One reader submitted question will be featured in each newsletter. Visit the website to submit your question. For the first question, I will answer a question that I frequently receive.

How do I locate my ancestor’s death certificate?

• The state of Indiana started issuing death certificates in 1899. Those certificates up to 2011 are available on Ancestry (with a subscription).
• Indiana counties started recording deaths in 1882. Not all deaths were officially recorded, especially in the early years. Those records are held by the county health departments. Some have been microfilmed by the Family History Library and the Indiana State Library. Ohio County (1882-1970) and Dearborn County (1882-1900) indexes are available on the Indiana’s Gore website.
• Prior to 1882, alternative records must be searched to locate a death date. These records include: probate records, newspapers, census mortality schedules (1850-1880), cemetery records, church records, pension records, coroner’s inquests, etc.