Death certificates in Illinois
In Illinois, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $19 from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $4. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Illinois
| Office | Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $19 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $4 Online orders through VitalChek add a $15 handling fee. A short form without the cause of death costs $10, plus $2 for each additional copy. County clerks may charge differently. |
| Who can order | Death records are restricted to people with a personal or property right interest in the record. Non-relatives need a letter from the office or agency that needs the certificate. Uncertified genealogical copies are available for records at least 20 years old. |
| ID you need | A copy of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID is required. Requests without it are returned. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. You can also contact the county clerk in the county where the death occurred. The state office moved to 110 W Lawrence Avenue in Springfield in September 2026. |
| How long it takes | About 12 weeks for mail requests. Urgent requests with proof of immediate need are processed in 5 to 7 business days. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in Illinois?
- $19 for the first certified copy from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, and $4 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Online orders through VitalChek add a $15 handling fee. A short form without the cause of death costs $10, plus $2 for each additional copy. County clerks may charge differently.
- Who can order a death certificate in Illinois?
- Death records are restricted to people with a personal or property right interest in the record. Non-relatives need a letter from the office or agency that needs the certificate. Uncertified genealogical copies are available for records at least 20 years old.
- How do I order a death certificate in Illinois?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A copy of a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID is required. Requests without it are returned.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records: dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/birth-death-other-records/death-records/obtain-death-certificate.html
- Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records: dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/birth-death-other-records/death-records.html
- Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records: dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/forms/topics-services/birth-death-other-records/death-records/death-record-application-082026.pdf
- CDC/NCHS: Funeral Directors' Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting, 2019
- FTC: Complying with the Funeral Rule (cash advance items)