Unlike other states, Illinois does not consider death records as public records and cannot therefore just be acquired by anyone. The laws of Illinois specifically state who are eligible to apply for a copy of these records, and generally they are those who have a specific personal or property right interest over the deceased. Should you not be an immediate family relative of the deceased but need the certificate for a particular agency, then your application must include a letter from that agency. With respect to genealogy researchers, they can get an uncertified copy of the death record if that record is 20 years or older.

Getting the death record will also depend on who you will request that record as. If you are one of those who are eligible for a certified copy of the certificate, then you can request for that copy at the Vital Records Division of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Also, if the records you are looking for date back before 1916, then you have to go to the specific county office where the death occurred.

"Looking for Public Death Records in Illinois?"

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If you're applying for an uncertified death copy, the 20-year-old or older record can be acquired at the county office where the record was filed.

Upon ordering for a death record, submit the following information: the full name of the deceased as well as the city and county where the death occurred. Any additional information such as the names of the parents of the deceased and your relationship of the deceased must also be supplied if available. Lastly, you have to state your reason for acquiring a copy of the record.

Certified copies cost $17 and the uncertified, genealogical copies are $10. In either case, addition copies requested for at the same time are $2 each. Payment for these certificates can be made by money order or check payable to the Department of Public Health of Illinois. Do not send cash. You can also pay with a credit card, but this will cost you an $8.5 handling charge and $19.5 UPS return delivery fee.

"Looking for Public Death Records in Illinois?"

"Why not save some time by searching billions of public records? Start Your preliminary search at the top or bottom of this page to see if there's a record available for your query."