Marshall County Death Index Search

Marshall County death index records are filed with the county clerk in Lacon, Illinois. This small county along the Illinois River has a population of about 11,647. The Marshall County Clerk keeps death records for all deaths that happen within the county. State records go back to 1916, while local files may cover more recent decades. Whether you need a certified copy for a legal matter or a genealogy copy for family research, the clerk's office in Lacon is where you start. Records can also be ordered through the state or an online vendor.

Marshall County Clerk Death Records

The Marshall County Clerk is the local registrar for vital records in Marshall County. That includes the death index. The office is in the Marshall County Courthouse in Lacon, IL. Under 410 ILCS 535, county clerks file and store death records at the local level. The Marshall County death index lists every death that took place in the county. The clerk can search the index and pull the record when you give them the right details.

Going to the Marshall County Courthouse in Lacon in person is the fastest way to get a copy. Bring your photo ID. Have the full name of the deceased and an approximate date of death. The clerk runs the search right there and can hand you a copy if the record exists. Lacon is a small town, so calling ahead to confirm office hours is a good idea. Some smaller county offices close for lunch or keep shorter hours on certain days.

You can find contact information for the Marshall County Clerk through the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders.

Who Can Access Marshall County Death Records

Death records in Illinois are not public records. Access is restricted by state law. This applies to Marshall County the same as every other county in the state.

You can get a certified copy if you are the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased person. Estate executors and administrators also qualify. The law allows anyone with a "property right interest" to request a copy. That means you own something tangible, like a deed or vehicle title, that needs a death certificate to process. If you do not fit any of those groups, you can still get a Marshall County death record if you have a letter from an agency or office requesting the record for official use.

A valid photo ID is required. The Marshall County Clerk will not process your request without one.

Fees for Marshall County Death Index

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

Genealogical copies of death records more than 20 years old are $10 through the state. The Marshall County Clerk may charge a similar rate. For mail orders, send a check or money order made out to the Marshall County Clerk. The IDPH fee schedule lists costs for all request types.

VitalChek is the online vendor for ordering Illinois death certificates, including records from Marshall County. The service adds a handling fee on top of the base cost, but it saves you a trip to Lacon.

How to Get Marshall County Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate from Marshall County.

In person at the Marshall County Courthouse in Lacon is the fastest. Bring your ID, provide the details, and get your copy on the spot. Mail is the second option. Send your request to the Marshall County Clerk at the courthouse in Lacon, IL. Include a completed request form, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order. Mail from the county tends to be faster than going through the state. IDPH mail requests take about 12 weeks, and they do not give updates during that time.

Online ordering through VitalChek is the third route. You need a credit card. The order goes through IDPH, not the Marshall County Clerk, so it takes longer than going to the county directly. The service fee adds to the total cost, but it is the most convenient option if you cannot make the trip to Lacon or do not want to wait for mail.

Note: Rush processing is available through IDPH if you send an overnight package with proof of urgent need and a prepaid return label.

Genealogy and Marshall County Death Index

Researchers tracing family lines in central Illinois will find the Marshall County death index useful. Death certificates list the cause of death, parents' names, birthplace, and other facts that help piece together a person's life story. Marshall County's location along the Illinois River means it has been settled for a long time, and older death records from this area can be quite valuable for genealogy.

The Illinois State Archives holds the statewide death index for pre-1916 records and certificates from 1916 to 1972. The IDPH death records portal handles genealogy requests for deaths after 1916 in all Illinois counties, including Marshall. Genealogical copies cost less and have fewer eligibility rules. They are stamped for research use only.

The IDPH birth, death, and other records page provides an overview of all vital record types available in Illinois. It is a good starting point if you need more than just the Marshall County death index for your research.

State Resources for Marshall County

When the Marshall County Clerk does not have the record you need, try the state. The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death records for all counties going back to 1916. Their address is 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Call (217) 782-6554 on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. for questions.

The state office is helpful when you are unsure which county a death took place in. They can search the entire statewide death index and find records from any county, including Marshall.

Nearby Counties

Marshall County borders several other counties in central Illinois. Death certificates get filed in the county where the death occurred, so confirm the location before placing your request.