Search for Death Records in Illinois

Free Illinois Death Records Lookup

Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Illinois will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

Death Records in Illinois -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Illinois Death Records

In the state of Illinois, death records are not considered public records; they are only available to individuals with a property right or personal interest with the deceased. Property right is owned property that is tangible for instance a property deed or a car. If an individual is not the decedent’s relative, a legal document or letter from the agency or office requesting for the death certificate should be provided. In Illinois, the Department of Public Health (Vital Records Division) offers two types of death certificate copies; a certified and an uncertified copy.

Illinois Death Databases

The 1787 founding of Northwest Territory was inclusive of the Illinois land which later became part of Indiana in 1800. About a decade later, the territory was re-established and the area acquired statehood in 1818.

Before 1916

A majority of the counties in the state of Illinois started holding death records after 1877. Before 1916, these records were filed and kept only by county clerks. The copies of death certificates and other records that are included in Illinois’ pre-1916 historic death index (statewide) can be gotten from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository System. This is in a case where the IRAD keeps the county’s death records or if the records are obtained from the county clerk.

After 1916

The Illinois State Genealogical Society has come up with a service to help researchers and members who don’t have easy access to the State Archives to get a hold of death certificate copies. Usually, they retrieve the copy of the death certificate from the state Archives and send it to you via mail for a fee. For genealogical purposes, death records are available for deaths that happened at least two decades before the request date.

Death Certificates in Illinois

In the state of Illinois, death records start off as private records then they become publicly available 20 years after the record file date. There are restrictions to obtaining death certificates for individuals who passed on within the last 20 years. Below is a list of people who are eligible to request for a death certificate:

How to Find Illinois Death Records

Obtaining Illinois death records from Archives.com is the most dependable method of doing so. Following your registration for an account, you will have complete access to the death records for the state of Illinois as soon as you log in to the platform. The following are a few simple steps to get you started:

Step 1: Go to Archives.com and sign in using your email address and password.

Step 2: Use the buttons at the very top of the user page to navigate through the options. When you click on the “Search” button, the Illinois state death records page is loaded.

Step 3: Check the box next to “Vital Records,” then click on the “Death” button just below it. Thus, the site eliminates all other records and only displays death records, which you can then download.

Step 4: Key in as much information about the deceased as you can remember about them.

Step 5: The state of Illinois should be entered in the ‘Location’ box. As soon as you begin typing, you will notice that the website will provide a match for you.

Step 6: You will be presented with a list of records; you will need to scroll through the list until you find the person whose records you are interested in viewing.

Step 7: Click on the name of the deceased to view the death record that is currently available online. In most cases, you will be able to obtain their full name as well as their maiden name if they were previously married. You can also find out about their burial arrangements, such as whether they were cremated or buried, and whether a biographical sketch is available.

Alternative Sources for Illinois Death Information

Illinois Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Illinois state government or any similar organization. This document contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death.

What are death records?

Death records are official files that give any useful information about a deceased individual. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the deceased lived or died in, but they lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as with state governments. Information you can obtain from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.

Are Illinois Death Records Open to the Public?

According to the Illinois Revised Statutes, vital records such as birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the person named on the record.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Illinois Death Records Online?

Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including:

What is the difference between a certified copy and an uncertified copy?

A certified copy is used for legal purposes (claiming life insurance, settling an estate or claiming a will), while an uncertified copy is used for genealogical reasons.

Conclusion

The state of Illinois is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Illinois death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

Disclaimer: OurPublicRecords mission is to give people easy and affordable access to public record information, but OurPublicRecords does not provide private investigator services or consumer reports, and is not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may not use our site or service or the information provided to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.