Kankakee County Death Index

Kankakee County death index records are filed with the Kankakee County Clerk's office in the city of Kankakee, Illinois. With a population of about 106,600, Kankakee County sits south of the Chicago metro area along the Kankakee River. The county clerk keeps official death certificates for all deaths that occurred within county borders. If you need to look up a death record in Kankakee County, you can go to the clerk's office in person, mail in your request, or order online through the state-authorized system. This page explains what you need to know about fees, access rules, and how to request Kankakee County death index records.

Kankakee County Clerk Death Records Office

The Kankakee County Clerk's office manages all death records for the county. It is located at 189 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901. You can reach the office by phone at 815-937-2990. The clerk keeps death certificates on file for deaths that occurred in Kankakee County. The office is open weekdays during regular business hours for walk-in requests.

To get a Kankakee County death record in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID and the full name and approximate date of death of the person whose record you need. The clerk's staff searches the Kankakee County death index and can issue a certified copy the same day in most cases. For mail requests, send a completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order to the Kankakee address. Allow several weeks for the clerk's office to process mail requests. No updates are given during the processing period.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has details on the forms and steps needed to request a death record from any Illinois county, including Kankakee County.

This IDPH page covers death record request procedures that apply across the state, including how to submit your Kankakee County death index request.

Access Rules for Kankakee County Death Records

Death records are not public in Illinois. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) limits who can get a copy of a death certificate. For Kankakee County death index records, the law says you must be one of the following: a relative of the deceased (spouse, parent, child, or sibling), a legal representative, or a person with a documented financial or property interest in the death. Examples of a property right include a car title, property deed, or insurance claim.

If you do not fall into one of those groups, you must include a letter from the agency or office that needs the Kankakee County death record. The clerk's office will not process your request without proper documentation or proof of your relationship.

Note: You must provide a valid, non-expired photo ID with every Kankakee County death index request.

Kankakee County Death Index Fees

Fees for death records in Kankakee County follow the state schedule set under 410 ILCS 535. A certified copy of a death certificate costs $19. Each extra certified copy ordered at the same time is $4. The fee includes a $2 surcharge that goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund as required by state law.

Genealogical copies of Kankakee County death records are $10 each. These are uncertified and stamped for genealogy purposes only. They work for family history research but will not hold up for legal or financial use. Additional genealogical copies are $2 when requested at the same time. Online orders through VitalChek cost the same base fee plus a $15 handling charge. UPS shipping through VitalChek is another $22 if you choose that delivery method.

How to Get Kankakee County Death Certificates

You have three options for requesting a Kankakee County death certificate. In person at the clerk's office at 189 East Court Street in Kankakee is the fastest method. Bring your ID and the details about the deceased person. The staff will search the death index and hand you a certified copy if the record is on file.

By mail, send your completed application to the same address. Include a photocopy of your valid photo ID and a check or money order made payable to the Kankakee County Clerk. The IDPH obtain death certificate page has downloadable forms you can use. Mail processing takes several weeks, and the Kankakee County office does not provide status updates during that time.

For online orders, VitalChek handles Kankakee County death records for events within the past 20 years. A major credit card is needed. The site adds a handling fee on top of the base cost. Older records may not be available online. Contact the Kankakee County Clerk directly for records outside the 20-year window, or try the state archives for older death index files.

Note: If you need a death record fast, you can send your request by overnight mail with proof of urgent need, like a travel itinerary or an insurance letter.

Kankakee County Death Index Genealogy

Genealogical copies of death certificates are available from the Kankakee County Clerk for records 20 or more years old. These uncertified copies cost $10 and give the same factual data as a certified record. The clerk stamps them "For Genealogical Purposes Only." Researchers use these for family trees, historical projects, and tracing lineage in the Kankakee County area.

The Illinois State Archives in Springfield holds the statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 to 1972. This is a valuable resource for older Kankakee County death index records that may not be on file locally. The Archives is in the Margaret Cross Norton Building and is open weekdays. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can help direct you to the best office for your genealogical search.

State Resources for Kankakee County

When the Kankakee County Clerk does not have the record you need, try the Illinois Department of Public Health. IDPH keeps death index records for all of Illinois from 1916 forward. Their address is 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702. Phone hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at (217) 782-6554. Mail requests to the state take about 12 weeks.

The Illinois Administrative Code, Title 77, Part 500 has the full set of regulations governing vital records statewide. These rules apply to the Kankakee County Clerk and every other registrar across Illinois.

Nearby Counties

Kankakee County shares borders with a few neighboring counties. Death certificates get filed in the county where the death took place. Make sure you are looking in the right jurisdiction before you submit a request.