Union County Obituary

Union County obituary records are held at the County Clerk office in Jonesboro. With about 17,244 people, Union County manages death records and vital documents through its clerk office at the courthouse. Whether you need a certified death certificate to settle an estate or a research copy for genealogical work, the Union County Clerk can help. You can also request records through the state or through online services like VitalChek. The process starts with knowing what you need and where to find it.

Union County Obituary Clerk Office

The Union County Clerk manages death certificates for all deaths in the county. The office sits at the courthouse in Jonesboro. Staff handle requests for certified and genealogical copies of death records. They follow the Illinois Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535/, which sets the rules for access, fees, and processing times.

Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a Union County obituary record. Go to the clerk office during business hours with your photo ID and fill out the request form. The clerk searches the files and prints your copy. For people who cannot visit Jonesboro, mail requests work too. Include the full name of the deceased, the date of death if you know it, your relationship to them, and a check or money order for the fee. The Union County Clerk will mail the record back to you within a few weeks.

Note: Union County death records are confidential under Illinois law and not available through Freedom of Information Act requests.

Union County Death Record Costs

Fees for obituary records in Union County match the state schedule. Certified copies cost $19 for the first one. Each extra is $4. These copies have the official seal and work for legal matters. Genealogical copies cost $10 for the first and $2 for each one after that. They work for family research but hold no legal weight.

The state sets a search fee of $10 per name for a five-year period under 410 ILCS 535/25. That fee applies even when the clerk finds no record. The more detail you give about the death, the faster and cheaper your search will be. Union County may have slightly different local fees, so call the clerk to confirm before sending payment. VitalChek is available for online orders with an added handling fee of $15.

Ways to Get Union County Death Records

There are three main paths to an obituary record in Union County. Visit the clerk office in Jonesboro, send a mail request, or go through the state system. Each method gets you the same record. The difference is speed and cost.

In-person visits are fastest. Go to the courthouse in Jonesboro during business hours with your photo ID. The clerk will search the files right there. Mail requests work for people who cannot visit. Write to the Union County Clerk with the full details and a check or money order. The Illinois Department of Public Health is the third path. Their death records page covers all Illinois deaths from 1916 on. Mail requests to IDPH take about 12 weeks. The expedited option is faster but needs proof of urgent need.

Union County Obituary State Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death records from 1916 to the present for the whole state. That includes Union County. You can reach IDPH at (217) 782-6554 or visit 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield. Their office is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

The IACCR county clerks directory is a helpful resource when searching for Union County obituary records through official channels.

The resource shown above can assist with your Union County death record search. Use it alongside the local clerk office for the most complete results. Under 410 ILCS 535/18, every death in Union County must be registered within seven days. The funeral director files the completed certificate. The doctor fills out the cause of death section within 48 hours.

Eligibility for Union County Obituary Records

Illinois law limits who can order a death certificate. Not everyone can walk in and request one. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, you need a direct connection to the person who died. Family members have the right to get a certified copy. That means the spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Legal reps with court documentation can also request records. Anyone else must prove a personal or property right interest to the Union County Clerk.

Genealogical copies have easier rules. The death just needs to be at least 20 years old. These copies come on plain paper without the official seal. They cannot be used for legal matters but work fine for research. You still need a valid photo ID for any request in Union County.

Note: Vital records are exempt from the Illinois Freedom of Information Act under 5 ILCS 140/7.

Older Death Records for Union County

The Illinois State Archives death index is a free tool for finding older Union County obituary records. It covers deaths from 1916 to 1972 across the state. Search by name to get basic information like the death date and certificate number. For records over 50 years old, the archives in Springfield may have originals.

FamilySearch has death records from 1916 to 1947. Local resources in Jonesboro can also help. Libraries sometimes keep clipping files with obituary notices from old newspapers. These can fill in gaps that official records leave out. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, death records 50 years old or more at the state archives may be accessible for genealogical research on Union County families.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. Verify where the death took place before requesting the obituary record from the Union County Clerk.