Massac County Death Index

Massac County death index records are maintained by the county clerk in Metropolis, Illinois. Sitting at the southern tip of the state along the Ohio River, Massac County has a population of about 13,865 and stores death records at its courthouse. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Massac County, the clerk's office is the first place to check. The Massac County death index covers deaths from throughout the county, from Metropolis to Joppa and the surrounding rural areas. Copies are available in person, by mail, or through the state's online portal.

Massac County Clerk Death Records

The Massac County Clerk handles death index records for the entire county. The office is in the Massac County Courthouse at 1 Superman Square in Metropolis, IL 62960. As the local registrar under state law, the clerk files death certificates for every death that happens in Massac County and issues copies to those who are eligible.

To request a death record in person, bring a valid photo ID to the Metropolis courthouse during business hours. Give the clerk the deceased person's full name and an approximate date of death. The staff will search the Massac County death index files. Most walk-in requests are handled on the spot. If you are coming from out of town, call ahead to confirm the office hours. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders lists contact information for all Illinois county clerks, including the Massac County office.

You can also submit a request by mail. Include your completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and payment sent to the Massac County Clerk at the courthouse address.

Who Can Get Massac County Death Records

Death records are not public in Illinois. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) limits access to specific people. Spouses, parents, children, and siblings of the deceased person can all request a Massac County death certificate. Grandparents and grandchildren are also eligible.

Estate representatives, including executors and administrators, can get copies with documentation of their authority. Anyone with a property right interest tied to the death may qualify too. The law defines that as something tangible and owned, such as a car title or property deed connected to the deceased. If you fall outside these categories, bring a letter from the agency that needs the Massac County death certificate. The clerk can still process the request with supporting documentation on file.

Every person who requests a death record must show a valid, current government photo ID. Expired or unreadable IDs will be rejected.

Massac County Death Certificate Fees

A certified copy of a death certificate from Massac County costs $19. Each additional copy of the same record is $4. These are the standard fees set by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Included in the $19 fee is a $2 surcharge mandated by 410 ILCS 535, Section 25. That surcharge goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund. Genealogical copies cost $10 through the state, but confirm with the Massac County Clerk about local pricing for uncertified copies. Pay by check or money order for mail requests, made out to the Massac County Clerk.

The IDPH death certificate page lays out the full fee schedule for all request methods.

This page from the Illinois Department of Public Health explains how to get a death certificate, with fees that apply to requests from Massac County and every other county in the state.

How to Get Massac County Death Index Copies

The quickest way is in person. Go to the courthouse in Metropolis with your photo ID. Tell the clerk who you are looking for and the approximate date of death. They will search the Massac County death index and issue your copy if they find a match and you qualify.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's online partner for vital records. You need a credit card. VitalChek adds a $15 handling fee on top of the base certificate cost. Optional UPS shipping costs more. Since VitalChek orders route through the state office in Springfield, processing takes longer than going to the Massac County Clerk in person. But it is a practical choice for people who cannot drive to Metropolis.

Mail your request to the Massac County Clerk at 1 Superman Square, Metropolis, IL 62960. Include the completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, and your check or money order. Local mail requests are usually processed faster than those sent to the state, where wait times reach about 12 weeks.

Note: Send urgent requests to IDPH with overnight delivery and proof of immediate need for processing in 5 to 7 business days.

Massac County Death Index Genealogy Records

Older Massac County death records are available as genealogical copies. Death certificates that are 20 or more years old qualify for uncertified copies under Illinois law. These are marked "for genealogical purposes only" and are not valid for legal use. They cost less than certified copies but contain the same information.

The Illinois State Archives has a statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 through 1972. For Massac County ancestors from the early years of the county, the state archives may have files the local office no longer holds. Southern Illinois has deep family roots, and Massac County death records can be an important link for genealogy researchers tracing lines in this part of the state. The IDPH death records page gives more details on genealogy requests that cover Massac County deaths.

State Death Record Resources for Massac County

If the Massac County Clerk cannot help, the Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death records for all counties going back to 1916. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield. Call (217) 782-6554 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mail requests to IDPH run about 12 weeks. No status updates are given during that wait. Try the Massac County Clerk first for faster results. The state office is best when you are not sure which county a death occurred in, or the local office cannot find the record you need.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Massac County in far southern Illinois. If you are unsure where a death happened, check the address. The death certificate gets filed in the county where the death occurred.