Lake County Obituary Search

Lake County obituary records go back to 1877 and are kept by the County Clerk office in Waukegan, Illinois. This county sits along the shore of Lake Michigan north of Chicago and has a population of more than 714,000. Residents and family members who need to find death records in Lake County can request them in person at the courthouse, by mail, or online through VitalChek. The clerk staff handles both certified copies for legal matters and genealogical copies for family research. Lake County processes obituary record requests for cities like Waukegan, Highland Park, and Lake Forest.

Lake County Clerk Obituary Office

Anthony Vega is the Lake County Clerk. His office sits in the County Court House at 18 North County Street in Waukegan, IL 60085. You can reach them at (847) 377-2411 or send a fax to (847) 360-3608. This is the only office that issues certified death certificates for Lake County. If someone died in Lake County, this clerk has the record.

The Lake County vital records page lays out the steps for ordering. You can also visit the Lake County death records page for details that are specific to obituary and death certificate requests. The clerk has death records going all the way back to 1877. That makes Lake County one of the better places for historical obituary research in northern Illinois.

How to Search Lake County Obituary Records

Getting a death record in Lake County starts with picking your method. You can go in person, send a mail request, or order online. The clerk staff will search their files once they have the details they need. In-person visits at the Waukegan courthouse tend to be the fastest way to get Lake County obituary records.

For online orders, Lake County uses the VitalChek system. Go to the VitalChek site, pick Illinois, and then select Lake County as the issuing office. Fill in the name of the deceased and the date of death. You will pay the county fee plus a VitalChek service charge. Credit cards are accepted. This is a good option if you live outside of Lake County or cannot visit during business hours. The online system handles both certified and genealogical requests for Lake County death records.

Mail requests go to the clerk at 18 North County Street in Waukegan. Include a letter with the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, and your relationship. Add a copy of your ID and a check for the fee. The clerk will search Lake County records and mail back what they find. Allow a few weeks for this process.

Lake County Death Record Resources

The Lake County website provides a clear overview of the vital records services offered by the clerk. The vital records page at lakecountyil.gov covers birth, death, and marriage records all in one place.

From this page you can find the forms, fees, and hours for the Lake County Clerk office. It also explains who qualifies to order records and what ID you need to bring. This is a solid first stop before you make the trip to Waukegan or place a mail order for Lake County obituary records.

Lake County also maintains a separate page just for death records that goes into more detail on what you need to know for obituary-related requests.

This death records page spells out the specific requirements for getting a Lake County death certificate. It covers the types of copies, who can order them, and how long the process takes. Bookmark it if you plan to request Lake County obituary records in the near future.

Lake County Obituary Fees and Genealogy

Lake County offers reduced pricing for genealogical copies of death records. An uncertified genealogical copy costs just $4. This is for records that are at least 20 years old, per 410 ILCS 535/24. The genealogical copy comes on plain paper. It has no raised seal and cannot be used for legal purposes. But it works well for family tree research and tracking down obituary details in Lake County.

For certified copies, contact the Lake County Clerk for the current fee schedule. Fees can change. The certified version carries a raised seal and is valid for legal use. You might need one to settle an estate, file an insurance claim, or prove a family relationship. VitalChek orders add a service fee on top of the base price. Phone the clerk at (847) 377-2411 to get the latest numbers before you order a Lake County death record.

Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the state charges $10 for a name search covering five years. Additional years cost $1 each. Lake County follows these guidelines. If the clerk does not find a matching record, you still owe the search fee.

Note: Birth records in Lake County are available for genealogical research after 75 years, and marriage licenses after 50 years.

Historical Death Records in Lake County

Lake County has one of the longer death record histories in Illinois. Records start in 1877. That gives researchers nearly 150 years of obituary data to work with. For records from 1916 to 1972, the Illinois State Archives death index is a free online tool that can help you pinpoint the right record before you request it from Lake County.

The Illinois Department of Public Health at dph.illinois.gov keeps death records from 1916 on. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield, IL 62702. You can call (217) 782-6554 for state-level requests. Processing time runs about 12 weeks through the state. Under 410 ILCS 535/18, the funeral director must file the death certificate within seven days of the death. The attending physician completes the medical section within 48 hours. These rules apply to all deaths in Lake County and throughout Illinois.

Lake County Obituary Access Rules

Death records are not public in Illinois. That surprises some people. Under the Vital Records Act, only certain individuals may get a copy of a Lake County death certificate. You must fall into one of the allowed groups.

Family members of the deceased can request Lake County obituary records. Spouses, parents, children, and siblings all qualify. The informant named on the death certificate has access. Estate executors and administrators can get copies if they show court paperwork. Anyone with a personal or property right interest may request a record, but the Lake County Clerk will want to see proof. Researchers can get genealogical copies for deaths that are 20 years old or more. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) does not cover vital records, so a FOIA request will not work here.

Cities in Lake County

Lake County has many cities and villages. All death records for these places go through the Lake County Clerk in Waukegan. Waukegan is the only city in Lake County with a population over 50,000 that has its own city page.

Other Lake County communities include Highland Park, Lake Forest, Mundelein, Libertyville, Gurnee, Vernon Hills, and Lindenhurst. All obituary records for these areas are at the Lake County Clerk office.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Lake County. If you are not sure where a death took place, check the address. Each county keeps its own death records at its own clerk office.