Death notices, like any other vital records, are useful in so many ways. Such document lets you know the reason of death of a certain relative. More so, knowing the cause of death is a big help in determining and tracing familial diseases in the family tree. Death records are also useful in genealogy research as it can provide a significant number of information about the person who passed away. Additionally, records of death are also beneficial to Statistics especially in determining mortality rates. The main repository for Illinois death notices is managed by the Office of the Vital Statistics, Department of Public Health.
Death records are not public records in Illinois. The State restricts access to such records only to those who are related to the decedent. When doing background checks and you’re not at any point related to the decedent, you will have to submit a letter from the agency that demands the death certificate. Hence, if you wish to conduct genealogy research, you may have to settle for an uncertified copy of a death record. Bear in mind that this copy will only be obtainable if the death occurred at least 20 years before the date of your request.
Certified and uncertified copies of death records can be obtained from the Division of Vital Records. Additionally, such copies of death notices can also be acquired through the Office of the County Clerk in the county where the death took place. For deaths recorded prior to 1916, these can only be obtained from the county clerk’s office.
Each certified copy of a death record costs $19, while the uncertified, genealogical copy is worth $10. For additional copies of certified copy, a fee of $4 is required if requested at the same time. In case no record is found, a no record statement will be given. The processing fees are non-refundable regardless if a record is found or not. Payment can be made by check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health or with a credit card. Payment should not be in cash. Credit card transactions will charge an additional $10 for the handling and an extra $19.50 fee if you choose that the death record be delivered to you.
In getting a copy of a death certificate, you need to provide the decedent’s full name, date and county of the death, the parents’ name, your relationship to the deceased, and the reason for requesting the record. If you are appealing for a death record as a legal representative, a written and notarized document naming you as the authorized individual should be acquiesced. If your purpose is to claim legal, personal or property interest, a written document demonstrating that you have a personal or property interest at stake, such as a will naming you, should be submitted.
Acquiring copies of death records in the State of Illinois can be done online, by mail, by fax, or in person. The average processing time for death records requests takes days to weeks depending on the method of acquisition exploited and the volume of requests received in the office of Vital Records. If you want to get a copy of a death record in an expedited and practical way, then do it online. Simply search the web for online service providers, perform a little background check on the record provider you’re eying on to ensure accuracy and less errors, and hire their services. There are a lot of online record providers which proffer the same service but for only a minimal fee. What’s more, these providers can also give you the records you need in just a matter of minutes.
Read more about Death Records and its associated searches at Death Notices online.
