How to Get a Death Certificate in Indiana & the Indiana Small Estate Limit
Sorting out a loved one's affairs in Indiana usually starts with two practical questions: where do I order death certificates, and do we really need probate? This guide answers both for Indiana, links every figure to an official source, and points out where the rules have recently changed.
How to get a death certificate in Indiana
Certified copies in Indiana come from Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records (and local health departments).
The Indiana Department of Health charges $8 for the first death certificate and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The $8 search fee is not refundable.
The state recommends ordering from the local health department in the county where the death occurred for faster service. County fees vary, for example $11 in Lake County and $13 in Randolph County.
A useful rule: one certified copy for each financial institution, insurer, retirement plan and government agency that holds an asset in the person's name, plus two spares. Some institutions return the copy, but many keep it. Our death certificate count guide has a checklist.
Indiana small estate procedure: Small estate affidavit (State Form 49377)
For deaths after June 30, 2022, the affidavit can be used when the gross probate estate, after liens, encumbrances and reasonable funeral expenses, is $100,000 or less.
At least 45 days must have passed since the death, no personal representative may be appointed or pending, and the person signing must notify every other distributee.
The notarized affidavit (State Form 49377) goes to the bank, insurer or other holder, not to the court. Real estate is handled separately with a probate court procedure or affidavit recorded with the county.
What counts toward the limit
Before you compare the estate to the Indiana limit, take out everything that passes outside probate. Life insurance and retirement accounts with a named beneficiary, payable-on-death and transfer-on-death accounts, jointly owned property with survivorship rights, and assets held in a living trust usually go straight to the named person and are not part of the probate estate. That is why many estates that look large on paper still qualify for the small estate route. Our article on why beneficiary designations override a will explains how this works.
Step by step in Indiana
- Order certified death certificates from Indiana Department of Health, Vital Records (and local health departments) (or through the funeral home).
- List every asset and note which ones have a beneficiary, a co-owner or a trust; those usually pass outside probate.
- Add up the remaining probate assets and compare them with the Indiana limit described above, using the official link to confirm the current figure.
- Check the waiting period and paperwork requirements, then prepare the Small estate affidavit (State Form 49377) using the official form or court instructions.
- Give the paperwork to each bank or holder (or file it with the court, if Indiana requires that), keep copies, and pay valid debts before distributing anything.
When the small estate route doesn't fit
The small estate route is not a fit for every family. If the probate assets are over the Indiana limit, if there is real estate the procedure does not cover, if heirs disagree, or if there are significant debts or a lawsuit, regular probate (often with an executor or administrator appointed by the court) is usually the safer path. An estate attorney or the court's self-help center in your county can tell you which procedure applies. Our executor checklist covers the full process.
Quick answers
How much does a death certificate cost in Indiana?
The Indiana Department of Health charges $8 for the first death certificate and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The $8 search fee is not refundable. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
What is the small estate limit in Indiana?
For deaths after June 30, 2022, the affidavit can be used when the gross probate estate, after liens, encumbrances and reasonable funeral expenses, is $100,000 or less. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
After that
The next steps are the same in every state: notify agencies, close or transfer accounts and keep records. These guides help: who to call when someone dies, closing accounts and Apple, Google and Facebook accounts after a death.
Keep it all in one place
The After-Loss Admin Kit is a calm, printable executor workbook: the first 48 hours through closing the estate, a who-to-notify list, 12 letter templates (including bank and agency letters) and an estate tracker spreadsheet for every asset and debt. It works with the Indiana steps above.
See the After-Loss Admin Kit — $19Loss & planning bundle (4 kits) — $34