Genealogy Records in Marion County Indiana
Marion County genealogy records are held at the Marion County Public Health Department, the Marion County Clerk's Office, and several other offices in Indianapolis. As Indiana's most populous county and state capital, Marion County has one of the deepest and most varied record bases in the state. Marriage records go back to 1822, divorce records to 1865, and naturalization records to 1822, making Marion County a particularly rich environment for family history research across more than two centuries.
Marion County Quick Facts
Marion County Public Health Department Vital Records
The Marion County Public Health Department at 3838 N. Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205 is the local source for certified birth and death records. You can reach the vital records division at 317-221-2400. Birth certificates cost $10 for the first copy, and death certificates cost $8. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $4 each. A paternity affidavit copy is $35.
The health department's vital records website at marionhealth.org/programs/population-health/vital-records/ describes what records are available, what identification is needed, and how to submit a request. For genealogy purposes, the individual named on the record must be deceased and over 75 years old unless you are a direct family member. Marion County vital records at the county level go back to 1882, providing access to births and deaths that predate the state's own registration system.
The Marion County Public Health vital records page is shown below:
The Marion County Public Health Department Vital Records division handles certified copies of birth and death records for genealogy research in Indianapolis and throughout the county.
The health department's N. Rural Street location in Indianapolis is the primary walk-in location for Marion County birth and death certificate requests.
| Address | 3838 N. Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 317-221-2400 |
| Birth Certificate | $10 (first copy); $4 each additional |
| Death Certificate | $8 (first copy); $4 each additional |
| Paternity Affidavit | $35 |
| Website | marionhealth.org/programs/population-health/vital-records/ |
Marion County Clerk Records and Archives
The Marion County Clerk's Office at the Indianapolis City-County Building, 200 E. Washington Street W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204, phone 317-327-4740, holds an extraordinary collection of genealogy records. The clerk's records include marriage index from 1822 to 1925, marriage licenses from 1822 to 1990, divorce records from 1865 to 1990, naturalization index from 1822 to 1928, and wills and estates from 1822 to 1990. Few county clerk's offices in Indiana match this depth of historical coverage.
The Marion County Clerk's Office website at indy.gov/agency/marion-county-clerks-office provides current information on what records are available and how to request them. The records department at 1330 Madison Ave, phone 317-327-4715, handles some record requests separately from the main clerk's office. If you are researching Indianapolis-area ancestors from the 19th or early 20th century, the clerk's archives are one of the most important stops in your Marion County genealogy search.
The Marion County Clerk's Office is shown below:
The Marion County Clerk's Office holds marriage, divorce, naturalization, and estate records dating to 1822, making it one of the deepest county clerk archives in Indiana.
The clerk's records at the City-County Building are a starting point for any serious Marion County genealogy project, particularly for 19th and early 20th century family history.
Requesting Marion County Court Records
Court records in Marion County are available through the clerk's records department. You can request copies of court records at indy.gov/activity/request-copies-of-court-records. Marion County court records include probate filings, civil cases, guardianship records, and other court documents that can support genealogy research. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, these records are generally available for public inspection.
The court records request page is shown below:
The Marion County court records request page provides details on how to obtain probate, civil, and court documents useful for Indianapolis and Marion County genealogy research.
Probate and estate records from the Marion County courts can name multiple family members and provide details on property and family relationships that vital records alone do not supply.
Under IC 5-14-3-4, records that were classified as confidential become open after 75 years. For Marion County, this means many records from the early and mid-20th century are now fully accessible to genealogy researchers. The records department at 1330 Madison Ave handles requests for older court documents and can guide you through the process.
State and Regional Resources for Marion County Genealogy
The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, phone (317) 233-2700, is literally next door to Marion County for practical purposes. The state office holds birth records from 1907 and death records from 1900. For Marion County events, both the state and county offices are nearby and can serve as complementary sources. Online orders go through VitalChek.
The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division at 315 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, phone 317-232-3689, is one of the largest family history collections in the Midwest. Given that the library is in Indianapolis, it holds materials especially relevant to Marion County genealogy research. Their Indiana County Research Guides include a guide for Marion County, and DAR volunteers assist patrons on Wednesday afternoons and the second Saturday of each month.
The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at (317) 591-5220 and the Indiana Historical Society at (317) 232-1882, both in Indianapolis, are additional major resources. The IHS at 450 W. Ohio St. holds photographs, manuscripts, and diaries. The Indiana Genealogical Society at indgensoc.org/county/marion/ and FamilySearch at familysearch.org are free online starting points for Marion County research.
The Indiana State Library genealogy portal is shown below:
The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division is located in Indianapolis and holds an especially strong collection of Marion County genealogy materials spanning two centuries.
The library's family history consultations on the second Saturday of each month are a good resource for researchers working on complex Marion County family trees.
Cities in Marion County
Marion County includes Indianapolis, the state capital, as well as Lawrence. Both cities meet the population threshold and have individual city genealogy pages. Vital records for all Marion County communities are filed at the county health department and clerk's offices.
Nearby Counties
Marion County is at the center of Indiana. Surrounding counties can hold genealogy records for families that moved between Indianapolis and surrounding areas.