Find Sangamon County Death Index

Sangamon County death index records are held by the county clerk in Springfield, the state capital. With nearly 195,000 residents, Sangamon County is a major hub for vital records in central Illinois. The clerk's office stores death certificates for all deaths that took place in the county. You can request copies in person at the Springfield office, by mail, or through an online ordering service. The Sangamon County death index also serves people looking for older records, since Springfield has been a center of state government and record-keeping for well over a century.

Sangamon County Clerk Death Index Office

The Sangamon County Clerk's office is the primary source for death records in the county. It is at 200 S. Ninth Street, Room 101, Springfield, IL 62701. Call 217-753-6700 for help with death index requests. The office handles vital records including birth, death, and marriage certificates for all of Sangamon County.

Under 410 ILCS 535, every death in Illinois must be registered. The funeral director or attending physician files the death certificate with the local registrar within seven days. The record then goes to the Sangamon County Clerk and the state. Each death record in the Sangamon County death index contains the person's full name, date and place of death, cause of death, and other identifying information. The clerk can search the index by name and date range to locate the specific record you need.

Springfield residents sometimes ask whether the city clerk or the county clerk handles death records. The answer is the county. While the Springfield City Clerk does provide some vital records services, death records for all of Sangamon County run through the county clerk's office.

Access Rules for Sangamon County Death Records

Illinois death records are not open to the public. The law limits who can get copies. Family members of the deceased are the primary group. A spouse, parent, child, or sibling can request a Sangamon County death certificate by showing valid ID and stating their relationship. Legal representatives also have access when they provide proper documentation. Anyone with a financial or property interest tied to the death may qualify as well.

If you are not a relative, you need supporting paperwork. A letter from the agency or office that requires the death certificate must come with your Sangamon County request. Under 410 ILCS 535, Section 25, the clerk cannot issue a death record to someone who does not meet these rules. A valid photo ID is always required. The Sangamon County office accepts an Illinois driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or out-of-state driver's license. No expired IDs.

No information about death certificates is given over the phone. You must submit your request in writing or in person at the Sangamon County Clerk's office.

Sangamon County Death Index Online Tools

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page provides statewide guidance that applies to Sangamon County death index searches.

This state page shows what forms you need, what fees to expect, and how to submit your request for a Sangamon County death record through the state office. It also covers the different types of copies available and the ID requirements that apply across Illinois.

Sangamon County Death Certificate Fees

A certified death certificate from Sangamon County costs $19. Each additional certified copy of the same record is $4. The county adds a $2 surcharge per certified copy as required by state law. That surcharge goes into the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund.

Genealogical copies are cheaper. An uncertified copy costs $10, and each extra is $2. These are only for deaths 20 or more years old. Genealogical copies work for family history research but cannot be used for legal or financial matters. If you need to settle an estate or file an insurance claim through Sangamon County, get the certified version instead.

How to Order Sangamon County Death Records

The fastest option is to visit the Sangamon County Clerk in person. The office is at 200 S. Ninth Street, Room 101, in downtown Springfield. Walk in with your photo ID and the name and date of death for the person you are looking for. Staff will search the death index and give you the certificate on the spot if they find the record and you qualify.

For mail requests, send a letter to the Sangamon County Clerk, 200 S. Ninth Street, Room 101, Springfield, IL 62701. Include these details:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of death or approximate range
• Your name and relationship to the deceased
• A copy of your valid photo ID
• Check or money order for the correct fee

Mail requests from the county take a few weeks. If you need the record faster, going in person or using an online service is better.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the authorized ordering service. A $15 handling fee is added to every online order. You need a major credit card. UPS shipping is available for $22 extra. VitalChek processes death certificate orders for events in the last 20 years through the state system.

State and Genealogy Death Index Sources

Sangamon County is uniquely situated for vital records research because Springfield is also where the state agencies that handle death records are based. The IDPH Division of Vital Records is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield. You can visit their office in person during weekday hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (217) 782-6554 for assistance. The state holds death records for all of Illinois from 1916 to the present.

The Illinois State Archives is also in Springfield, at the Norton Building in the Capitol Complex. The archives maintain the statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 through 1972. Researchers who want Sangamon County death records from these periods can visit the archives or contact them at 217-782-4866. Having both the state archives and the IDPH office in Springfield means Sangamon County residents have more direct access to death index resources than people in most other Illinois counties.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders is another resource for locating county-level death index records throughout the state.

Cities in Sangamon County

All death records for cities in Sangamon County are filed with the county clerk in Springfield. The clerk's office handles records for Springfield and surrounding communities.

Other communities in Sangamon County include Chatham, Rochester, Sherman, and Riverton. Death index records for all of these are kept by the Sangamon County Clerk.

Nearby Counties

Sangamon County borders several other counties. A death certificate is filed in the county where the death took place, so confirm the location before making your request.