Access Evanston Death Index

Evanston death index records are held by the Cook County Clerk, not by the city. Home to about 76,000 people and Northwestern University, Evanston sits right on Chicago's northern border along Lake Michigan. All deaths that happen in the city get filed with Cook County. The Skokie branch of the Cook County Clerk is the nearest office for Evanston residents, located just a few miles west at 5600 W. Old Orchard Road. Cook County death records go back to 1872, and the death index for Evanston covers that full span of time.

Cook County Manages Evanston Death Records

Evanston does not maintain its own vital records office for deaths. The Cook County Clerk's Bureau of Vital Statistics is the sole keeper of death certificates for Evanston and all other communities in the county. When someone dies in Evanston, the death certificate is filed with Cook County by the funeral home or attending physician, and it becomes part of the county's permanent death index.

The Skokie office is the go-to location for Evanston residents. It is at 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Room 149, Skokie, IL 60077. Call 847-470-7233 before you head over if you have questions. The drive from most parts of Evanston takes about 15 minutes. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours. Staff can look up the death index on the spot and hand you a copy if the record exists. For recent deaths, same-day service is typical. Records from further back might take a bit more time to pull.

You can also use the main Cook County Clerk office at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, in downtown Chicago. Phone is 866-252-8974. The Markham Courthouse at 16501 Kedzie Avenue, Markham, IL 60426, is the south suburban option at 708-232-4150. Both process Evanston death index requests the same as the Skokie branch.

The Cook County death certificates page lists what forms and ID you need to bring.

For more details on office hours and procedures, see the Cook County Clerk vital records portal.

Evanston Death Index Eligibility

Death records are not open to the public in Illinois. That is the law. Under 410 ILCS 535, only people with a qualifying relationship or legal interest can get a death certificate. Qualifying relatives include the spouse, parent, child, and sibling of the person who died. If you fall outside that group, you need to show proof of a financial or legal reason, like handling an estate, processing a life insurance policy, or managing property that belonged to the deceased.

Every request requires a valid photo ID. Accepted types are an Illinois driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. It has to be current. If your ID is expired or the photo is too faded to match, the clerk's office will turn you away. Non-relatives requesting an Evanston death record must also bring documentation from the agency or business that needs the certificate.

Note: Attorneys and estate executors with court-issued letters can also access Evanston death certificates.

Fees for Evanston Death Certificates

Cook County sets all fees. A certified death certificate is $17 for the first copy. Additional copies of the same record cost $6 each when ordered at the same time. There is a $2 surcharge per certified copy that goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund, as laid out in 410 ILCS 535, Section 25. That surcharge is already part of the price you pay.

If the death occurred 20 or more years ago, you can get a genealogical copy instead. Genealogical copies cost less and come stamped as uncertified. They are suitable for family history research but cannot be used for anything that needs a legal document. The Cook County Genealogy Unit handles those requests for older Evanston death records. This can be a good option if you are piecing together a family tree rather than dealing with a legal matter.

You can pay with cash, check, or money order at any branch. Some offices also take credit cards. Mail requests need a check or money order made out to the Cook County Clerk.

How to Get Evanston Death Index Copies

The Skokie office is your best bet if you live in Evanston. Go during business hours with your photo ID and the name and date of death you need. The staff will run a search and print a copy right there. Most visits wrap up in well under an hour. For very old records, it could take a bit longer as staff look through archived files.

Online, you can use VitalChek to place an order. VitalChek is the authorized service for Illinois vital records online orders. You need a major credit card. On top of the certificate cost, there is a $15 handling fee. UPS shipping costs another $22 if you want faster delivery. VitalChek handles records for deaths within the past 20 years. Older Evanston death records usually require an in-person trip or a mail request to the Cook County Genealogy Unit.

For mail, send your request to Cook County Clerk, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602. Include the completed form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the total fee. Plan for a wait since mail takes longer than walking in.

State Resources for Evanston Death Records

The Illinois Department of Public Health has statewide death records from 1916 to the present. If Cook County cannot help with a particular Evanston death record, IDPH is the next place to try. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield. Call (217) 782-6554 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Be aware that mail requests to IDPH run about 12 weeks to process.

Through IDPH, a certified copy by mail is $19 first, $4 each additional. Genealogical copies are $10 and $2 for extras. The Illinois State Archives holds the statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 to 1972. This is the best path for very old Evanston deaths. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can direct you to the right office if the death may have happened in a different county.

Nearby Cities

Evanston sits close to several other Cook County cities that also have death index pages on this site.