Vital Records & Certificates in Elizabethtown, KentuckyHardin County Clerk’s Office

Elizabethtown’s proximity to Fort Knox means military families frequently need birth certificates for dependent ID cards, marriage licenses for base chapel ceremonies, and death certificates for veteran burial benefits. The city’s growing population also requires these documents for school enrollment at Elizabethtown Independent Schools, passport applications for international travel, and real estate transactions in popular neighborhoods throughout Hardin County.

Elizabethtown residents obtain birth certificates through the Hardin County Clerk’s Office at 150 N Provident Way, Suite 103. Children born at Hardin Memorial Hospital, Baptist Health Hardin, or Signature HealthCARE facilities have their birth records maintained by the county clerk. Kentucky charges $10 for the first certified copy and $6 for each additional copy requested simultaneously. Military families stationed at Fort Knox particularly rely on these services for dependent ID cards and base access. The clerk’s office processes most requests within 24-48 hours for walk-in customers, while mail requests typically require 5-7 business days. Staff members are well-versed in military family needs and often accommodate urgent requests for PCS moves and deployment preparations.

Couples planning weddings in Elizabethtown visit the Hardin County Clerk’s Office for marriage licenses, whether celebrating at the elegant Brown-Pusey House, Freeman Lake Park’s pavilion, or one of the many churches along Dixie Avenue. Kentucky requires a three-day waiting period from license application to ceremony, though this can be waived by a judge for military deployments. The license fee is $35 and remains valid for 30 days after the waiting period expires. Many Fort Knox military couples appreciate the clerk’s understanding of deployment schedules and assistance with expedited processing when circumstances require immediate ceremonies before overseas assignments.

Death certificates for Elizabethtown residents are issued by the Hardin County Clerk’s Office for deaths occurring within the county, including those at local hospitals and nursing facilities. Certified copies cost $10 each and are essential for insurance claims, veteran benefits, and estate matters. The office maintains close coordination with funeral homes like Brown Funeral Home and Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home to ensure smooth processing for grieving families. Military families often need multiple copies for various federal benefits and base housing arrangements, which the clerk’s office readily accommodates with expedited service when needed.

Divorce decree copies are available from the Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk in Elizabethtown’s courthouse on Public Square. The court maintains records for all divorces finalized in Hardin County, with certified copies costing $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Local attorneys often recommend obtaining multiple copies immediately after decree finalization, as these documents are frequently needed for remarriage licenses, military benefit changes, and property transfers. The courthouse staff can search records using case numbers or party names and dates of divorce proceedings.

The Hardin County Clerk’s Office at 150 N Provident Way, Suite 103, operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with extended hours until 6:00 PM on Thursdays. Parking is available in the government complex lot, and the office is easily accessible from Dixie Avenue. The clerk accepts cash, personal checks, money orders, and credit cards. For military families at Fort Knox, the office offers expedited processing for PCS moves and emergency situations. Mail orders are accepted with proper documentation and payment, typically processed within one week of receipt.

From downtown Elizabethtown, take Dixie Avenue north to Ring Road, turn left, then right on N Provident Way. The Hardin County government complex is clearly marked with ample parking.