-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CydhncWSR2QgQIEiacLUwnt9uMy2duGIWgBHUAeyZhxHoIXNMsNY38uspQANn5yT
 eEn1LJpbXJesIWe6FYaBQw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017636-10-000001.txt : 20100111
<SEC-HEADER>0001017636-10-000001.hdr.sgml : 20100111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100111133306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017636-10-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100111
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100111

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHAPIRO NATHAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017636

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05534
		FILM NUMBER:		10519683

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		STREET 2:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009346
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				350160330
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 N MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3176369800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BALDWIN H C AGENCY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720309
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009346</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDWIN &amp; LYONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BWINA / B</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017636</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAPIRO NATHAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>799 CENTRAL AVENUE, SUITE 350</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HIGHLAND PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60635</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>142687</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>237187</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Various</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>755009</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Various</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>136932</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>613125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Various</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1817140</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Various</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to sell (put)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.25</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1981-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class B Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>187500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>187500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to sell (put)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.25</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1981-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>46875</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46875</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Owned by (a) New Horizons, Inc., (42,750 shares of Class A and 32,000 shares of class B) of which the undersigned is controlling stockholder; (b) Illinois Diversified, (21,375 shares of Class A and 85,500 shares of Class B) a general partnership as to which beneficial ownership is held by the undersigned; and (c) NS Associates, Inc., (173,062 shares of Class A and 495,625 shares of Class B) of which the undersigned is the controlling shareholder.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">All puts are exercisable at any time at 90% of the Company's most recently published quarterly book value prior to the date of exercise.  These rights have no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Owned by (a) Gelbart Fur Dressers (not Inc.), (178,500 shares of Class A and 714,000 shares of Class B) and Jay Ell Company (not Inc.), (41,250 shares of Class A and 165,000 shares of Class B) limited partnerships; (b) Diversified Enterprises (not Inc.), (178,125 shares of Class A and 559,500 shares of Class B) a general partnership; (c)  Shapiro Family L.P. - Gift Share (353,250 shares of Class A and 360,875 shares of Class B); (d) The Lester and Edna Shapiro Foundation (17,765 shares of Class B) and (e) Emlin Cosmetics, Inc. (3,884 shares of Class A).   Beneficial ownership is shared by the undersigned and other family members for all shares owned by these entities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">No price was entered as the transaction is a bona fide gift and is exempt under Section 16(b).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>G. Patrick Corydon on behalf of Nathan Shapiro under power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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