Search Illinois Obituary Records
Illinois obituary records are maintained by county clerk offices and the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state has death records going back to 1916. Each of the 102 counties in Illinois keeps its own vital records at the county clerk office. You can search for Illinois obituary records online, by mail, or in person at local offices across the state. The IDPH Division of Vital Records in Springfield processes statewide death certificate requests. The Illinois State Archives holds a searchable death index from 1916 for those doing genealogical research. Whether you need a recent death certificate or an older obituary record, Illinois offers several ways to search and obtain copies.
Illinois Obituary Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Illinois Obituary Records
The Illinois Department of Public Health is the main state agency for obituary records in Illinois. IDPH keeps death records for all deaths that took place in Illinois from January 1916 to now. The office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Call (217) 782-6554 for help. Staff take calls from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. You can also email DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov with questions about Illinois obituary records.
The IDPH Division of Vital Records page has full details on how to request death certificates in Illinois. Death records here are not public records. They are only available to people who have a personal or property right interest with the deceased. Property right means something tangible, like a car title or a property deed. This is a key fact to know before you start your search for Illinois obituary records.
This portal from IDPH covers the basics of requesting death certificates and obituary records in Illinois.
County clerk offices are the other main source for Illinois obituary records. Each county has a clerk who keeps local death records. Under 410 ILCS 535/18, every death in Illinois must be filed with the local registrar within 7 days. The funeral director files the death certificate. The attending physician signs the medical section within 48 hours. These records then go to both the county clerk and the state. For many people in Illinois, the county clerk is a faster option than IDPH. Mail requests to the state can take up to 12 weeks. A county clerk may have your obituary record ready in just a few days.
Note: Illinois vital records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a).
How to Search Illinois Death Records
There are four ways to get death records in Illinois. Mail is the most common. Send a check or money order to IDPH with a completed Application for Search of Death Record Files. You must include a valid photo ID. The IDPH records request page shows what forms you need and what to send when you request Illinois obituary records. Processing takes about 12 weeks from the time IDPH gets your paperwork. You will not get an update during that wait.
The records request page walks you through each step to get Illinois death certificates from the state.
Online ordering goes through VitalChek. This is the official third-party provider for Illinois obituary records. You need a major credit card. VitalChek adds a $15 handling fee on top of the state cost. UPS shipping is $22 extra. They accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.
VitalChek is the fastest online way to order Illinois death certificates without visiting an office.
You can also fax requests to 217-523-2648. Genealogical requests must come in writing. In-person visits work at the IDPH Springfield office and at your local county clerk. The state office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Bring your ID and payment. You may also contact the county clerk where the death took place for Illinois obituary records.
If your request is urgent, send it through an overnight delivery service. Include proof of immediate need and a prepaid return envelope. IDPH processes urgent Illinois obituary record requests within 5 to 7 business days for certified copies, or 15 business days for corrections. Proof of immediate need includes travel plans within 30 days, a letter stating the urgent need, insurance company correspondence, or an immigration agency notice.
Types of Illinois Obituary Certificates
Illinois offers two main types of death certificate copies. A certified copy is good for all legal uses. You can use it to settle an estate, claim a will, or handle insurance matters. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the State Registrar will search Illinois records on written request. The fee covers a five-year search per name. An uncertified copy is for genealogical use only and comes on plain paper. You can only get uncertified copies of Illinois obituary records for deaths that happened 20 or more years ago. Research copies are also available at $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional one.
The IDPH researchers page explains two methods for academic access to Illinois obituary records. Both methods need IRB approval.
Researchers requesting Illinois obituary records must submit an NDI Death Certificate Request Form along with their protocol and IRB approval. If IDPH denies the application, they return your payment. Under 410 ILCS 535/25.1, when the State Registrar gets a death certificate, a notation goes on the birth record too. Birth certificates of deceased people in Illinois are stamped with the date of death.
Illinois Obituary Record Fees
Fees for Illinois obituary records depend on the type of copy. A certified death certificate from IDPH costs $19 for the first copy. Each extra copy in the same order is $4. Genealogical copies cost $10 for the first and $2 for each additional one. These are the state rates for Illinois obituary records.
VitalChek adds its own charges on top. The handling fee is $15. UPS delivery costs $22 more if you want it. County clerk offices in Illinois set their own rates for death certificates. Most counties charge between $16 and $29 for a first certified copy. Additional copies run $6 to $13 each. Genealogical copies at the county level cost $4 to $10 on average for Illinois obituary records. For example, Will County charges $16 for the first copy and $8 for extras. Kane County charges $20 for the first and $10 for each additional. Sangamon County is $29 for the first certified copy of a death record. These rates show the range across Illinois.
Fee waivers exist under 410 ILCS 535/25 for Illinois obituary records. Victims of domestic violence who have a certification letter can get fees waived. Organizations chartered by Congress that verify deaths pay no fee.
Note: County fees for Illinois obituary records vary, so always check with the local clerk for current rates before you send payment.
Who Can Get Obituary Records in Illinois
Not everyone can get death records in Illinois. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, access to Illinois obituary records is restricted. Death certificates are not public documents. They are exempt from FOIA. Only people with a direct connection to the deceased can request them.
Family members can request Illinois obituary records. You need a valid government photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include:
- Illinois driver's license or state ID
- U.S. passport
- Military ID
- U.S. naturalization certificate
If you have no photo ID, you can show three forms of identification with your current name and address. A voter registration card, W-2, bank statement, utility bill, or vehicle registration will work. Your ID must be readable and not expired, or IDPH will return your request unprocessed. Legal representatives can also get Illinois obituary records. Those with a personal or property right interest must provide documentation as proof. A court order also grants access to death records in Illinois.
Illinois Archives Death Index
The Illinois State Archives holds historical obituary records. Their death certificates database covers 1916 to 1972. You can search the index online by name at no cost. The archives are at the Margaret Cross Norton Building on the Capitol Complex in Springfield, IL 62756. Call (217) 782-4866 for help with Illinois death records.
Records 50 or more years old may be available for genealogical research. The pre-1916 statewide death index covers even older Illinois obituary records. FamilySearch also has Illinois deaths and stillbirths from 1916 to 1947 that you can search for free. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, indexes of Illinois death records prior to January 1, 1916 are available for genealogical research without the same access restrictions that apply to newer records.
You can find your county clerk through the IACCR directory to check what local obituary records they hold in Illinois.
The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders lists contact details for all 102 county clerk offices across the state. This is a helpful starting point when you need local Illinois obituary records.
Browse Illinois Obituary Records by County
Each county in Illinois has a clerk who keeps death records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for obituary records in that area.
Obituary Records in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major Illinois cities get death certificates from their county clerk office. Pick a city below to learn about obituary records in that area of Illinois.