Search Franklin County Obituary

Franklin County obituary records are held by the County Clerk in Benton and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Searching for a death certificate or looking up an older obituary in Franklin County means working with one of these two offices. The county has about 37,800 residents in southern Illinois. Benton is the county seat, and the clerk there handles death record requests for all of Franklin County, from Benton to West Frankfort, Christopher, and Sesser.

Franklin County Clerk Obituary Services

Paris Dunk is the Franklin County Clerk. The office is in Benton at the county courthouse and you can call (618) 435-9800 for death record inquiries. This is the local office that handles all death certificates for deaths occurring within Franklin County.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID and the full name of the person whose obituary record you need. Having the date of death on hand helps the clerk find the file faster. Certified copies cost $19 for the first and $4 for additional copies ordered at the same time. These carry the county seal and work for estate settlements, insurance claims, and other legal needs. Franklin County obituary records going back many years are on file at the Benton office.

Franklin County has several communities, and all of their death records go through the same clerk office. Whether the death occurred in Benton, West Frankfort, Christopher, or Sesser, the Franklin County Clerk is the local source.

State Death Records for Franklin County

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains Franklin County death records from 1916 to the present. Mail requests cost $19 for a certified copy and take about 12 weeks to process. You send the application form, your ID, and payment to IDPH in Springfield.

Online ordering through VitalChek adds a $15 handling fee but is faster. For deaths that happened in Franklin County, the local clerk in Benton is usually the quicker path. The state is the better choice when you are not sure which county the death was registered in. IDPH can search the full Illinois database.

Note: Genealogical copies for Franklin County deaths 20 or more years old cost $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional.

Finding Franklin County Death Records

For deaths between 1916 and 1972, the Illinois State Archives death index is a free online tool. Search by name and get certificate numbers for older Franklin County obituary records. This is a strong starting point for genealogical research.

For more recent Franklin County deaths, call the clerk at (618) 435-9800 or visit the Benton courthouse. In-person visits are fastest. Fill out the form, show ID, and pay the fee. The clerk searches and can print copies during your visit. The IDPH request page has the application form for state-level mail requests.

Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the state registrar charges $10 per name for a five-year search. Additional years cost $1 each. This separate search fee applies on top of the copy fee when ordering Franklin County obituary records from the state.

The screenshot below shows the IDPH information portal where Franklin County residents can learn about the death record request process.

That page covers eligibility, fees, processing times, and the types of copies available for Franklin County death records.

Franklin County Death Record Eligibility

Illinois law restricts who can get death records. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, only people with a personal or property right interest can receive certified copies. For Franklin County, this includes family members, legal representatives, estate executors, and people named in court orders. You must show valid ID and explain your connection to the deceased.

Genealogical copies for deaths older than 20 years have broader eligibility. These cost less and come on plain paper. They work for family history research but cannot be used for legal matters. Under 5 ILCS 140/7, vital records are exempt from FOIA, so you cannot use a public records request to get a Franklin County death certificate.

Franklin County Death Registration

Under 410 ILCS 535/18, every death in Franklin County must be registered within seven days. The funeral director files the death certificate with the local registrar. The physician or coroner certifies the cause of death within 48 hours. The completed certificate goes to both the county and state level.

This dual filing system has been in place since 1916. Franklin County obituary records from that date forward are available at both the Benton clerk office and through IDPH. For older records before 1916, local church files, cemetery records, and historical societies in the Benton and West Frankfort area may have useful information for researchers.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County includes Benton, West Frankfort, Christopher, Sesser, and Zeigler. All death records for these communities are filed through the Franklin County Clerk office in Benton. None of these cities maintain separate vital records offices.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Franklin County. Check their offices if you need to find death records from a neighboring area.