Will County Obituary Records
Will County obituary records are managed by the County Clerk office in Joliet, one of the fastest-growing parts of Illinois. More than 696,000 people call Will County home, making it the fourth largest county in the state. The clerk office keeps death certificates and handles requests for copies by walk-in, mail, email, and online. If you need to find an obituary record or death certificate from Will County, the clerk in Joliet is the place to start. Their staff can search records and get you what you need, whether it is a certified copy for legal use or a research copy for genealogy.
Will County Quick Facts
Will County Clerk Death Records
Lauren Staley is the Will County Clerk. Her office is at 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet, IL 60432. The phone number is (815) 740-4615. You can fax requests to (815) 740-4699 or email vitalrecords@willcounty.gov. The Will County death certificates page has all the forms and details you need to place an order.
Will County charges $16 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each extra copy is $8. These are some of the more affordable fees in the Chicago suburbs. VitalChek orders cost more due to the added processing fee. The clerk accepts walk-in requests, mail, email with scanned documents, and online orders through VitalChek. That gives you plenty of options when you need a Will County obituary record.
| Office |
Will County Clerk 302 N. Chicago Street Joliet, IL 60432 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (815) 740-4615 |
| Fax | (815) 740-4699 |
| vitalrecords@willcounty.gov | |
| Website | willcountyclerk.gov |
Who Can Get Will County Obituary Records
Only certain people can order a death certificate in Will County. The Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535/25) sets the rules. Immediate relatives come first. A spouse, parent, child, or sibling can request a Will County death record with valid ID. Those with a personal or property right interest may also order copies, but the clerk will ask for documentation.
Genealogical researchers can get uncertified copies of Will County obituary records once the death is 20 years old or more. These copies work for family history research but hold no legal weight. The Will County Clerk follows the same timeline that the state sets under 410 ILCS 535/24.
You need ID for every request. Will County accepts these primary forms:
- Driver's license or state ID from any US state
- US passport or foreign passport
- US military ID
- US naturalization certificate
If you lack a photo ID, Will County allows two items as an alternative. Use a utility bill, insurance card, vehicle registration, bank statement, pay stub, voter registration card, or public assistance card. One must show your current address. Only one may be a bill or piece of mail. Social Security cards are not accepted as ID in Will County.
Will County Death Certificate Portal
The Will County Clerk maintains a clear website with detailed instructions on ordering death certificates. The death certificates page walks you through every step of the process.
This page covers fees, forms, accepted ID types, and the different ways to order. It is the best starting point for anyone who needs a Will County obituary record. Save the link or print it before you visit the clerk office in Joliet.
Ways to Order Will County Death Records
Will County stands out because it offers four different ways to get obituary records. Most counties stick to three. The extra option, email, makes things easier for people who cannot visit in person or wait for mail.
Walk-in requests at the Joliet office are fast. Go to 302 N. Chicago Street with your photo ID. Tell the staff who you are looking for. They will search Will County death records while you wait. Pay by check or money order. The first copy is $16. You walk out with your record the same day. Mail orders take longer. Send a letter with the deceased person's full name, date of death, your name, your address, and your relationship. Add a photocopy of your ID and a check for $16 payable to Will County Clerk. Ship to 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432.
Email is an option that not every county offers. Scan your completed request form and a copy of your ID. Send everything to vitalrecords@willcounty.gov. The staff will process it and mail the record back to you. This works well when you need a Will County obituary record but cannot get to the post office right away. Online orders go through VitalChek with an extra processing fee.
Note: Allow extra time for mail and email orders, especially during busy periods when the Will County Clerk handles a high volume of requests.
Will County Obituary Record Laws
The rules around death records in Will County come from state law. Under 410 ILCS 535/18, every death must be registered within seven days by filing a death certificate with the local registrar. The funeral home handles this step. The doctor signs the medical section within 48 hours. Once filed, the record enters both the Will County system and the state database at IDPH in Springfield.
Death records are confidential in Illinois. They are not public records. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) does not apply to vital records. You cannot FOIA a death certificate from Will County or any other clerk in Illinois. Instead, you must go through the proper request process and prove you have standing. The state set these rules to protect families and prevent fraud. Will County enforces them strictly. Every person who walks in or sends a request must show they have the right to see the record.
State Obituary Resources for Will County
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death records for the entire state from 1916 forward. Their office is in Springfield at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue. If the Will County Clerk does not have what you need, or if the death happened before the county started keeping records, try IDPH. State-level requests take about 12 weeks to process by mail. That is slow. For faster service, visit the Will County Clerk in person.
The Illinois State Archives death index covers 1916 to 1972 and is free to search. This tool helps you find the exact record before ordering from Will County or the state. FamilySearch has Illinois death records from 1916 to 1947. Both are useful for Will County obituary research on older records.
Cities in Will County
Will County covers Joliet and several other large communities south and west of Chicago. Death certificates for all of them go through the Will County Clerk in Joliet. Some cities, like Naperville and Bolingbrook, span county lines.
Other Will County communities include Romeoville, Plainfield, Lockport, Crest Hill, and New Lenox. All death records for these areas file through the Will County Clerk.
Nearby Counties
Will County borders several other large counties in the Chicago area. Check the address of the death to make sure you contact the right clerk for the obituary record you need.