Des Plaines Obituary Records
Des Plaines obituary records are held by the Cook County Clerk in Chicago. With close to 59,000 residents, Des Plaines is one of the many suburbs in northwest Cook County that relies on the county clerk for all vital records. Death certificates for anyone who died in Des Plaines are filed and stored through the Cook County system. You can search for these records online through VitalChek, send a mail request, or visit the Cook County Building in person. This guide explains the full process for getting a Des Plaines obituary record.
Des Plaines Quick Facts
Cook County Clerk and Des Plaines Obituary
Des Plaines does not run its own vital records office. Like every suburb in Cook County, the Cook County Clerk handles death certificates. Karen A. Yarbrough is the current clerk. The main office is at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, in Chicago. From Des Plaines, that is about 18 miles south by car or a Metra ride on the UP-Northwest line into downtown.
The clerk keeps death records for events in the past 20 years. For older deaths, genealogical copies may be on file. The Cook County death certificates page covers the full process. You can call (866) 252-8974 to ask questions or place a phone order through VitalChek. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, certified copies cost $19 for the first and $4 for each extra. Genealogical copies are $10 and $2 after. These fees apply to all Des Plaines obituary record requests.
| Office | Cook County Clerk 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120 Chicago, IL 60602 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (866) 252-8974 |
| Fax | (866) 550-1846 |
| Website | cookcountyil.gov |
Note: Des Plaines residents can reach the Cook County Building via Metra or I-90 to avoid traffic on local roads.
How to Search Des Plaines Death Records
You have three options for getting Des Plaines obituary records. Online, mail, and in person all work. The right choice depends on how fast you need the record and how much you want to spend.
Online is what most Des Plaines residents pick. VitalChek handles Cook County orders. You fill out their form, pay with a credit card, and the death certificate arrives by mail. The base fee from Cook County is $19. VitalChek adds about $10. Shipping is extra. Total for one certified copy from Des Plaines runs about $29 to $40. Phone orders go through the same VitalChek line at (866) 252-8974. Both work from home.
Mailing a request is the lowest cost option. Write to the Cook County Clerk at 118 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60602. Include the full name of the person who died, the date of death, your relationship, a copy of your photo ID, and a check for $19 payable to the Cook County Clerk. Allow a few weeks for them to process it and mail back the copy. This avoids the VitalChek fee for Des Plaines obituary records.
In-person visits give you the record the same day. Go to Room 120 at the Cook County Building. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff search and print right there. It is the fastest way to get a Des Plaines death record when you need it urgently. The office hours are standard weekday business hours.
Des Plaines Obituary Fees and Services
Fees for Des Plaines death records follow the Cook County rate. Certified copies are $19 for the first and $4 for extras. Genealogical copies, available for deaths 20 or more years old, cost $10 for the first and $2 each after. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the state sets a search fee of $10 per name for each five-year block. If the clerk does not find a record, you may still owe this fee.
The Cook County death certificates portal shows full pricing and has links to the VitalChek order form for Des Plaines residents.
From this page you can download a mail-in form, check what ID you need, and find phone numbers for the clerk office. Des Plaines residents follow the same steps as any other Cook County city.
VitalChek orders carry extra costs. Beyond the county fee, there is a $10 convenience charge and shipping. Paying by mail avoids most of these extras, but the trade-off is a longer wait for your Des Plaines obituary record. The Cook County vital records portal also gives a broader view of all services the clerk provides.
This portal covers birth, death, marriage, and civil union records all in one place. It is a useful starting point if you need more than just a death certificate from Cook County.
Who Can Get Des Plaines Death Records
Illinois restricts access to death certificates. Not everyone can get a copy. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, you need a personal or property right interest. For Des Plaines obituary records, close family members have priority. Spouses, parents, children, and siblings can all request a certified copy. The informant named on the certificate qualifies too. Legal reps and estate executors need court documents.
People with a financial interest may also qualify, but the Cook County Clerk may ask for proof. Insurance companies and attorneys sometimes need Des Plaines death records and can make requests through the proper channels. Genealogical researchers get uncertified copies only, and only for deaths that are 20 or more years old. These come on plain paper without a raised seal. They work for family history and nothing more. A valid government photo ID is needed for every request, whether online, mail, or in person.
The 5 ILCS 140 Freedom of Information Act exempts vital records. FOIA cannot be used to obtain Des Plaines obituary records from Cook County.
State Records for Des Plaines Obituary
When Cook County does not have the record, the Illinois Department of Public Health may. IDPH in Springfield keeps death records for the whole state from 1916 on. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702. Call (217) 782-6554 during business hours. Mail requests take around 12 weeks. For Des Plaines obituary records, Cook County is almost always faster.
The Illinois State Archives death index from 1916 to 1972 is a free online search tool. You can confirm a record exists and get a certificate number. Then order the full copy from IDPH or Cook County. Under 410 ILCS 535/18, all Des Plaines deaths must be registered within seven days. The funeral director files the certificate with the local registrar, and the record moves to both the county and state systems.
The Des Plaines Public Library maintains local history resources that may include newspaper obituary archives. These can add context beyond what the official death certificate provides. For Des Plaines deaths before 1916, the state archives and genealogical societies may have records that predate the modern vital records system.
Cook County Obituary Records
Des Plaines is in Cook County, and all death certificates go through the Cook County Clerk office in Chicago. The county serves over 5.2 million people across the city and suburbs. For more details on Cook County obituary records, fees, and archive resources, check the full county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Des Plaines also have obituary record pages with details on searching for death certificates.