Tazewell County Death Index

Tazewell County death index records are managed by the county clerk's office in Pekin, Illinois. Located in central Illinois along the Illinois River, Tazewell County has a population of over 130,000 and is part of the Peoria metro area. The clerk's office in Pekin handles all requests for death certificates when the death took place within county lines. You can search for a Tazewell County death record by visiting the office, sending a request through the mail, or using the state-authorized online system. This page covers the steps, fees, and rules you need to know before you request a Tazewell County death index record.

Tazewell County Clerk Death Index Office

The Tazewell County Clerk handles death records for the county from the courthouse in Pekin. The office address is 11 South 4th Street, Suite 100, Pekin, IL 61554. You can reach the clerk by phone at 309-477-2264. Death certificates are available for deaths that occurred in Tazewell County. The clerk's office is open on weekdays during regular business hours.

To request a Tazewell County death record in person, go to the clerk's office with a valid photo ID. You will need the full name of the deceased and an approximate date of death. The staff searches the Tazewell County death index and can issue a certified copy the same day if a record is found. For mail requests, send your completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order to the Pekin office. Mail requests take longer than walk-in visits, so plan ahead if you need the record by a certain date.

The IDPH death records page has the request forms and instructions that apply to Tazewell County and every other county in Illinois.

This page from the Illinois Department of Public Health walks through the steps for ordering a death certificate from any county, including Tazewell County.

Who Can Request Tazewell County Death Records

Death records in Illinois are not public. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) sets strict limits on who can get a death certificate. For Tazewell County death index records, you must be a relative of the deceased person, a legal representative, or someone with a documented property or financial interest in the death. A spouse, parent, child, or sibling qualifies as a relative under the law.

If you are not a relative, you need supporting paperwork. A letter from the agency or office that requires the Tazewell County death record must come with your request. Without it, the clerk's office will turn the request down.

Everyone must show a valid government-issued photo ID. Tazewell County accepts an Illinois driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military ID, or out-of-state driver's license. Expired or hard-to-read IDs are not accepted.

Tazewell County Death Index Fees

A certified copy of a death certificate from Tazewell County costs $19. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $4. These are standard state fees under 410 ILCS 535. A $2 surcharge per certified copy goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund as required by state law.

Genealogical copies are $10 each. These work for family history research but are not valid for legal purposes. The Tazewell County Clerk stamps them "For Genealogical Purposes Only." Additional genealogical copies are $2 when ordered together. If you order online through VitalChek, add $15 for the handling fee. UPS shipping adds another $22 if you select that option.

How to Order Tazewell County Death Certificates

In person is the fastest way. Visit the Tazewell County Clerk at 11 South 4th Street in Pekin. Bring your ID and the details about the deceased. Staff will pull up the death index and issue your copy on the spot when possible.

By mail, send your request to the same address. Include the completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order made out to the Tazewell County Clerk. The IDPH certificate request page has downloadable forms. Mail processing takes several weeks through the Tazewell County office, so do not wait until the last minute if you have a deadline.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The site accepts major credit cards. VitalChek handles Tazewell County death records for events within the last 20 years. Older records may need to be requested directly from the clerk or from state-level sources.

Note: For urgent needs, send your request by overnight delivery with proof of immediate need, like a travel itinerary or insurance letter.

Genealogy and Tazewell County Death Index

Death certificates 20 or more years old can be issued as genealogical copies in Tazewell County. These uncertified copies cost less and are available to a wider range of requesters. The Tazewell County Clerk can help with older records on file locally. For records that go further back, the Illinois State Archives in Springfield holds the statewide death index for pre-1916 records and death certificates from 1916 to 1972.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders is a good starting point if you are not sure where to begin your search. They can direct you to the right county office for genealogical death records in the Peoria metro area, including Tazewell County.

State Resources for Tazewell County

If the Tazewell County Clerk does not hold the death record you need, try the Illinois Department of Public Health. IDPH maintains death index records for the entire state dating back to 1916. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue in Springfield. You can call (217) 782-6554 on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mail requests take about 12 weeks. No status updates are provided during that time.

The Illinois Administrative Code, Title 77, Part 500 spells out the detailed rules for vital records across the state. These regulations apply to the Tazewell County Clerk and every other local registrar in Illinois.

Nearby Counties

Tazewell County borders several other central Illinois counties. A death certificate is filed with the county where the death occurred, so make sure you check the right jurisdiction before you file your request.