Find Chicago Obituary Records
Chicago obituary records can be found through Cook County and state sources. The Cook County Clerk's Office at 118 N. Clark Street handles death certificates for all of Chicago. With over 2.7 million residents, Chicago produces a large volume of death records each year. You can search for obituary records from Chicago through county offices, the Illinois Department of Public Health, or historical archives that go back more than a century. The process depends on how old the record is and what type of copy you need.
Chicago Quick Facts
Chicago Obituary Records at Cook County
Death records in Chicago are not kept by the city itself. They are maintained by the Cook County Clerk's Office. This is the main place to get a death certificate for someone who died in Chicago. The office has records for deaths that took place in Chicago and all of suburban Cook County within the last 20 years. For older records, you may need to go through the state or use genealogical sources.
| Office | Cook County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120 Chicago, IL 60602 |
| Phone | (866) 252-8974 |
| Website | cookcountyil.gov/service/death-certificates |
The Cook County Clerk serves the largest county in Illinois. Cook County has more than 5.2 million people, and Chicago makes up about half of that total. Karen A. Yarbrough is the current Cook County Clerk. Her office handles all vital records, including death certificates for Chicago residents. You can order copies online through VitalChek or visit the office in person during business hours. Online orders go through VitalChek, which charges an extra service fee on top of the base cost.
Note: Death records in Illinois are not public records and are only available to those with a personal or property right interest.
How to Get Death Records in Chicago
There are a few ways to get obituary and death records in Chicago. The right method depends on your situation. If you need a certified copy fast, visiting the Cook County Clerk in person may be best. If you have time, mail works fine. Online ordering through VitalChek is the most convenient option for people who can't visit Chicago in person.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is the state agency that keeps death records from 1916 to the present. You can request a certified copy by mail for $19 for the first copy and $4 for each extra copy. The IDPH office is in Springfield at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702. Keep in mind that mail requests to the state take about 12 weeks to process. That is a long wait, so the Cook County Clerk may be a faster route for Chicago deaths.
To request a death record from Chicago, you need to fill out the Application for Search of Death Record Files. You must include a valid government-issued photo ID. Under the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), only certain people can get death records. Family members, legal reps, and those with a property right interest qualify. The form asks for the full name of the deceased, date of death, and your relationship to them.
For genealogical copies of Chicago obituary records, the rules are a bit different. Death records that are 20 or more years old can be obtained as uncertified copies for research. The fee is $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional one. These copies cannot be used for legal purposes but work well for family history research. The Illinois State Archives has a death index from 1916 to 1972 that you can search online for free.
Cook County Death Certificate Portal
The Cook County government website has a page for ordering death certificates. You can view the Cook County death certificates page to learn about fees, required documents, and ordering options for Chicago obituary records.
The page lists who can order copies and what forms of ID are accepted. It also has links to the VitalChek ordering system for online requests from Chicago.
Chicago Death Record Fees
Fees for death certificates in Chicago depend on where you order. The Cook County Clerk charges fees that may differ slightly from the state rate. Through VitalChek, you pay the base fee plus an extra $10 service fee and optional shipping charges. The state rate through IDPH is $19 for a certified copy.
Here is what you can expect to pay for Chicago obituary records:
- Certified copy (state): $19 first, $4 each additional
- Genealogical copy (state): $10 first, $2 each additional
- VitalChek online: Base fee plus $10 service fee
- UPS shipping (optional): $22
If you are ordering through the Cook County Clerk in person, call ahead at (866) 252-8974 to confirm the current fee. Cash, check, or money order are common payment methods for in-person requests in Chicago. Credit cards may be accepted for VitalChek orders only. The IDPH death certificate request page has full details on what the state charges and how to pay by mail.
Historical Obituary Records in Chicago
Chicago has a long history, and finding older obituary records takes some extra steps. The state began keeping death records in 1916. Before that, records were kept locally, and many have been transferred to the Illinois State Archives in Springfield. The Archives holds death certificates from 1916 to 1972 in a searchable online index. Records older than 50 years may also be available at the Archives for genealogical research under 410 ILCS 535/24.
The Cook County vital records portal can help you find information about what the county holds. For deaths that happened in Chicago before 1916, you may need to contact the Cook County Clerk directly or check with the Illinois State Archives. Some of these older records are fragile and may take time to locate. The Archives is at the Margaret Cross Norton Building in the Capitol Complex in Springfield, and their phone number is (217) 782-4866.
Newspaper obituaries are another way to learn about deaths in Chicago. Many Chicago newspapers have been digitized and are available through libraries and online databases. The Chicago Public Library has archives of the Chicago Tribune and other papers. These can supplement official death records with details about a person's life, funeral, and surviving family. For genealogical research into Chicago obituary records, combining official certificates with newspaper archives gives you the most complete picture.
Note: The Illinois State Archives death index covers 1916 to 1972 and is free to search online.
Who Can Get Chicago Death Records
Illinois law limits who can access death records. This applies to all Chicago obituary records. Under the Vital Records Act, death certificates are not public records. They are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act either, as stated in 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a). Only people with a qualifying relationship or interest can get a copy.
You can request a Chicago death certificate if you are a family member of the deceased. That means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. You need a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. If you don't have a photo ID, you can use three forms of ID that show your current name and address. Legal representatives with proper documentation can also request records. If you have a property right interest, like needing the record for a will or insurance claim, you must show proof of that interest. A court order also works if none of the other options apply to you.
Cook County Obituary Records
Chicago is the county seat of Cook County. All death certificates and obituary records for Chicago go through the Cook County Clerk. The county handles vital records for over 130 municipalities. For more details on Cook County offices, fees, and related resources, visit the full county page.
Nearby Illinois Cities
These qualifying cities near Chicago also have obituary record information available. Each city's death records are handled by their respective county clerk's office.