Illinois Death Records

Illinois death records are legal documents that register and document the details of individuals' deaths and the circumstances surrounding such deaths in the state. While some counties in the state started documenting and keeping records of death events in 1877, statewide recording did not begin until 1916. According to reports, an average of 119,951 deaths are recorded annually in Illinois, representing a mortality rate of 777.4 per 100,000 residents, which is slightly lower than the national average of 793.7 per 100,000 United States residents.

The commonly recognized form of death record in Illinois is the death certificate. An original death certificate is an official document issued by a qualified medical practitioner or any other authorized public official stating the cause of death and final disposition. The medical opinion regarding a person's cause of death listed in a death certificate is usually based on the available information at the time the person died. In Illinois, original death certificates are kept on the file of county clerks where the events occurred. Members of the public may obtain either certified or uncertified copies of an original death certificate.

• Certified Copy of an Illinois Death Certificate - This copy is suitable for all kinds of legal purposes.

• Uncertified Copy of an Illinois Death Certificate - This copy is usually obtained for informational use and genealogy purposes only. It is typically issued as a plain paper copy and is not meant to be used for legal purposes.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Illinois?

Interested parties may obtain certified copies of Illinois birth certificates from the county clerk where the death event occurred or from the Division of Vital Records of the state's Department of Public Health (IDPH). Generally, county clerks' offices across the state keep official records of deaths that occur within their jurisdiction and make copies of such records available on request.

Take the following steps to request a certified copy of a death certificate from a county clerk's office:

• Identify the county clerk's office in the county where the death occurred
• Submit the request in person or by mail to the clerk's office. The request must include the following:
• A completed Death Certificate Request Form (The requester may ask the county clerk to mail the form to them if applying by mail)
• Photocopy of a valid photo identification
• Proof of eligibility to obtain a copy of the certificate
• Payment of the applicable fee (Money order or check payable to the county clerk)
• A self-addressed stamped envelope (for mail-in request)

Alternatively, any interested and eligible person may also get certified copies of an Illinois death certificate by submitting a request to the IDPH Division of Vital Records through any of the following means:

• Mail-In Application - Complete the Application for Illinois Death Records Form and mail it with all the necessary documents and payment to the IDPH at:

  Illinois Department of Public Health

  Division of Vital Records

  925 E. Ridgley Avenue

  Springfield, IL 62702-2737

• Fax Application - Fax the completed application form and all the required documents to the IDPH at (217) 523-2648. If the copy of the requested death certificate is intended for genealogy purposes, make the application in writing.

Anyone requesting a certified copy of an Illinois death certificate from the IDPH must attach a copy of their valid government-issued ID to the application. The Division of Vital Records will return any application in which an ID is not provided or any request with an invalid or unreadable ID unprocessed.

Typically, it costs $19 to obtain a full certified copy of an Illinois death certificate and $4 for each additional copy. Also, requesters generally pay a $10 fee for a genealogical copy and $2 for each additional copy. Payment should be made payable to the IDPH by check or money order.

The processing time for mail requests is approximately 12 weeks from the time the IDPH receives a request. However, if a request is urgent, the requester may submit it through an overnight delivery service. They must include proof of immediate need and a prepaid overnight delivery self-addressed envelope. Such requests are usually processed between 5 and 7 working days.

Are Illinois Death Records Public?

Per 410 ILCS 535/1 (Vital Records Act), Illinois death records are considered confidential records and are not open for public disclosure. Hence, they are not subject to the state's Freedom of Information Act. Only specific persons may have legal access to death records in Illinois. These are typically people who have a personal or property right interest in the death record.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Illinois?

No one can request or obtain original death certificates in Illinois because they are kept by the county clerks' offices in the counties where such events occurred. Eligible persons may only obtain certified copies of the original certificates from the county clerks or the state's Division of the Vital Records.

Under Illinois law, only the following persons may obtain an Illinois death certificate:

• The relatives of the decedent
• A person with a letter or document from a government agency authorizing such a person to request a death certificate
• A legal representative of the decedent, including the administrator or executor of the decedent's estate
• Anyone with a court order
• Anyone who has a personal or property right interest in the death certificate

Requests submitted by these eligible persons must be accompanied by copies of their valid government-issued photo IDs. Otherwise, the county clerks or the Division of Vital Records will not process or fulfill such requests.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Illinois?

Records of deaths that occur under normal circumstances are typically available to requesters within 12 weeks from the date such applications are submitted. A requester may get a copy of a death certificate within 5 to 7 business days if submitted as an urgent request. However, where a death happens under an unusual circumstance in Illinois and warrants an autopsy, it may take a longer time before anyone can get a copy of the death certificate.

In Illinois, the death certificate for a case that requires an autopsy may be ready within 48 hours if the deceased has been under the care of a certifying healthcare professional within the last 12 months before the death. However, if the case is a complex death investigation that requires a Coroner's inquest, the original death certificate may be delayed by several weeks. In that case, a temporary death certificate is usually issued so that the funeral can take place.

Can I View Illinois Death Records online for free?

The pre-1916 Illinois statewide death index is available for inspection and copying at the Illinois State Archives. However, this is an ongoing project, and some records may not be available yet. Also, Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org are reliable sources for some historical Illinois death records. Furthermore, eligible persons may obtain Illinois death records online through third-party sites like Illinoispublicrecords.us. However, they will pay a small fee and provide valid identifications.

Where there are no signs of official death records in Illinois, interested parties may be able to find important information about such death events free of charge using substitute records. Such records generally include church records, tax records, cemetery records, tax records, newspapers, obituaries, and probate records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Illinois?

In Illinois, an eligible person may require a copy of a death certificate for several reasons, including the following:

• For genealogical purposes
• To claim a will
• To notify the Social Security Administration of the decedent's passing and possibly claim survivor benefits
• To transfer the ownership of the decedent's property
• To file insurance claims
• To settle the decedent's estate
• To claim a decedent's pension benefits
• To close the decedent's bank accounts and credit cards to prevent identity theft

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Illinois?

While obtaining between 8 and 12 copies of death certificates is often recommended, the actual number of copies a person needs in Illinois depends on many factors. These include the situation of the deceased individual and the specific needs for such copies, ranging from financial matters to legal issues.

Hence, it is best to determine which person or entity will need a certified copy of the death certificate to know the number of copies to obtain. In general, insurance companies, the Social Security Administration, financial institutions, the probate court, Veteran's Affairs, and other government agencies will need copies of a person's death certificate for certain administrative and legal processes.