Clark County Death Index

Clark County death index records are kept at the county clerk's office in Marshall, Illinois. Situated on the eastern edge of the state along the Indiana border, Clark County has about 15,266 residents. The death index at the local level goes back many years, and state records extend even further. Whether you need a certified copy of a death certificate for legal matters or a genealogical copy for family research, the Clark County Clerk handles all local requests. You can go in person to the courthouse in Marshall, send a request by mail, or use the state's online ordering service to get your records.

Clark County Clerk Death Records

The Clark County Clerk serves as the local registrar for all death records filed in the county. The office is in the Clark County Courthouse at 501 Archer Avenue in Marshall, IL 62441. Under 410 ILCS 535, the county clerk is responsible for maintaining vital records at the local level. Every death that occurs within Clark County gets recorded at this office. The clerk can search the death index and issue copies to people who qualify.

Visiting the courthouse in Marshall is the fastest route to a death certificate. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and know the full name and approximate date of death of the person you are searching for. Clark County is a small, rural county, so the office staff can usually get to your request without much of a wait. Call ahead to confirm office hours before making the trip to Marshall.

Who Can Access Clark County Death Records

Illinois does not treat death records as public records. Access is restricted. Only people with a qualifying connection to the deceased can get a certified copy from Clark County.

The spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the person who died are all eligible. Estate representatives such as executors and administrators named in probate documents can also request a copy. The law also allows anyone with a "property right interest" to get Clark County death records. In practical terms, this means you need a tangible connection to the deceased, like an insurance policy, property deed, or vehicle title that requires proof of death to transfer or settle.

People who do not fit these categories may still get the record by providing a letter from an official agency or office that needs the certificate. The Clark County Clerk reviews every request to make sure it meets the rules set by state law before releasing any copies. A valid, current photo ID is required for all requests.

Death Certificate Fees in Clark County

The first certified copy of a death certificate from Clark County is $19. Additional copies of the same record are $4 each. A $2 surcharge on each certified copy goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund as required by 410 ILCS 535, Section 25.

Genealogical copies cost $10 at the state level for death records that are 20 or more years old. Contact the Clark County Clerk to ask about their genealogy fee. Mail payments should be by check or money order made payable to the Clark County Clerk. Cash may be accepted for walk-in requests.

Check the IDPH fee schedule page for the complete breakdown of costs when ordering Clark County death index copies through the state.

The VitalChek page above shows the online ordering portal for Illinois death certificates. Clark County residents can use this service to order copies without visiting Marshall in person.

How to Get Clark County Death Records

Three options exist for getting death records from Clark County.

In person at the Clark County Courthouse in Marshall is the fastest. Walk in with your photo ID and the details of the deceased. The clerk searches the Clark County death index and can give you a copy that same visit. For mail requests, write to the Clark County Clerk at 501 Archer Avenue, Marshall, IL 62441. Include a completed application form, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the proper amount. County mail requests typically process faster than those sent to the state office in Springfield, where wait times average 12 weeks.

The third option is ordering online through VitalChek. VitalChek is the state's approved vendor for online death certificate orders. You will pay the $19 base fee plus a handling charge and shipping. These orders go through IDPH, not the Clark County Clerk directly, so processing times may be longer than ordering from Marshall.

Note: Rush processing is available through IDPH for an extra fee when you can show urgent need.

Clark County Death Index for Genealogy

Clark County sits along the Indiana border, and many families in this area have roots going back to the early 1800s. Death records can fill in gaps that other documents miss. Certificates older than 20 years are available as uncertified genealogical copies, which cost less and are marked for genealogy use only.

The Illinois State Archives holds the statewide death index for records before 1916 and actual death certificates from 1916 through 1972. Researchers tracing Clark County ancestors from those years should check the archives first. The IDPH death records portal handles genealogy requests for later deaths across all Illinois counties, including Clark.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders site, shown above, can help you locate the Clark County Clerk and other county offices if your research crosses county lines.

State Resources for Clark County

If the Clark County Clerk does not have the record you need, the state office can help. The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death records for all 102 counties from 1916 forward. Their mailing address is 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Phone assistance is available at (217) 782-6554 on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Expect about 12 weeks for mail requests, with no status updates during that time.

The state is a good backup when you are not sure which county a death happened in. Since Clark County borders Indiana, some deaths near the state line may be on file in one state but not the other. The IDPH office can help you sort that out.

Nearby Counties

Clark County is in eastern Illinois along the Indiana state line. Death certificates are filed where the death occurred. If you are not sure of the exact county, check these neighbors.