Search Henry County Death Index

Henry County death index records are managed by the county clerk in Cambridge, Illinois. Located in the western part of the state along the Rock River, Henry County holds death records for the roughly 49,000 people who live across its small towns and rural communities. You can request death certificates in person at the Cambridge courthouse, by mail, or through VitalChek online. The Henry County Clerk keeps records of all deaths that take place within the county. If you need to find a death record for someone who passed in Henry County, the clerk's office is the first place to start your search.

Henry County Clerk Death Records

The Henry County Clerk's office in Cambridge is where death index records are filed and kept. The office sits inside the Henry County Courthouse. All deaths that happen in Henry County get registered here, and the clerk issues certified copies of death certificates to people who qualify. You can reach the office by phone or visit in person during business hours on weekdays.

Under 410 ILCS 535, each death in Illinois must be registered with the local registrar within seven days. In Henry County, that means the county clerk gets the death certificate filed by a funeral home or medical provider. The clerk then keeps that record on file and can issue copies when someone makes a valid request. This is the same process used across all 102 Illinois counties, but the Henry County office handles it locally for deaths that occur within its borders. The clerk also collects a $2 surcharge on each certified death certificate, which goes to the state Death Certificate Surcharge Fund.

The Henry County Courthouse is at 307 West Center Street in Cambridge, IL 61238. Call ahead to check hours before you go.

Who Can Get Henry County Death Index Records

Death records in Illinois are not public. The law limits who can get a copy. Only certain people have legal access to Henry County death certificates. Relatives of the deceased can make a request. So can anyone who shows a personal or property right interest in the death. If you are not a family member, you need a letter from the office or agency that requires the death certificate. The letter must go with your Henry County request.

You need a valid photo ID to get death index records from Henry County. The clerk accepts an Illinois driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or an out-of-state license. An expired ID or one that is hard to read will cause your request to be sent back. Make sure your ID is current before you file a Henry County death record request.

The Illinois Department of Public Health website explains the full list of who can get death records and what forms of proof you may need to show your right to access Henry County death index records.

How to Get Henry County Death Certificates

There are three main ways to get a death certificate from Henry County. Each method has its own steps and costs. Pick the one that works best for your needs.

In person is the quickest way. Go to the Henry County Courthouse in Cambridge during business hours. Bring your photo ID and tell the clerk the name of the person and an approximate date of death. The staff will search the Henry County death index and pull the record if they find it. You pay the fee and get your copy right there. A certified copy costs $19 for the first one and $4 for each extra copy you order at the same time. These fees match what the IDPH charges for death certificates through the state office.

Mail is another option. Send a written request to the Henry County Clerk at 307 West Center Street, Cambridge, IL 61238. Include a copy of your photo ID, the name of the deceased, the date of death if you know it, your relationship, and a check or money order for the fee. Allow extra time for mail requests to be processed and sent back to you.

• Certified copy: $19 first copy
• Additional copies: $4 each (same order)
• Genealogical copy from state: $10
• Valid photo ID required with all requests
• Check or money order for mail requests

Online orders for Henry County death certificates go through VitalChek, the state's authorized ordering service. VitalChek charges a $15 handling fee on top of the base certificate cost. You need a credit card to order. This is often the most convenient way if you can't travel to Cambridge in person.

Henry County Death Index State Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health holds death index records for all counties in the state, including Henry County, going back to 1916. Their Division of Vital Records office is in Springfield.

If you can't get a death record from the Henry County Clerk directly, the IDPH is your backup. Mail requests to the state take about 12 weeks. They do not give updates during that time. For urgent needs, send your request by overnight mail with proof of why you need it fast, and the state will try to process it in five to seven business days.

The Illinois State Archives also has the statewide death index for records before 1916. They hold death certificates from 1916 to 1972 as well. The archives building is in Springfield on the Capitol Complex. If you are doing family history research that goes back to the 1800s, the State Archives is a good place to look for Henry County death index records from that era.

Genealogy and Older Henry County Death Records

Death certificates that are 20 or more years old can be issued as uncertified genealogical copies in Illinois. These cost $10 through the state and are stamped for genealogical purposes only. They cannot be used for legal matters, but they work fine for family history research. Henry County has records going back to the late 1800s, so there is a good amount of historical data for genealogists to work with.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can help you find the right office for older Henry County death index records. You can also check with the Henry County Genealogical Society or local historical groups for help tracking down old records. The state archives in Springfield holds many of the oldest death records on file for Henry County and the rest of Illinois.

Note: Genealogical copies of death records are not certified and cannot be used as legal proof of death.

Henry County Coroner Death Records

When a death in Henry County falls under investigation, the county coroner handles the death certificate instead of a regular doctor. Under 410 ILCS 535, Section 18, the coroner or medical examiner must complete the death certificate for deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or involve violence, accidents, or unknown causes. The Henry County Coroner's office works with the clerk's office to make sure these death index records get filed properly.

If you need a copy of a coroner's report or a death certificate that was handled by the Henry County Coroner, contact that office separately. The coroner may have records that the clerk does not, such as autopsy reports or investigative findings. These records may have different fees and access rules than standard Henry County death certificates.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henry County. If you are not sure where a death took place, check the location. The death certificate is filed in the county where the death occurred, not where the person lived.