Access Posey County Genealogy Records

Posey County genealogy records are held at the county health department and the clerk's office in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Birth and death records go back to 1882, and marriage records at the clerk's office date from Posey County's earliest years. Located in the far southwest corner of Indiana where the Wabash and Ohio Rivers meet, Posey County has a long settlement history with records that support deep multi-generation genealogy research. This guide covers how to access those records both locally and through statewide sources.

Posey County Health Department Vital Records

The Posey County Health Department in Mount Vernon holds certified copies of birth and death records for events that took place in Posey County from 1882 to the present. This is your starting point for Posey County genealogy research involving vital events. Indiana did not begin statewide birth registration until 1907 and death registration until 1900. That leaves a window from 1882 to those dates where the county health department is the only official source.

Posey County is one of Indiana's oldest counties, formed in 1814. Its location at the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers made it an early entry point for settlers moving into Indiana. Families with Posey County roots can often trace lineages back to the early 1800s, and birth and death records from 1882 onward document those families across multiple generations. The health department in Mount Vernon is the first stop for any vital records genealogy search.

For genealogy-specific requests, the person named on the certificate must be deceased and over 75 years old. This requirement applies at both the county and state level. Bring identification and any proof of the ancestor's death when visiting the Posey County Health Department. Contact the office before visiting to confirm hours, fees, and whether an appointment is required. The Indiana local health department map provides current contact details for the Mount Vernon office.

Note: Fees for genealogy copies may differ from standard certified copy fees at the Posey County Health Department. Confirm the current rate before you visit Mount Vernon.

Posey County Clerk and Marriage Records

Marriage records for Posey County are at the County Clerk's Office in Mount Vernon. The clerk holds marriage licenses going back to Posey County's founding in 1814. Because the state marriage index only starts in 1958, the county clerk is the only source for any Posey County marriage before that year. The clerk's office is in the courthouse in Mount Vernon, and the original marriage documents remain there even for marriages after 1958.

Court records at the Posey County Clerk's Office are also valuable for genealogy. Probate filings, estate inventories, guardianship records, and civil case files from the 1800s and early 1900s contain family information that vital records do not include. An estate inventory from the mid-1800s can name a deceased person's surviving spouse, children, and other heirs. These records are publicly accessible under Indiana Code 5-14-3, which governs public records access in Indiana.

The Indiana State Library maintains a county research guide for Posey County that lists what records exist, where they are held, and what date ranges they cover. Access the guides at in.gov/library/collections-and-services/genealogy/indiana-county-research-guides/. Checking the Posey County guide before visiting Mount Vernon helps you plan which offices to contact and what records to request when you arrive.

Indiana State Vital Records and Genealogy Resources

The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, holds statewide birth records from 1907 and death records from 1900. Their main phone is (317) 233-2700 and the toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 runs 24 hours a day. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Mail orders use Form 49607 for births and Form 49606 for deaths. First copies cost $10 for births and $8 for deaths.

The Indiana State Library genealogy division holds one of the largest family history collections in the Midwest. With more than 40,000 print items including county histories, family genealogies, cemetery transcriptions, and military pension records, the library covers southwest Indiana counties like Posey County in meaningful depth. The library is at 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, and can be reached at 317-232-3689. They offer one-on-one consultations on the second Saturday of each month for researchers who need guidance.

The Indiana State Library's genealogy resources are shown below:

The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division holds county research guides and a large family history collection covering Posey County and neighboring southwest Indiana counties.

DAR volunteers assist with lineage research at the library on Wednesday afternoons and second Saturdays, which can be especially useful for Posey County researchers tracing early Indiana family lines.

Indiana Archives and Historical Collections

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) at 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, (317) 591-5220, may hold older Posey County court records transferred from the county over the years. The State Archives at IARA stores records with permanent historical value, including naturalization papers, early court filings, and other documents that pre-date modern record-keeping at the county level. IARA's online catalog at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov lets you search for Posey County holdings before making the trip to Indianapolis.

The Indiana Archives portal is shown here:

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration holds transferred Posey County historical documents and allows online searching at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov before a physical visit.

Records once classified as confidential become publicly available 75 years after creation under IC 5-14-3-4, opening many older Posey County documents to genealogy researchers.

The Indiana Historical Society at 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, (317) 232-1882, holds photographs, manuscripts, and maps from Indiana counties including Posey County. Posey County's early settlement history means the IHS may hold relevant material on pioneer families and early county records. The Indiana Genealogical Society and the FamilySearch Indiana Genealogy wiki are free resources that index digitized records and can point you to Posey County collections not easily found elsewhere.

Online and Remote Record Access

Remote ordering options exist for Posey County vital records. The state toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 takes phone orders any time. Mail orders go to the Indiana Department of Health at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. Online orders process through VitalChek with credit card payment and direct delivery of certified copies.

The VitalChek portal is shown here:

The VitalChek portal handles online ordering of certified Indiana vital records including Posey County birth and death records. Credit card payment is accepted.

VitalChek adds a processing fee above the state base costs, but provides a practical option for Posey County genealogy researchers who cannot travel to Mount Vernon or Indianapolis.

Cities in Posey County

Posey County's communities, including Mount Vernon, New Harmony, and Poseyville, all file genealogy and vital records at the county health department and clerk's office in Mount Vernon. No city in Posey County meets the 25,000 population threshold for a separate city page. All Posey County records are handled at the county level in Mount Vernon.

All Posey County city records are filed at the county offices in Mount Vernon.

Nearby Counties

Posey County is in the far southwest corner of Indiana. Ancestors near county lines may have filed records in neighboring counties or in Kentucky. Check these nearby county pages for more genealogy resources.