Downers Grove Death Index

Downers Grove death index records are held by the DuPage County Clerk in nearby Wheaton. The village has about 50,000 residents and sits in the heart of DuPage County, one of the most populated counties in Illinois. Death certificates for anyone who died in Downers Grove get filed with the county clerk's office. You can search the death index by visiting the clerk in Wheaton, sending a mail request, or ordering through an online service. The DuPage County Health Department also keeps death records and can help with your search.

DuPage County Clerk Death Records

The DuPage County Clerk handles all death index records for Downers Grove. The office is at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, IL 60187. Call 630-407-5500 for help or to check if a specific death record is on file. Wheaton is a short drive from Downers Grove, typically 15 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.

Walk-in requests are the fastest way to get a Downers Grove death certificate. Bring a valid photo ID, the full name of the person who died, and their approximate date of death. The clerk's staff will search the DuPage County death index while you wait. If the record shows up, you can get your copy right then. DuPage is the second most populated county in Illinois, so the clerk's office stays busy. Going early in the day can help you avoid long waits.

Under 410 ILCS 535, the county clerk acts as the local registrar for vital records. Every death that occurs in DuPage County, including Downers Grove, gets filed with this office first.

DuPage Health Department Death Index

The DuPage County Health Department also keeps death records for the county, including Downers Grove. The health department has records going back to 1953 for deaths in DuPage County. Their central office in Wheaton is at 111 N County Farm Road, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This gives Downers Grove residents a second option for searching the death index. If the county clerk's office is crowded or closed for the day, the health department can help as long as the death happened from 1953 forward. For deaths before that year, the county clerk or the Illinois State Archives are the right places to look.

The DuPage Health Department death certificates page explains how to request Downers Grove death records, what to bring, and the current fee schedule.

Downers Grove Death Certificate Fees

DuPage County charges $18 for the first certified death certificate. Additional copies of the same record cost $6 each. These fees apply at both the county clerk and the health department.

Genealogical copies from DuPage County are available for deaths that happened 75 or more years ago. The fee is $5 per genealogy copy. These uncertified copies come stamped for family history use and cannot be used for legal matters. The 75-year rule is specific to DuPage County. The state standard for genealogy copies is 20 years. If you need a genealogy copy of a death that is between 20 and 75 years old, you may need to request it through the Illinois Department of Public Health instead of the DuPage County Clerk.

A $2 surcharge per certified copy goes to the state Death Certificate Surcharge Fund under 410 ILCS 535, Section 25. For mail requests, send payment by check or money order made out to the DuPage County Clerk.

Who Can Get Downers Grove Death Records

Illinois law restricts who can get death records. They are not public documents.

Only people with a direct tie to the person who died can get a certified copy. Spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren are all eligible. Estate executors and administrators qualify with documentation proving their role. Anyone with a "property right interest" tied to the deceased can also get Downers Grove death index records. The law defines this as owning something tangible, like a car title or deed, that is connected to the person. People who do not fit these groups can still request a record by bringing a letter from an office or agency that needs the death certificate for official purposes.

A valid, unexpired photo ID is required for all requests at the DuPage County offices.

How to Order Downers Grove Death Index Copies

You have several ways to get death records for Downers Grove. The right one depends on how fast you need the copy and where you are.

In person at either the DuPage County Clerk (421 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton) or the DuPage Health Department (111 N County Farm Rd, Wheaton) is the fastest route. Both offices can search the death index and issue copies while you wait. Downers Grove residents can get to either office in under 20 minutes.

Mail requests go to the DuPage County Clerk at 421 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187. Include a completed form, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $18. Write the full name of the deceased, their date of death, and your relationship. Mail from the county office comes back faster than the state, which takes about 12 weeks.

Online ordering through VitalChek is also available. This service adds a $15 handling fee plus shipping. A credit card is required. For recent Downers Grove deaths, VitalChek works fine. For older records, a trip to Wheaton is usually the better choice.

Downers Grove Death Index for Genealogy

Downers Grove dates back to the 1830s, and death records from this area span a long time. Family researchers can get genealogy copies of DuPage County death records for deaths from 75 or more years ago at a cost of $5 per copy.

For deaths between 20 and 75 years old, the state may be your only option for a genealogy copy since DuPage County uses the 75-year cutoff. The Illinois State Archives holds the statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 through 1972. The IDPH death records page handles requests for deaths from 1916 forward across all Illinois counties, including DuPage. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can help you find contacts for other county offices if your research extends beyond DuPage County.

Note: The DuPage Health Department has records from 1953 forward, which may also help fill in gaps in your Downers Grove family history research.

State Resources for Downers Grove Death Records

When the DuPage County offices cannot find what you need, the state steps in. The Illinois Department of Public Health has death records for every county from 1916 on. Their mailing address is 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Call (217) 782-6554 weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mail requests take about 12 weeks, and no updates are provided during that time.

The state office helps when the DuPage County death index does not have the record, or when you are unsure which county a death was filed in. Downers Grove is close to Cook County, and some deaths near the border may have been filed there instead of DuPage.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Downers Grove in the DuPage County area and use the same county offices for death records.