Standard Service Mail Disclaimer
Please be advised that regular mail services (standard postal delivery, USPS) are currently experiencing extended transit times. While standard delivery typically takes a few business days, shipments may currently take up to several weeks to arrive due to carrier delays and increased volume. There is NO tracking on standard postal delivery. Please allow 3 weeks from the order date before calling our office for status updates. If you require tracking or time-sensitive delivery, please select VitalChek.com for an overnight delivery option.
In-person business transactions are gladly accepted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. No money transactions after 4:00 pm.
We cannot process birth and death certificate requests (no money transactions) after 4:00 pm, but we are open until 4:30 pm to answer questions regarding birth, death, and amendments via phone.
Starting January 6, 2026, we will begin issuing out-of-county death certificates. For more information or questions, please contact us at 574-235-9750, option 3 for the Vital Records Unit.
For Long-Form Birth Certificate Requests:
A long-form birth certificate is only available through the Indiana Department of Health. Please visit their website at: Indiana Department of Health, or call at 800-382-9480. Ordering options are available at VitalChek.com. Please verify that you are ordering a long-form birth certificate with the Indiana Department of Health and not the St. Joseph County Department of Health before placing or finalizing your order. The St. Joseph County Department of Health only offers a short-form birth certificate. (Both the short and long-form birth certificates may be used to apply for a passport.)
Please be advised that ordering a birth certificate through the Indiana Department of Health will have a longer processing time.
| Accessing Certificates |
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| Birth and Death Certificates may be mailed to you using Request and Pay Online |
| Order online through www.VitalChek.com for overnight delivery, via UPS |
| Fee Schedule |
- Birth Certificates
- Death Certificates
- Download and print the required application. English / Spanish
- Need valid state ID, Proof of relationship for certified copies (not necessary for uncertified copies), or direct interest
- Un-certified death certificates do not have the social security number of the deceased listed and are for informational purposes only.
- Direct interest - document with both descendant and applicants name stating why document is needed. Examples: to close out a deed, close a bank account, etc.
- Genealogy
- Download and print the required application. Click Here
Please contact our office for additional information at (574) 235-9750, option #3 for more details.
- Paternity
- In office and by appointment only
- Both parents must be present with government issued ID (state ID, state drivers license, passport, or military ID
- Record legally changed same day
- Notary
- What is a Notary Public? A Notary is an individual commissioned by the State of Indiana to serve as an impartial witness and fraud deterrent for legally significant documents such as wills, property deeds, marriage licenses, and adoption papers. Notaries deter fraud by verifying individuals’ identities and ensuring that all parties understand the contents of the documents they sign.
- Done in office