Frequently Asked Questions

Notice: Early January 2021 Indiana State Department of Health implemented a new digital registry system. 

As a result, many certificates have not been digitized. 

Please call the East Chicago Health Department Vital Records division at (219) 391-8413 to check the availability of East Chicago records before making in office visits, mail orders, or online orders. 

If your record exists with East Chicago physical books but is NOT available through the digital archives, the department will initiate a request to Indiana State in order to generate the record. 

This process may take 48 hours to several weeks due to short staff. Please plan your prior obligations accordingly. 

Please note the Health Department is not liable for any appointments, expiration dates, and or travel plans known to the requester. Plan your activities accordingly.

No document can be produced for the client to appease appointments or expiration dates other than the contents of this page line.

Yes. All East Chicago birth certificates are stamped with the Health Officer signature, and given a textured seal. This certificate is legal and can be used for:

• Bureau of Motor Vehicles / Department of Motor Vehicles
• Government Assistance Program Verification
• Government Verification
• Job Verification
• Passports

This certificate does NOT include mother's maiden name or time of birth.

This certificate is NOT a long form certificate and NOT valid for an Apostille seal application. 

This certificate is NOT valid for dual citizenship applications.

No. Should you need the time of birth or mother’s maiden name to be displayed on your certificate, you must request a long form birth certificate which can only be obtained through the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). 

Please contact ISDH at 317-233-2700 or 1-800-382-9480 for the long form ordering process.

No. A long form birth certificate can only be obtained through the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). 

Please contact ISDH at 317-233-2700 or 1-800-382-9480 or 1-800-382-9480 for the long form ordering process.

No. East Chicago Health Department only issues the local level short version certificates. Should you need an Apostille seal to prove dual citizenship or international verification you need to contact the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) at 317-233-2700 or 1-800-382-9480. The procedure will include requesting the long form birth certificate from the ISDH to then send to the secretary of state for the seal. It is a two part process that may take time to fully complete. Plan your activities accordingly.

Only if you were born in East Chicago, Indiana. If you are purchasing a certificate for yourself, you will need your valid driver’s license or valid state ID. If you do not have valid ID please refer to which documents you will need. 

If you are purchasing a certificate for next of kin please refer to acceptable relatives and documents they will need.

Please refer to office hours and acceptable forms of payment.

No. Local health departments are not affiliated with the social security office. Should you need a card for a child or a replacement card, you may seek any social security office near you.

No. An appointment is only necessary if you are getting an amendment to your birth certificate or you are requesting a paternity affidavit.

Visits usually take 10 to 20 minutes. Certificates are printed and given in hand during your visit should your record have transfered over to the new DRIVE system. Coming into the office, you will fill an application with your information and present your valid driver’s license, valid state ID, or 3 alternative documents. The process will take 10 to 20 minutes depending upon the traffic within the office.

Birth certificates are generally ready in 2 to 3 weeks. So long as the child was born at St. Catherine’s hospital in East Chicago Indiana, the certificate for newborns will be generated between 2 to 3 weeks and parents will need to produce the birth announcement form from the hospital and proper identification.

The announcement form is not absolutely needed, you will need to fill the certificate application instead.

No. As per state, all adoptions are to be taken care of via Indiana State Department of Health 317-233-2700 or 1-800-382-9480.

You will need to provide a valid license or valid State ID. The minimum documents we require for certificates is a valid driver’s license or valid state ID meaning it has not expired, it is not a photocopy, and it is not a temporary print out. As per state requirement, we do not accept the temporary paper ID. Please refer to alternative documentation if you do not have a valid license or ID.

At minimum the State requires a valid license or ID from the individual for services. If you do not have a valid license or ID we require a minimum of 3 alternative documents. Below is a list of acceptable identification:

Acceptable Documentation (Need 3 Docs)

• Social security card
• School records or transcript
• School diploma or equivalent
• 30 day paystub with name
• 30 day renter’s receipt with name
• 30 day utility bill with name
• 30 day hospital bill or clinic bill with name
• Any credit card statement with name
• Bank statement with name
• U.S. Passport
• Matrícula Consular card

We Do Not Accept The Following

• Expired license or ID
• Temporary paper ID from BMV/DMV
• Passports from foreign countries
• Voter cards from foreign countries
• Library cards
• Xerox copies of original documents

If you do not have 3 different documents from the list above please call the department for further information 219-391-8413.

No. As per State law (2018) the East Chicago Health Department cannot accept the temporary paper ID.

You must have a valid driver’s license, valid state ID, or 3 alternative documents in order to request the certificates.

State law dictates No aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, ex-spouse, fiances, unlisted father, step parent (not listed on certificate), or non-relative may pick up your certificate without power of attorney or direct interest documentation.

The only relative who has the authority to pick up your certificate (with appropriate ID) is :

• Mother or Father (Must be listed on certificate.)
• Grandmother or Grandfather (Must be parent of a parent listed on the record & show birth certificate of said parent of grandchild & valid ID.)
• Brother or Sister over the age of 18 (With their own birth certificate & ID.)
• Wife or husband (With marriage license & ID.)
• Court appointed legal guardian or appointed power of attorney (Must provide guardianship papers with court seal & valid ID.)
• Attorney representing person named on record (Must provide direct interest spelled out on letter head or court documents.)
• State and Federal agencies (Must provide work ID as well as direct interest spelled out on letter head, court documents, or signed authorization from client.)
• Social agency (Must provide work ID as well court documentation or signed authorization from client.)
• Genealogy - Individual named on certificate must be 75 years old and deceased (Must provide proof of death.)

To verify direct relationship we will cross reference the names on the certificate & ID with who is petitioning for the certificate.

In most institutions and shelters the available social worker or lawyer firm can advocate for your certificate. Please refer to the below items you will need to advocate on behalf of a client. 

If you are requesting a certificate on behalf of yourself and find yourself in any of these situations, please call the East Chicago Health Department at 219-391-8413 to review your case.

The agency or representative is still responsible for sending a formal request on a client’s behalf through office visit, mail, or online order. All methods will require the advocate’s work ID (in place of the individual’s license of ID), request on office letterhead, and payment.  Contact East Chicago Health DPT 219-391-8413.

• Attorney representing person named on record (Must provide direct interest spelled out on letter head or court documents.)
• State and Federal agencies (Must provide work ID as well as direct interest spelled out on letter head, court documents, or signed authorization from client consenting to services.)
• Social agency (Must provide work ID as well court documentation or signed authorization from client consenting to services.)

Please note that the Health Department does not provide vouchers for birth certificates. The advocating entity or individual is responsible for payment.

Certificate Application

Birth Certificate (English)

Birth Certificate (Spanish)

Death Certificate (English)

Death Certificate (Spanish)

No. This office needs to verify who you are with your legal identification. This office does not take payment over the phone.

Yes. Depending on the location you are mailing from we advise the round trip mail to be between 10 and 16 business days. Mail ordering is still dependent upon State Laws concerning valid identification and familiar relation. The Department is not responsible for lost mail items. Please take care to diligently adhere to the ordering information. Please take it upon yourself to call the department 2 weeks after you send your items through the mail system to check the status of your items.

Order Instructions- The below items will be mailed to the East Chicago Health Department

1. Photocopy of valid driver’s license, state ID, or 3 alternative documentation
   • If you are ordering a relative or spouse's birth certificate, please refer to the list of documents you will need to provide with the order.
2. Must fill out the birth request form: English    Spanish, or provide a handwritten/typed note with the following information.
   • Birthday month/day/year
   • Both parents name
   • Full name at birth
   • Mother’s maiden name
   • Telephone to be reached at
3. Final documents:
   • Payment is exclusively in money order or cashier check form, and made out to East Chicago Health Department
   • Each Certificate copy will be $12, for more copies please multiply accordingly - No personal checks or cash, or it will be sent back to you without fulfillment.
   • Include self-addressed, self-stamped envelope for return.
4. Must be mailed to:
   100 W Chicago Avenue
   East Chicago IN, 46312, Suite 100 A
   Attn: Vital Records

Alternatively, you may print the certificate application from the website and mail it with a photocopy of valid driver’s license, valid state ID, or 3 alternative documentation, money order, and self-addressed stamped envelope.

You may call the East Chicago Health Department 7 business days after mailing your forms to see if we have received it and if it has been put back into the mail, 219-391-8413.

Yes. Below are the instructions for online ordering. There will be a difference in price for online ordering versus mail or office visit, and it will require a fax. Online ordering is faster than mail ordering but will come at slight fee increase. There is regular mail shipping (7 to 10 business days) or UPS overnight (2 to 3 business days) shipping available. Without faxing your items to the Health DPT will Not know your order exists and will remain incomplete. You will be charged without receiving the certificate. Please contact the department if you have not received your certificate within two weeks.

Online ordering is still dependent upon State Laws concerning valid identification and familiar relation.

1. Access the VitalChek website  (This is a verified website also used by State.)
2. Select order birth certificate
3. Select state of Indiana
4. Select city of East Chicago
5. Health Department will be – East Chicago Indiana Department of Public Health (Do not select Indiana State. Indiana State will take 3-4 months to process.)

Shipping

• There are two shipping methods 1 regular mail (no cost) 2 UPS Air ($17.50) shipping will automatically select UPS, unselect if not wanted.
• Each certificate is $12, website charges $8.50
• In total Regular mail order for 1 certificate is $20.50, UPS for 1 certificate is $38. If you are in need of multiple certificates the shipping fee and service charge does not increase, only certificate fee will increase.

To Complete Your Order

• After you put in debit/credit information and purchase you must download and print this page. That will be your authorization form which must be faxed to the East Chicago Health Department to complete your order. Fax number will be on the authorization form. You will also fax a photocopy of your valid license or state ID with the confirmation page. If you do not have a valid drivers or ID please refer to acceptable documents.
• If you are ordering a relative or spouse’s birth certificate, please refer to the list of documents you will need to provide with the order.
• If you are from an agency, institution, or lawyer please refer to required documentation.
• For your convenience you can access fax services from public libraries, UPS stores, FedEx stores, and currency exchanges.
• Faxed orders will be processed before 12 pm Central time.
• This authorization form and photocopy of license/ID or documents are required to complete your order. Without the fax the Health Department will not know the order exists and the company will take your payment regardless if the Department sends the certificate. No certificates are ever faxed or emailed to you, the fax is from you, the customer, to our office for verification. The state has moved to a new digitized registry and some certificate may experience a delay in processes time. Please take care to stay on top of your order for the quickest results.

You may call the East Chicago Health Department at  219-391-8413 to verify we have received your fax. We are not responsible for vitalchek charges in which you have not checked the status of the order. We are not responsible for charges in which you have not sent your verifying documents to the department.

Depending on the relation to you, different relatives will need different documentation. 

• Mother - Will need valid driver’s license or valid state ID.
• Father - So long as the father’s name is on your certificate, father will need valid driver’s license or valid state ID.
• Paternal Grandparent - Paternal grandparents of grandchild will need their own son’s certificate and valid driver’s license or valid state ID.
• Maternal Grandparent - Maternal grandparents of grandchild will need their own daughter’s certificate and valid driver’s license or valid state ID.
• Sibling - So long as the sibling is over the age of 18 and has at least one parent in relation, they will need their own certified birth certificate (not xeroxed) and a valid driver’s license or valid state ID.
• Wife/Husband - To pick up for spouse you will need your marriage license and your valid driver’s license or valid state ID. If you do not have the marriage license you will need to request it from the Lake County Clerk 219-755-3440.
• No aunt, uncle, cousin, ex-spouse, or non-relative may pick up your certificate, unless they have direct interest such as court appointed guardianship, court appointed custody, estate beneficiary, inheritor, life insurance beneficiary, bank account closer, or other agency that requests the birth certificate.

Your relation needs to show a direct kinship to you. A relation should have at least one parent similar to the record on file to obtain the certificate.

If your name or any other information is incorrect on your East Chicago issued birth certificate, or you had a legal name change through the courts and you were born in East Chicago, we advise you to call our department 219-391-8413. You will need to bring the official court papers with you to change the certificate, and will only need to pay for the certificate.

You may or may not need to set an appointment to have your name amended depending on your case. Amendments have a fee of $25, and $12 for new certificate.

If you had a legal name change through the courts and you were born in East Chicago, we advise you to call our department 219-391-8413. You will need to bring the official court papers with you to change the certificate, and will only need to pay for the certificate. The Department needs to review the language on the court court in order to reflect any  change to your certificate. 

Please note, the court order must specifically state the legal name change to be reflected onto your birth certificate in order to change your certificate.  A legal name change court order does not automatically change your certificate, it must direct the vital records to initiate the change. 

If the current name on documents, ID, and/or information is different on the certificate (regardless if this change occurred within any time of that individual's lifetime or at the discretion of a parent or guardian or institution) and was NOT changed within the courts or via a legal name change amendment, this "current name" is not legal and will not reflect on the birth certificate. In essence, if you did not legally change your name through court action, your name and identity exists with Indiana State such as it reflects through East Chicago and State records. If you would like your "current name" to be reflected on the birth certificate you will have to call the East Chicago Health Department at 219-391-8413 to discuss your case. 

All cases of 'name change' is at the judgement and the permission from Indiana State Department of Health in which they will inform the Health Department on how to proceed with your case.

No. All birth records are stored by the state and county in which that person was born including overseas military births. 

Different State

If you were born in a different state you must contact the state health department from the state you were born. 

Different Country

If you were born in a different country, contact the Indiana State Department of Health for more information 317-233-2700.

Yes and No. While East Chicago is within Lake County, the East Chicago Health Department only prints certificates for those born within East Chicago. Call the East Chicago Health Department at 219-391-8713, which is located at:
100 W Chicago Avenue
Suite 100 A
East Chicago, IN, 46312 

City of Gary

If you were born in the city of Gary you must contact the Gary Health Department 219-882-5565 located at
1145 W 5th Avenue
Gary, IN 46402.

Other Cities Beside East Chicago or Gary

If you were born in Lake County elsewhere than East Chicago or Gary you must contact the Lake County Health Department at 219-755-3655. The Lake County Health Department is located at:
2900 W 93rd Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307

Genealogy- Individual named on certificate must be over 75 years old and deceased (Must provide proof of death.)