Search Obituary, Death and Burial Records by Name
Enter the person’s first name, last name and last known state to prepare an obituary, death, burial, cemetery, memorial and related public-record search.
Find Recent NWI Times Obituaries and Lake County Funeral Notices
Searching for recent Lake County obituaries in The Times of Northwest Indiana? Start with the newspaper’s dedicated obituary listings, then open the original funeral-home memorial to confirm services.
This guide helps readers find notices from Hammond, Gary, Crown Point, Merrillville, Munster, Highland and nearby communities. It also explains Indiana death-certificate fees, newspaper archives, funeral rights, veterans’ benefits and financial assistance.
Reviewed October 14, 2026 • Lake County, Indiana • Independent obituary research guide
Quick Answer: Where Should You Start?
The Times Obituaries
Use The Times obituary listings to browse recent publication dates or search by name.
Open search instructions →Original funeral-home memorial
Check visitation, funeral location, cemetery, flowers and family instructions directly with the provider.
Verify arrangements →Lake County Public Library
The library has older Hammond Times obituary indexes, local newspaper archives and genealogy records.
Find older notices →Death certificate
Lake County’s current fee is $20 per certified copy. Indiana’s statewide mail route lists $8 for the first copy.
Compare ordering options →How to Find NWI Times Recent Obituaries
The Times provides obituary browsing through its dedicated Legacy newspaper pages. The platform supports publication-date filters, name search, funeral-home listings, location searches, and school or college connections.
Subscribe to obituary email updates
Legacy supports email alerts for followed newspapers, places, communities and people. If the obituary page offers Follow or email notification options, use the platform’s subscription instructions.
Microsteps: Open The Times obituary page → look for Follow or an email option → sign in or enter your address if requested → confirm the subscription and review email preferences.
Search Lake County Cities and Nearby Northwest Indiana
The Times covers much of Northwest Indiana. A person may have lived in one city, died in another county and used a funeral home in a third location.
Hammond and East Chicago
Search Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting and nearby North Township communities.
Gary and Lake Station
Try Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago and nearby family connections.
Merrillville and Hobart
Use Merrillville, Hobart and surrounding areas when a name-only search is too broad.
Crown Point and Winfield
Check Crown Point, Winfield, St. John and other central Lake County communities.
Munster, Dyer and Highland
Search these southern and western Lake County communities as well as Griffith and Schererville.
Porter and LaPorte counties
The Times also publishes notices connected with Valparaiso, Portage, Chesterton, Michigan City and other nearby communities.
Verify the Correct Person Before Sharing a Notice
| Check | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Legal name, middle name, nickname or maiden name | Separates people with similar names. |
| Age and dates | Age, birth year, death date and publication date | Helps prevent confusion with older notices. |
| Family | Spouse, children, parents or siblings | Provides meaningful identity clues. |
| Location | City, neighborhood, school, church or employer | Confirms the correct Northwest Indiana connection. |
| Funeral provider | Funeral-home name and original memorial | Gives a direct source for final arrangements. |
Verify Funeral, Visitation and Cemetery Details
Newspaper notices may be published before every arrangement is finalized. Check the handling funeral home’s memorial shortly before attending.
Visitation
Confirm the date, start/end times and exact venue.
Funeral Mass or service
Check the church, chapel or funeral-home location and whether the event is public.
Burial
Confirm the cemetery and whether a graveside gathering is scheduled.
Livestream
Use a stream supplied by the funeral home, church or authorized family memorial.
Flowers and donations
Follow the family’s approved instructions and verify charities before sending money.
Travel and accessibility
Check parking, venue access, service changes and local weather conditions.
Finding the handling funeral home
The Times obituary platform includes funeral-home listings associated with its published notices. Open an individual notice to identify the provider rather than assuming every local funeral home handled that person’s arrangements.
For example, the platform lists providers including Geisen Funeral Home in Crown Point, Kish Funeral Home in Munster, and Moeller Funeral Home. These are examples of providers appearing in the newspaper directory, not recommendations for a particular family.
How to Submit an Obituary to The Times
The Times obituary pages link to a dedicated obituary publishing portal. Families can also ask the handling funeral home about newspaper submission.
Prepare before opening the publishing portal
- Full legal and preferred name of the deceased.
- Dates of birth and death, when approved for publication.
- Family-approved obituary text.
- Photograph you have permission to publish.
- Visitation, funeral and cemetery details.
- Memorial donation or flower instructions.
- Requested publication timing.
- Billing and contact information.
Lake County Indiana Death Certificate: 2026 Fees and Ordering
Lake County Health Department issues eligible certified records for deaths in Lake County. The county raised its fee to $20 per death certificate effective January 1, 2026.
Indiana Department of Health also offers a statewide mail and online ordering route, with different published fees and processing times.
2026 official fee comparison
| Office / method | Published fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Lake County Health Department | $20 per certified copy | Current county fee effective January 1, 2026. |
| Indiana Department of Health — mail | $8 first copy | State search fee includes one certified copy if the record is found. |
| Additional state mail copy | $4 each | Additional certificates in the same order. |
| Indiana online / phone | State fee plus vendor charges | VitalChek is the state’s authorized online vendor. |
| Indiana state processing | Allow additional time | State ordering pages indicate that death-record processing can take substantially longer than local walk-in service. |
Lake County Health Department — Vital Records
Vital Records Division
2900 West 93rd Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: 219-755-3655
The county provides in-person, mail and official online ordering routes. Confirm current walk-in hours and acceptable payment before visiting.
How to request a Lake County death certificate
Who may request a certified Indiana death certificate?
Indiana requires a direct interest, which can include eligible immediate family relationships or a documented legal or financial interest.
- Qualifying spouse or immediate family members.
- Eligible adult children, siblings or other relatives with required proof.
- Executors, attorneys or other authorized parties with documented interests.
- Qualifying genealogy researchers under the applicable historical-record requirements.
- Funeral directors and authorized agencies under their applicable rules.
Proof requirements vary by relationship. Check the official current application and Indiana Vital Records identification guidance.
What if the person died in Illinois?
The Times may publish an obituary for someone who lived in Indiana but died at a hospital in Chicago or another Illinois location.
In that case, use the Illinois death-record system rather than the Lake County, Indiana Vital Records office. Indiana does not issue death certificates for deaths occurring in another state.
Find Older NWI Times and Hammond Times Obituaries
Lake County Public Library provides one of the most useful historical obituary collections for Northwest Indiana, including newspaper indexes, actual newspaper microfilm and full-text archives.
Available local newspaper indexes
| Newspaper / index | Published coverage |
|---|---|
| The (Hammond) Times | 1929–1934 and 1939–2014 obituary index coverage |
| The Times full-text archive | 1990–current through the library database |
| Gary Post-Tribune | Online obituary index from 1921 onward, with incomplete 1987–1989 indexing |
| Crown Point Register and Star | Marriage and death index, August 1857–December 1934 |
| Lowell Tribune | 1920–2020 |
| Whiting newspaper index | 1919–1965 |
| Lake County Star | Obituaries 1972–1999; other life events in selected earlier years |
How to search an older obituary
Lake County Public Library — Merrillville
1919 West 81st Avenue
Merrillville, IN 46410
Phone: 219-769-3541
Published library hours:
Monday–Thursday: 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday: noon–4 p.m.
The Merrillville branch includes a Genealogy Room with local newspaper microfilm, obituary indexes and other historical research resources.
Free genealogy and library resources
- Search Lake County Public Library obituary indexes online.
- Check the library’s The Times full-text archive.
- Use the Gary Post-Tribune obituary index when the deceased lived in Gary.
- Visit a library location for eligible FamilySearch affiliate access.
- Use NewspaperARCHIVE Library Edition where library access permits.
- Ask library staff whether a historical notice can be copied from microfilm.
Lake County Cemetery and Burial Record Research
Cemetery records can help verify burial dates and family connections when a newspaper notice is missing or incomplete.
Start with the obituary
Look for the exact cemetery name, town, graveside-service details or a mausoleum reference.
Confirm the cemetery
Contact the cemetery office or responsible church or municipality before relying on a copied burial listing.
Use historic genealogy sources
The Indiana State Library’s Lake County research guide includes historical death indexes and references to cemetery resources.
Check nearby counties
The burial may be in Porter County, Illinois or another location even when the funeral appeared in The Times.
Burial-record microsteps
Indiana Burial Assistance for Qualifying Families
Indiana has a Burial Assistance Program for people who were eligible under certain Medicaid categories at the time of death. Additional help may be available through the appropriate township trustee for qualifying low-income or indigent situations.
State Medicaid burial assistance
The program covers specified Indiana Medicaid eligibility categories. It does not apply automatically to every person who received Medicaid.
Funeral home files the claim
Only a funeral home or cemetery representative can file the required state claim form on behalf of the deceased.
90-day filing deadline
The state requires a properly filed claim packet within 90 days of the date of death.
Payment goes to the provider
Approved funds are paid directly to the funeral home or cemetery. Indiana does not reimburse family members through this program.
How to check eligibility
Township trustee funeral or cremation assistance
Indiana township trustees have responsibilities concerning indigent funeral, burial and cremation arrangements under state law. Eligibility and payment limits depend on the facts and the responsible township’s assistance standards.
Microsteps: Determine the deceased person’s Indiana township of residence → contact its trustee → explain the financial circumstances → ask about required documentation and approval before committing to a service.
Lake County Indiana Veterans’ Burial and Survivor Benefits
The Lake County Veterans Service Office helps eligible veterans, dependents and survivors review federal and state benefits, including burial-related claims.
Lake County Veterans Service Office
Building A, Room 100
2293 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: 219-755-3285
Published hours:
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
By appointment only.
The county office helps with eligibility information and benefit applications. It does not have direct access to federal VA computer records.
Possible veteran-related benefits
VA burial allowances
Qualifying survivors may be eligible for certain VA burial or transportation reimbursements.
National cemetery burial
Eligible veterans and certain family members may qualify for national cemetery burial.
Headstones and markers
VA provides qualifying government memorial markers and related benefits.
Military funeral honors
Eligible veterans may receive military funeral honors, coordinated with the funeral director.
Burial flag
A qualifying veteran’s family may request a government burial flag.
Indiana county burial allowance
Indiana provides a county burial allowance application route for qualifying claims. Ask the Veterans Service Office about eligibility.
Documents worth preparing
- DD-214 or another accepted discharge record.
- Death certificate or official proof of death as required.
- Marriage or dependent-status documentation where applicable.
- Funeral and cemetery invoices.
- Information about insurance or benefits already paid.
Verify an Indiana Funeral Home and Understand Price Rights
Indiana’s Professional Licensing Agency provides an official license-verification service for regulated professionals and funeral establishments. The Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule provides additional price protections.
Verify funeral licensing
Use Indiana PLA’s Free Search & Verify service to check the status of the funeral establishment or professional.
Ask for prices by phone
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, covered funeral providers must provide price information by telephone when asked.
Request a General Price List
When discussing arrangements in person, ask for an itemized General Price List to keep.
Choose individual services
Families generally may choose the funeral goods and services they want instead of an unwanted package.
Indiana license verification steps
Can’t Find a Recent NWI Times Obituary?
Try a different name
Search maiden names, middle initials, former surnames, nicknames and alternate spellings.
Widen the publication date
An obituary may appear days or weeks after the death.
Check another city
Try Hammond, Gary, Crown Point, Munster, Hobart, Valparaiso or other connected towns.
Check the funeral home
A funeral-home memorial may appear before a newspaper notice or without newspaper publication.
Use the older Times index
For historical notices, check Hammond Times obituary indexes or full-text newspaper archives.
Respect private arrangements
Some families choose delayed publication, private services or no public notice.
How to Correct an Obituary or Death Certificate
Contact the publisher
Save the obituary URL, identify the error and contact the submitting funeral home or newspaper publishing service. A family-approved correction may be required.
Contact Vital Records
A newspaper correction does not change an Indiana death certificate. Use the official Indiana Vital Records amendment or correction process.
After Finding the Correct Obituary
- Save the full obituary URL and funeral-home memorial.
- Confirm visitation, funeral and burial locations separately.
- Follow family-approved flower and donation instructions.
- Ask institutions which death certificate they require.
- Ask whether the funeral director has notified Social Security.
- Check VA or Indiana burial-assistance eligibility when appropriate.
- Keep receipts, account details, certificates and claims secure.
- Use official sources rather than unexpected payment links.
NWI Times Lake County Obituary FAQs
Where can I find the most recent NWI Times obituaries?
Use The Times of Northwest Indiana’s dedicated Legacy Today or Browse obituary page. Search by name and publication date, then open the complete notice.
How do I search NWI Times obituaries by name?
Open the newspaper-specific search page, enter the first and last name and use available publication-date or location filters. Try the surname alone when necessary.
Does The Times cover all of Lake County, Indiana?
The Times includes obituaries from many Northwest Indiana communities, including Lake County. It also publishes notices connected with other counties and states. Not every local death receives a newspaper obituary.
Can I submit an obituary to The Times?
Yes. The Times obituary page provides a dedicated submission portal. Review current publication options, prices and deadlines before approving the notice.
Where can I find older Hammond Times obituaries?
Lake County Public Library lists Hammond Times obituary indexes covering 1929–1934 and 1939–2014, along with a separate Times full-text archive from 1990 onward.
Does Lake County Public Library have Gary obituaries?
Yes. The library provides a Gary Post-Tribune obituary index beginning in 1921, though indexing for 1987–1989 is incomplete.
How much does a Lake County Indiana death certificate cost?
Lake County Health Department charges $20 per certified death certificate effective January 1, 2026.
How much does Indiana State Vital Records charge for death certificates?
The Indiana Department of Health’s standard mail route lists $8 for the first certificate and $4 for each additional copy in the same order. Online vendors and delivery may add charges.
Where is the Lake County Indiana Vital Records office?
Lake County Health Department Vital Records is at 2900 West 93rd Avenue, Crown Point, IN 46307. The published telephone number is 219-755-3655.
Can anyone request a certified Indiana death certificate?
No. Indiana requires a qualifying direct interest, such as an eligible family relationship or documented legal or financial interest, along with required identification.
Can a Lake County funeral home file for Indiana burial assistance?
Yes. For certain eligible Medicaid categories, a funeral home or cemetery representative files the state burial-assistance claim. It must be filed within 90 days of death, and payment goes to the provider.
Do Indiana township trustees help with funeral costs?
Township trustees have responsibilities for certain indigent funeral, burial and cremation situations. Assistance depends on eligibility, available resources and the responsible township’s standards.
Where can Lake County veterans’ families get burial-benefit help?
Lake County Veterans Service Office assists with federal and state burial-benefit information and applications. Its published telephone number is 219-755-3285, and service is by appointment.
How can I verify an Indiana funeral home’s license?
Use the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Free Search & Verify service to search for funeral establishments and licensed professionals.
What should I confirm before attending a funeral?
Confirm the correct person, visitation date and time, exact venue, funeral or Mass location, cemetery, public/private status and any recent changes with the handling funeral home.
Official and Primary Sources
Before You Share, Travel or Pay
- Use The Times official obituary listings first.
- Confirm the correct person and Northwest Indiana community.
- Verify service details through the handling funeral home.
- Use the appropriate county or state office for death certificates.
- Check 2026 record fees before paying.
- Use Lake County Public Library for historic obituary research.
- Review burial assistance early when finances are limited.
- Verify veteran benefits and funeral licensing when applicable.
- Keep private medical and financial information secure.
RecentObituaries.info is an independent obituary research and source-navigation guide. It is not affiliated with The Times of Northwest Indiana, Legacy, Lake County Government, Indiana Department of Health, Lake County Public Library, a funeral home, cemetery or government benefit program.
Obituary availability, funeral arrangements, record fees and eligibility rules may change. Confirm final information directly with the organization responsible.