How to Get a Death Certificate in Illinois
How to Get a Death Certificate in Illinois
In Illinois, you can get a certified death certificate from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of Vital Records in Springfield, online through VitalChek, by mail, or from the county clerk in the county where the death occurred. The first certified copy costs $19 from IDPH, and each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4. Order at least 10 to 15 copies, because every financial institution, insurer, and court filing requires its own original.
Where to Get an Illinois Death Certificate
Two official sources issue certified copies of a death certificate in Illinois.
Option 1: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Division of Vital Records
IDPH maintains the statewide registry and can issue certified copies for any death that occurred in Illinois. This is the right choice if the county clerk is not nearby or if you need records going back many years.
IDPH contact information:
- Address: 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737
- Phone: (217) 782-6554 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays)
- Email: DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov
- Fax: (217) 523-2648
- In-person hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays
Option 2: County Clerk's Office
Death certificates may also be requested from the county clerk in the county where the death occurred. Each of Illinois's 102 counties has a county clerk's office that maintains local vital records. For recent deaths, the county clerk where the death occurred generally has faster turnaround than IDPH.
Cook County Clerk — Bureau of Vital Records:
- Mail: P.O. Box A3390, Chicago, IL 60690
- In-person: 118 N. Clark St., Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602
- Phone: (312) 603-7790
Which to choose: If the death was recent and the county clerk is nearby, start there. If you need multiple copies and cannot visit in person, the IDPH online option through VitalChek is your best route.
Who Can Request a Certified Copy (410 ILCS 535/25)
Illinois death records are not public records. Certified copies may only be issued to persons with a qualifying interest under the Illinois Vital Records Act:
- A person with a personal or property right interest (next of kin, executor/administrator, beneficiaries)
- A duly authorized agent or attorney acting on behalf of an eligible person
- The informant listed on the death certificate
- The executor or administrator of the decedent's estate
- Any person upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction
- Government departments (state, municipal, or federal)
- Veterans organizations (copies issued without charge for eligibility determinations)
- Persons with a genealogical interest if the death occurred 20 or more years prior (copies stamped "FOR GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES ONLY")
How Many Copies to Order
Order more than you think you need. Getting additional copies weeks later means paying the full first-copy fee again and waiting for processing.
A typical estate requires 10 to 15 certified copies. Here is where each one goes:
- Probate court filing: 1-2 copies
- Each bank or financial institution: 1 copy per institution
- Life insurance claim: 1 copy per policy
- Social Security Administration: 1 copy
- Each retirement account: 1 copy per account
- Real estate transfer: 1 copy
- Vehicle title transfer (Secretary of State): 1 copy
- Personal records: 1 copy
Ordering all copies in a single transaction saves money. At $19 for the first and $4 for each additional, ordering 12 copies from IDPH costs $63 total. Ordering them one at a time over several months costs $228.
2026 Illinois Death Certificate Fee Schedule
| Source | First Copy | Additional Copies | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDPH (mail) | $19.00 | $4.00 each | ~12 weeks |
| IDPH (online/VitalChek) | $19.00 + $15.00 handling | $4.00 each | Varies + shipping |
| IDPH (in-person, Springfield) | $19.00 | $4.00 each | Same day or next business day |
| IDPH (expedited) | $19.00 | $4.00 each | 5-7 business days |
| Cook County Clerk (mail) | $17.00 | $6.00 each | ~20 business days |
| Cook County Clerk (online/VitalChek) | $17.00 + $13.45 handling | $6.00 each | 10-15 business days |
| Downstate county clerks | Varies ($10-$20) | Varies | Contact local clerk |
Payment methods at IDPH: Check or money order payable to IDPH (mail). Credit card through VitalChek (online).
How to Order: 5 Methods
Method 1: Online Through VitalChek
Go to the IDPH website at dph.illinois.gov and follow the link to order through VitalChek. You will need the deceased's full legal name, date of death, and county of death. The IDPH fee is $19 for the first copy and $4 for each additional, plus VitalChek's $15 handling fee and shipping costs.
Method 2: By Mail to IDPH
Send your request with a check or money order payable to IDPH to:
IDPH Division of Vital Records 925 E. Ridgely Avenue Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Standard mail processing takes approximately 12 weeks from receipt of paperwork. Include your relationship to the deceased, your contact information, and the deceased's full name, date of death, and county of death.
Method 3: In Person at IDPH in Springfield
Visit the IDPH Division of Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Processing is typically same day or next business day. This is the fastest option if you are in the Springfield area.
Method 4: Expedited Through IDPH
Submit your request via an overnight delivery service with proof of immediate need (travel itineraries, letters of need, insurance statements, or immigration authority notices) and a prepaid overnight return envelope. Processing takes 5 to 7 business days.
Method 5: County Clerk's Office
Contact the county clerk in the county where the death occurred. For recent deaths, this is often the fastest route. Cook County Clerk processes online orders in 10 to 15 business days and mail orders in approximately 20 business days. Downstate county clerks vary in fees and processing times.
How Death Certificates Are Completed in Illinois
Understanding the death certificate process helps you know why there can be delays before copies are available.
Filing responsibility. The funeral director who first assumes custody of the body is responsible for filing a completed death certificate (410 ILCS 535/18).
Filing deadline. The death certificate must be filed within 7 days after death and prior to cremation or removal of the body from the state.
Medical certification timeline:
| Scenario | Who Signs | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Death with treating physician | Certifying health care professional who treated within 12 months prior | Within 48 hours |
| Treating physician unavailable | Associate physician, APRN, PA, chief medical officer, or autopsy physician | Within 48 hours |
| Death without medical attendance | Coroner or medical examiner | Within 48 hours |
| Death subject to investigation | Coroner or medical examiner | Within 48 hours |
Coroner vs. Medical Examiner: Most Illinois counties use an elected coroner. Cook County uses the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office (an appointed medical professional). The coroner or ME investigates deaths that are violent, sudden/unexpected, unattended, suspicious, or occurring in custody.
Correcting Errors on an Illinois Death Certificate
If a death certificate contains an error, corrections are handled through IDPH.
Process:
- Complete the Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request form
- Have the form notarized
- Provide a copy of non-expired, government-issued photo ID
- Provide supporting documentation proving the error (birth records, marriage records, medical records)
- Pay the $15 correction fee (check or money order payable to IDPH)
- Mail to IDPH Division of Vital Records, 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Processing time: 15 business days for corrections.
Cause of death corrections require a physician-signed worksheet. If documentation does not clearly support the requested change, a court order may be required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can request an Illinois death certificate?
Persons with a qualifying interest under 410 ILCS 535/25: spouse, parent, child, sibling, executor, administrator, attorney representing an eligible person, or anyone with a documented personal or property right interest. Death records are not public in Illinois.
How long does it take to get a death certificate in Illinois?
In person at IDPH Springfield: same day or next business day. Expedited: 5 to 7 business days. Online through VitalChek: varies. Mail to IDPH: approximately 12 weeks. County clerk processing times vary.
What is the cost of an Illinois death certificate in 2026?
IDPH charges $19 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Cook County Clerk charges $17 first copy and $6 additional. VitalChek adds handling fees. The $15 correction fee is separate.
Can I get an Illinois death certificate if I am not a family member?
Only if you can demonstrate a personal or property right interest, are acting as a duly authorized agent, or have a court order. For deaths that occurred 20 or more years ago, genealogical copies are available.
The death certificate has an error. What do I do?
File an Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request with IDPH. The form must be notarized. The fee is $15. Processing takes 15 business days. Cause of death corrections require a physician-signed worksheet.
What to Do Next
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This guide reflects Illinois vital records procedures as of April 2026, including the 2026 IDPH fee schedule. Fees and processing times may change. For the current fee schedule, visit dph.illinois.gov.
Sources: 410 ILCS 535/ (Illinois Vital Records Act); 410 ILCS 535/25 (Eligible Requestors); 410 ILCS 535/18 (Filing Deadline); dph.illinois.gov; cookcountyclerkil.gov