Tinley Park Obituary Records
Tinley Park obituary records come from two county clerk offices because this village spans Cook County and Will County. Most of Tinley Park sits in Cook County, but parts extend into Will County. Which clerk holds the death record depends on where the person actually died. With about 54,800 residents, Tinley Park is a mid-size southwest suburb. You can search for death records online through VitalChek, by mail, or at either county clerk office. Knowing which county to contact is the first step to getting an obituary record for a Tinley Park resident.
Tinley Park Quick Facts
Cook County Clerk and Tinley Park Deaths
The larger portion of Tinley Park falls in Cook County. Deaths that occur on the Cook County side are filed with the Cook County Clerk. Karen A. Yarbrough is the County Clerk. Her office is at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, in the Cook County Building in Chicago. You can reach the office by phone at (866) 252-8974. The fax number is (866) 550-1846. For full details on ordering, check the Cook County death certificates page.
Cook County charges $19 for the first certified copy and $4 for each one after that. Genealogical copies for deaths more than 20 years old cost $10 for the first and $2 for extras. Online orders through VitalChek add a $10 service fee plus shipping. In-person visits work during office hours. Bring a valid photo ID to get Tinley Park death records right away from the Cook County office.
| Office | Cook County Clerk 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120 Chicago, IL 60602 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (866) 252-8974 |
| Website | cookcountyil.gov |
Will County Clerk and Tinley Park
The southern part of Tinley Park extends into Will County. Deaths that happen on the Will County side are filed with the Will County Clerk. Lauren Staley serves as clerk. Her office is at 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet. The phone number is (815) 740-4615. You can also email requests to vitalrecords@willcounty.gov. The Will County death certificates page covers the full process.
Will County fees are a bit different from Cook County. The first certified copy costs $16, and additional copies cost $8 each. Walk-in, mail, email, and online ordering through VitalChek are all accepted. You need a valid ID for any request. Will County accepts a driver's license from any US state, a US passport, a foreign passport, military ID, or a naturalization certificate. If you do not have a photo ID, you can bring two other forms of ID such as a utility bill and an insurance card.
The Will County death certificates page above shows the process Tinley Park residents use when the death occurred on the Will County side of the village.
Note: Social Security cards are not accepted as valid ID by the Will County Clerk.
Who Can Access Tinley Park Death Records
Illinois law governs access to death records no matter which county holds them. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, only certain people can get a certified copy. Family members qualify. That includes a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. The informant on the certificate can also request a copy. Legal representatives working on an estate need court papers. Anyone with a personal or property right interest may request a record, but the clerk may ask for proof of that interest.
Genealogical copies are available under 410 ILCS 535/24 for deaths more than 20 years old. These come on plain paper without a seal. They are for research only. Both Cook County and Will County follow the same state rules on who can access Tinley Park obituary records. Under 5 ILCS 140/7, the Freedom of Information Act does not cover vital records. A FOIA request will not work for getting death certificates.
State Obituary Records for Tinley Park
The Illinois Department of Public Health is a backup source for Tinley Park death records. IDPH holds records from 1916 to the present for all of Illinois. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702. Call (217) 782-6554 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. Mail processing takes about 12 weeks, which is much slower than going through Cook or Will County directly.
Under 410 ILCS 535/18, every death in Illinois must be registered within seven days. The funeral director handles the filing. The physician completes the medical part within 48 hours. This is how every death in Tinley Park enters the official system, regardless of which county side it falls on. For urgent needs, the IDPH expedited request page explains the process. You need proof of immediate need and a prepaid overnight return envelope.
Historical records are available through the Illinois State Archives death index for 1916 to 1972. FamilySearch has additional records from that era. Local libraries in Tinley Park may hold newspaper obituary clipping files that cover older deaths in the area.
Note: If you are not sure which county side of Tinley Park the death took place on, contact both clerk offices to check.
Tinley Park County Obituary Records
Tinley Park spans two counties. Death records for the Cook County portion are handled by the Cook County Clerk, while Will County handles the rest. Visit either county page for more details on fees, procedures, and historical records.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Tinley Park have obituary record pages with local details for their areas.