Waukegan Obituary Lookup
Waukegan obituary records are handled by the Lake County Clerk's Office. Waukegan is the county seat of Lake County and home to about 89,000 residents. The Lake County Clerk's office is located right in Waukegan at the county courthouse, making it easy for residents to visit in person. Lake County has death records from 1877 to the present, giving the county one of the oldest vital records collections in northeastern Illinois.
Waukegan Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk for Waukegan Records
The Lake County Clerk is the office that holds Waukegan obituary records. Anthony Vega serves as the Lake County Clerk. The office is at the County Court House, 18 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085. Since Waukegan is the county seat, you don't have to travel to another city to get death certificates. The clerk's office is right in town.
| Office | Lake County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 North County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Phone | (847) 377-2411 |
| Fax | (847) 360-3608 |
| Website | lakecountyil.gov/378/Vital-Records |
Lake County has death records from 1877 to the present. The clerk offers certified and genealogical copies. Online ordering is available through VitalChek. Contact the county at (847) 377-2411 to check current fees before making a visit. Lake County is one of the most populated counties in Illinois with over 714,000 residents, and the clerk's office in Waukegan serves all of them.
How to Get Waukegan Death Records
To request a death certificate for someone who died in Waukegan, go to the Lake County Clerk's office or submit a request by mail or online. You need the deceased person's full name, date of death, and your relationship to them. A valid photo ID is required.
Under the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), only people with a qualifying connection can get death records. Relatives, legal representatives, and those with a property right interest qualify. Genealogical copies are available for deaths 20 or more years old. Uncertified copies for genealogy research cost $4 according to the Lake County fee schedule, which is one of the lower rates in the state. That makes Lake County a good place for researchers looking for Waukegan obituary records.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is another option. The state keeps death records from 1916 to the present. The fee is $19 for a certified copy with about 12 weeks processing time. Urgent requests through overnight delivery can be processed in 5 to 7 business days with proof of immediate need. VitalChek handles online orders for both the county and the state.
Note: Lake County genealogical copies are available for $4, making it one of the most affordable options in Illinois.
Lake County Vital Records Page
The Lake County government website has a vital records section with information for Waukegan residents. Check the Lake County vital records page for current fees and ordering instructions.
This page covers birth, death, marriage, and civil union records. It explains the types of copies available and lists the genealogical record rules for different age thresholds. Waukegan residents can use this page to prepare their request before visiting the courthouse or submitting by mail.
Lake County Death Records Details
Lake County also has a page focused just on death records. The Lake County death records page has specific information for requesting death certificates in Waukegan and the rest of the county.
The death records page goes into more detail about who can order copies, what eligibility rules apply, and the distinction between certified and genealogical copies. For Waukegan obituary records specifically, this is the most targeted source of information on the Lake County website.
Waukegan Obituary Genealogical Research
Lake County's death records go back to 1877, making it a strong resource for genealogical research in the Waukegan area. The county offers genealogical copies at reduced prices for records that meet age thresholds. Death records 20 or more years old are available as uncertified copies. Birth records need to be 75 years old. Marriage licenses must be 50 years old.
The Illinois State Archives death index is a free online tool covering 1916 to 1972. You can search by name to find basic details about deaths in Waukegan during that period. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, records older than 50 years may be available at the Archives in Springfield for research. The Archives building is at the Capitol Complex, and the phone number is (217) 782-4866.
Local resources help fill in the gaps. The Waukegan Public Library has local history collections and may have newspaper obituary archives. The Waukegan News-Sun and other local publications published death notices for decades, and many of these have been digitized. Combining official death certificates with newspaper obituaries gives a more complete view of a person's life and death in Waukegan.
Illinois Law on Waukegan Death Records
Death records in Waukegan fall under Illinois state law. Under 410 ILCS 535/18, each death must be registered by filing a certificate with the local registrar within seven days. The funeral director is responsible for filing the completed certificate. The attending physician completes the medical certification within 48 hours. These rules create the official record that the Lake County Clerk stores for Waukegan deaths.
Access to death records is limited under 410 ILCS 535/24. They are not public records. The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to them per 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a). Only people with a qualifying connection can get copies. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the state search fee is $10 per name for a five-year period, with $1 for each additional year. Fee waivers are available for victims of domestic violence who have a certification letter. These provisions apply to all Waukegan obituary records.
Lake County Obituary Records
Waukegan is the county seat of Lake County. The Lake County Clerk at 18 North County Street handles death certificates for all of Lake County, which has over 714,000 residents. For a full overview of Lake County obituary resources, fees, and offices, visit the county page.
Nearby Illinois Cities
Nearby Illinois cities with obituary record resources through their county clerk offices.