealogy sources because they trace property through time and often name family members. A deed may identify a buyer and seller, as well as witnesses who may be related. If your ancestor owned land in DeKalb County, the recorder's books can help you confirm dates, identify relatives, and understand the geography of where the family lived.

DeKalb County is in northeastern Indiana, and early settlement patterns brought many German and other immigrant families to this area. If your DeKalb County ancestor was an immigrant, naturalization records may also be on file at the county courthouse or at 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 in advance of a visit.

Note: Some older DeKalb County land and court records may have been microfilmed and transferred to IARA if local storage became an issue.

Indiana State Library and DeKalb County Genealogy

The Indiana State Library at 315 West Ohio Street in Indianapolis is one of the Midwest's largest genealogy collections. It holds more than 40,000 items, including family histories, cemetery transcriptions, and record indexes. The reference desk at 317-232-3689 can help with questions about DeKalb County sources. The Indiana County Research Guides page has a guide specifically for DeKalb County that lists what records exist and where to find them.

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. DAR volunteers assist researchers on Wednesday afternoons and on the second Saturday of each month. These volunteers are a free resource for anyone working on Indiana genealogy, including DeKalb County lines.

More Sources for DeKalb County Research

The Indiana Historical Society at 450 W. Ohio St. in Indianapolis has published indexes and research guides covering DeKalb County. They can be reached at (317) 232-1882. Their county resources page lists local history contacts and primary source guides. FamilySearch provides free access to Indiana census records, vital record indexes, and church registers, and DeKalb County's records are included in their microfilm collections.

The Indiana Genealogical Society at indgensoc.org maintains county-level pages with links to databases and contacts for local researchers. For DeKalb County research that involves German immigrant lines, FamilySearch's German emigration records can complement what you find locally. Combining online indexes with direct requests to the county health department at 260-925-2220, the clerk, and the recorder in Auburn will give you the most complete picture of a DeKalb County family.

Cities in DeKalb County

Auburn is the county seat and main city in DeKalb County. No cities in DeKalb County meet the 25,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Genealogy records for all DeKalb County residents are held at the offices in Auburn.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County in northeastern Indiana. If your ancestor lived near a county line, check records at neighboring courthouse offices too.