Search Chicago Death Index

Chicago death index records go through the Cook County Clerk's office. As the largest city in Illinois with more than 2.7 million people, Chicago sees thousands of deaths filed each year. The Cook County Clerk keeps these records at three locations across the metro area, and you can also search through the state. Whether you need a death certificate for legal use, to close an estate, or for family history work, your search starts with Cook County. Records date back to 1872, giving Chicago one of the longest running death index collections in the state.

Cook County Handles Chicago Death Records

Chicago does not run its own death index office. All death records for Chicago go through the Cook County Clerk's Bureau of Vital Statistics. This is the case for every city in Cook County. The clerk files and stores death certificates for all deaths that take place in the county, which includes Chicago proper and dozens of suburbs.

The main Cook County Clerk office sits at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, in the Cook County Building right in downtown Chicago. This is the most used office for Chicago death index requests. Walk-in service is available during business hours. You can call 866-252-8974 if you have questions before you visit. The staff can look up records while you wait, and same-day copies are possible if the death is in their system. For deaths that happened decades ago, it may take longer to pull the file.

Two suburban branch offices also serve Chicago area residents. The Skokie office is at 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Room 149, Skokie, IL 60077. Call 847-470-7233 to reach them. The Markham Courthouse at 16501 Kedzie Avenue, Markham, IL 60426 is the south suburban option, reachable at 708-232-4150. Both branches can process Chicago death index requests just like the main office.

The Cook County death certificates page has current details on how to submit your request and what forms you need to bring.

The Cook County Clerk vital records portal also lists the full process for getting copies of death certificates filed in Chicago and the rest of Cook County.

Who Can Get Chicago Death Index Records

Death records in Illinois are not public. Under 410 ILCS 535, only certain people can get a copy. Relatives of the person who died have legal access. This means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. If you are not a relative, you need to show a financial or legal reason for the request, such as settling an estate or handling an insurance claim.

Bring a valid photo ID to any Cook County office. They accept an Illinois driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. An expired or hard to read ID will get your request sent back. If someone else needs the Chicago death certificate and you are not related to the person, include a letter from the office or agency that needs the record.

Note: Legal representatives and estate administrators can also get Chicago death records with the right paperwork.

Chicago Death Certificate Fees

Cook County sets the fees for Chicago death index copies. A certified copy costs $17 for the first one. Each extra copy of the same record costs $6. Under 410 ILCS 535, Section 25, a $2 surcharge per certified death certificate goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund. This surcharge is already built into the fee you pay at the counter.

Genealogical copies of death certificates that are 20 or more years old cost less. These are uncertified and stamped for genealogical use only. They work for family history research but not for legal matters. Cook County's Genealogy Unit handles these requests for Chicago deaths that go back far enough.

Payment at the main Chicago office can be made by cash, check, or money order. Credit cards may be accepted depending on the office. For mail-in requests, send a check or money order to the main office at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602.

Chicago Medical Examiner Death Records

Some Chicago deaths fall under the Cook County Medical Examiner. When a death involves an investigation, the medical examiner's office completes the death certificate instead of a doctor. This happens for accidents, homicides, suicides, and unexpected deaths. Under 410 ILCS 535, Section 18, the coroner or medical examiner takes over in these cases.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is at 2121 West Harrison in Chicago. You can reach the Medical Records Office at 312-997-4425. Autopsy reports cost $50 each. Toxicology reports and other reports cost $25 each. Photos are $5 per photo. You can request these records by mail, fax, or electronically. Do not send payment until you get a bill from the office first.

Note: Photos from investigations may only go to the legal next of kin, and in some cases a court order is needed.

How to Get Chicago Death Index Copies

In person is the fastest way. Go to the Cook County Clerk's main office in downtown Chicago or one of the two suburban branches. Bring your photo ID and the name and date of death for the person you are looking up. Staff can search and print copies on the spot in most cases.

Online orders go through VitalChek, which is the authorized service for Illinois vital records. You need a major credit card. VitalChek charges a $15 handling fee on top of the base certificate cost. You can also pay $22 for UPS shipping if you need it fast. Death certificates from Chicago through VitalChek are available for events within the last 20 years. Older Chicago death records may need an in-person visit or a mail request to the Genealogy Unit.

Mail requests should go to Cook County Clerk, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602. Include a completed request form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fees. Processing takes longer by mail, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.

State Resources for Chicago Death Records

The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death index records for all of Illinois from 1916 to the present. If you cannot get what you need from Cook County directly, IDPH is a backup option. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield. Call (217) 782-6554 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mail requests to IDPH take about 12 weeks to process.

The state also offers two types of death certificates. A certified copy works for legal purposes like settling a will or filing an insurance claim. An uncertified copy is for genealogical use only. Through IDPH, a certified copy by mail costs $19 for the first and $4 for each extra. Genealogical copies cost $10 with $2 for each additional one. The Illinois State Archives holds the statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 to 1972, which covers a large chunk of Chicago's older records.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can point you to other county-level resources if the death may have happened outside of Chicago.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Chicago and also fall within Cook County or border it. Each has its own page with death index details for that location.