Hendricks County Genealogy Lookup

Hendricks County genealogy records are maintained at the health department and county clerk in Danville, Indiana. Birth and death records held locally go back to 1882, while marriage licenses and court documents at the clerk's office provide additional genealogy sources. The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library in Hendricks County also holds local history and genealogy materials that support family research across this growing county west of Indianapolis.

Hendricks County Health Department Records

Call the Hendricks County Health Department at 317-745-9217 for birth and death records held in Danville. Indiana counties have kept local vital records since 1882. Events that occurred before statewide registration in 1907 for births and 1900 for deaths may only exist at the Hendricks County level. For older genealogy research, the local health office in Danville is the most direct source.

Genealogy requests for Hendricks County vital records must meet Indiana Department of Health requirements. The person named on the certificate must be over 75 years old and deceased. Researchers need to provide proof of death, such as an obituary or a certified death certificate from another source. This requirement applies to all Indiana counties and is designed to protect living individuals while allowing access to older family history records.

You can order Hendricks County vital records remotely through VitalChek online or by phone. The Indiana Department of Health handles statewide requests at (317) 233-2700 or toll-free at (866) 601-0891. State records cover births from 1907 and deaths from 1900. Current Hendricks County health department contact details are on the Indiana local health department map.

Hendricks County Clerk Genealogy Records

The Hendricks County Clerk at 317-745-9231 in Danville holds marriage licenses, civil court records, and probate files for Hendricks County. Marriage records go back to the county's formation. Those before 1958 exist only at the county level, as statewide indexing did not begin until that year. The Danville clerk office is the only source for pre-1958 Hendricks County marriage records.

Probate records are among the most genealogically rich documents at the clerk's office. When a person died in Hendricks County, the probate court listed heirs by name and relationship. These records can reveal children, siblings, and other relatives who do not appear in vital records. Estate files often contain exact ages and residences of family members at the time the estate was filed, which can fill in significant gaps in a family timeline.

Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 makes most clerk records accessible. Records older than 75 years are broadly open under IC 5-14-3-4. The clerk can advise on any specific access restrictions for Hendricks County records.

Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library

The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library in Hendricks County holds local history and genealogy collections that include materials specific to Hendricks County families. Local libraries often maintain newspaper archives, obituary files, cemetery records for small rural cemeteries, and donated family history files that no state-level repository holds. If you are researching Hendricks County families, the Plainfield library is worth visiting for its local holdings.

Many Indiana public libraries also offer free in-library access to Ancestry.com and other subscription genealogy databases. The Plainfield-Guilford Township library may provide this for in-person visitors. Even if you live outside the area, a research visit can open up significant Hendricks County data without a subscription cost.

The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division in Indianapolis maintains county research guides for Hendricks County at in.gov county research guides. These free guides identify the key repositories and record types relevant to Hendricks County family history.

State Archives and Online Genealogy Tools

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration in Indianapolis may hold older Hendricks County records that have been transferred for long-term storage. IARA preserves older county court and administrative records that local offices no longer actively maintain. Call (317) 591-5220 or search their online catalog before making a research trip to check what Hendricks County materials they hold.

IARA creates microfilm to standards that keep records readable for up to 500 years. Hendricks County records filmed in past decades remain fully accessible through IARA's collections today.

FamilySearch at familysearch.org offers free access to many Indiana records including census data and early probate transcriptions for Hendricks County. The Indiana Historical Society has county resources at their website and a research library in Indianapolis. Their county page at indianahistory.org has Hendricks County specific links. The Indiana Genealogical Society at indgensoc.org also maintains county pages with locally contributed data and indexes.

Note: VitalChek is the fastest remote option for ordering Hendricks County vital records if you cannot visit Danville in person.

Cities in Hendricks County

Hendricks County includes two cities with dedicated pages on this site. All genealogy records for events in these cities are held at the Hendricks County offices in Danville.

Other communities in Hendricks County include Avon, Pittsboro, Lizton, and Clayton. Records for all Hendricks County communities are maintained at county offices in Danville.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Hendricks County. Family members who lived near county lines may have records at these neighboring offices.