Find Kankakee County Obituary Records
Kankakee County obituary records and death certificates are available through the county clerk office in Kankakee, Illinois. Located about 60 miles south of Chicago, this county has over 107,000 residents. The county clerk handles all vital record requests including death certificates for families and legal representatives. You can search for obituary records at the local level or through the Illinois Department of Public Health. This guide walks you through the process, fees, and requirements for getting death records from Kankakee County.
Kankakee County Quick Facts
Kankakee County Clerk Obituary Records
The Kankakee County Clerk office is the local authority for death certificates. The clerk handles all vital records for the county, including death, birth, and marriage records. You can visit the office in person or submit a request by mail. The Kankakee County vital records page has details about services and requirements.
To get a death certificate from Kankakee County, bring your photo ID and the details of the deceased. You will need the full name and an approximate date of death. The clerk looks up the record and issues a certified copy with a raised seal if you qualify. Certified copies are valid for legal purposes like estate settlement, insurance claims, and property transfers. Contact the clerk office for current fees. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the county issues copies to immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a personal or property right interest.
| Office | Kankakee County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Location | Kankakee, IL |
| Website | kankakeecountyclerk.gov - Vital Records |
Searching Kankakee County Death Records
You have several options for finding obituary records in Kankakee County. The best choice depends on when the death occurred and what type of record you need.
For recent deaths, the Kankakee County Clerk is the most direct source. Walk-in requests are usually processed the same day. For deaths anywhere in Illinois from 1916 to the present, you can also go through the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state charges $19 for a certified copy and $10 for a genealogical copy. Mail requests take about 12 weeks. Online ordering is available through VitalChek with a credit card and extra handling fees.
The Illinois State Archives death index is free and covers deaths from 1916 to 1972. You can search by name and find the date, county, and certificate number for Kankakee County deaths in that range. This is a useful starting point for genealogical research before ordering a full certificate.
Note: The Kankakee area has local newspapers that published obituary notices. The Kankakee Public Library and local historical society may have archives of these publications for deeper research.
Kankakee County Obituary Resources Online
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains the statewide portal for death record requests. Below is the IDPH death records information page, which covers the process for requesting records from any county including Kankakee.
This portal has forms, fee details, and ID requirements for all death certificate requests in Illinois. It applies to Kankakee County as well as every other county in the state.
Who Can Get Kankakee County Death Records
Illinois law limits who can get a copy of a death certificate. Death records are not public. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, access is restricted to protect the integrity and privacy of the records. Only people with a personal or property right interest can request copies from Kankakee County.
That includes immediate family like a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Legal representatives, estate executors, and administrators also qualify. You must provide valid photo ID. The state accepts a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The ID must be current and readable. If you lack a photo ID, three forms of identification with your name and current address may work. Vital records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140/, so FOIA requests for Kankakee County death records are not accepted.
Death Registration in Kankakee County
Under 410 ILCS 535/18, every death in Kankakee County must be registered within 7 days. The funeral director is responsible for filing the completed death certificate with the local registrar. The attending physician signs the medical certification within 48 hours. Once the certificate is filed, copies go to both the Kankakee County Clerk and the state registrar in Springfield.
This means you can request obituary records from either office. The county is generally faster for recent deaths. The state office has a larger database that goes back to 1916. For genealogical copies, the state charges $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional one. These uncertified copies are for research use only and do not have a raised seal. Certified copies from either office work for legal matters.
Genealogical Obituary Research in Kankakee County
Genealogists looking for older obituary records in Kankakee County have several resources. The county clerk has local death records going back many years. The state archives have a free online death index from 1916 to 1972. Death records more than 20 years old can be requested as genealogical copies at $10 each. Records over 50 years old may be available at the Illinois State Archives in Springfield for research under 410 ILCS 535/24.
Local resources can fill in gaps that official records do not cover. The Kankakee County Historical Society and the Kankakee Public Library may have old newspaper obituaries, funeral home records, and other documents that can help piece together family history. Cemetery records in Kankakee County are another useful source for dates and family connections that can lead you to the right death certificate.
State Obituary Records for Kankakee County
The IDPH obtain death certificate page has the application form and instructions for ordering by mail. Send your request to 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include the form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order payable to IDPH. For urgent requests, include proof of immediate need and a prepaid overnight return envelope. The state processes urgent orders in 5 to 7 business days.
Cities in Kankakee County
Kankakee County includes the cities of Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Bradley, and several smaller towns. None of these cities have a population over 50,000. All death certificates are handled by the Kankakee County Clerk office.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Kankakee County. Check where the death occurred before requesting records. The death certificate is always filed in the county where the death happened.