Peoria County Obituary Lookup
Peoria County obituary records include death certificates, burial permits, and related vital record files kept by the county clerk and the local health department. With a population of over 181,000, Peoria County is a major hub in central Illinois. The county clerk office on Main Street in Peoria has death records going back decades, and the Peoria City/County Health Department keeps more recent records. Whether you need an obituary-related document for legal reasons or family research, Peoria County offers more than one way to get what you need. Understanding the difference between these two offices can save you time.
Peoria County Quick Facts
Peoria County Clerk Obituary Records
The Peoria County Clerk office is the primary source for death certificates in the county. It is at 324 Main Street, Room 101, in Peoria. The phone number is (309) 672-6059. This office handles birth, death, marriage, and civil union certificates, along with genealogy requests. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate from Peoria County, this is where to go.
The fee for a certified death certificate in Peoria County is $24 for the first copy. Additional copies cost $13 each. These certified copies have a raised seal and are valid for any legal purpose, such as settling an estate, claiming life insurance, or transferring property. You can visit the Peoria County vital records page for forms and current instructions. There is also a Peoria County death records page with specific details about getting obituary-related documents.
To request a record, bring a valid photo ID to the clerk office. You will need to show that you have a right to the death certificate under Illinois law. Immediate family members, legal representatives, and estate executors all qualify. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the clerk searches records upon written request and issues certified copies to those with a lawful interest.
| Office | Peoria County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 324 Main Street, Room 101, Peoria, IL 61602 |
| Phone | (309) 672-6059 |
| First Copy | $24 |
| Additional Copies | $13 each |
Peoria Health Department Death Records
The Peoria City/County Health Department also handles death certificates. Their office is at 2116 N Sheridan Road in Peoria. Call (309) 679-6034 for help. This office has death records from 2008 to the present and birth records from 1982 to the present. They also issue burial permits.
If the death you are looking into happened after 2008, the health department may be faster than the county clerk for getting a copy. For older records, go to the county clerk or the state. The Peoria City/County Health Department birth and death records page has details about what you need and how to apply. The health department is a good option for families who need a death certificate quickly for funeral or burial arrangements in Peoria County.
Note: The health department only has records from 2008 forward, so older Peoria County obituary records must be obtained from the county clerk or the state.
Peoria County Coroner and Death Certificates
The Peoria County Coroner plays a role in the death certificate process when the cause of death needs investigation. The coroner issues temporary death certificates within 2 business days in cases that are under review. If an autopsy is required, the permanent death certificate can take 4 to 6 weeks to finalize. This matters because insurance companies and legal processes often need the permanent version.
Families dealing with a coroner case in Peoria County should know that the temporary certificate is enough for some tasks, like making funeral plans. But for settling an estate or filing insurance claims, you will likely need the permanent one. The county clerk will have the final version once it is filed. If you are waiting on a coroner case, call the clerk office at (309) 672-6059 to check if the permanent certificate has been filed yet.
Peoria County Obituary Record Pages
The Peoria County website has two pages that are helpful when you are looking for death certificates. The first is the general vital records page. You can access it at the Peoria County vital records page.
The second page is dedicated to death records. It has more detail about the steps involved in getting a death certificate from Peoria County. Visit the Peoria County death records page for this info.
Both pages list the fees, acceptable ID types, and who can request records. They also include downloadable forms you can fill out before your visit or mail in with payment.
Genealogical Obituary Research in Peoria County
For older obituary records, the Peoria County Clerk handles genealogy requests. Genealogical copies of death certificates are available for deaths that happened 20 or more years ago under 410 ILCS 535/24. These are uncertified copies on plain paper. They cost less than certified copies and work well for family tree research.
The Illinois State Archives death index is a free tool for finding older death records from anywhere in the state, including Peoria County. It covers 1916 to 1972. You can search by name and find the date of death, county, and certificate number. That certificate number makes ordering a full copy from the state much easier. The state archives are in Springfield at the Margaret Cross Norton Building. For deaths before 1916, local genealogical societies and historical records in the Peoria County area may have what you need.
State Obituary Records for Peoria County
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains death records for every county from 1916 to the present. The state fee is $19 for a certified copy and $10 for a genealogical copy. You can order through VitalChek online or send your request by mail. Processing takes about 12 weeks by mail. Urgent requests with proof of immediate need are handled in 5 to 7 business days. Death records in Illinois are not public and are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140/.
Cities in Peoria County
Peoria is the largest city in Peoria County and the only one over the 50,000 population mark. Death certificates for all communities within the county are handled by the Peoria County Clerk.
Other communities in Peoria County include Peoria Heights, West Peoria, Bartonville, and Chillicothe. All death records for these towns go through the Peoria County Clerk office on Main Street.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Peoria County. Make sure you know where the death occurred before requesting a certificate. The record is filed in the county where the death took place.