Will County Death Index Search

Will County death index records are filed and kept at the Will County Clerk's office in Joliet, Illinois. With more than 700,000 residents, Will County is the fourth largest county in the state. If you need to find a death record for someone who died in Will County, the clerk's office is where you start. Records go back decades, and you can search by name or date. Both certified and uncertified copies are available to those who qualify. The Will County death index covers all cities and towns in the county, from Joliet to Bolingbrook to Plainfield and beyond.

Will County Clerk Death Records

The Will County Clerk's office handles all death index requests for the county. The office is at 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet, IL 60432. You can call them at 815-740-4615. Staff there can look up death records, tell you what forms you need, and let you know if the record you want is on file. Walk-in requests are common, and the clerk can often pull a Will County death record the same day if the file is found.

Under Illinois law, the county clerk acts as the local registrar of vital records. That means every death that happens in Will County gets registered with this office. The attending physician or coroner files the death certificate within seven days of the death, as set out in 410 ILCS 535, Section 18. Once on file, the Will County death index record stays with the clerk permanently. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can point you to more details on how county clerks across the state handle vital records.

The Illinois Department of Public Health provides an overview of how death records work across the state. You can view the IDPH death records page for background on statewide procedures that also apply to Will County.

The screenshot above shows the state-level death records page from IDPH. Will County follows these same rules and procedures for processing death certificate requests.

Who Can Access Will County Death Index Records

Death records are not public in Illinois. Only certain people can get a copy. This is true in Will County just like every other county in the state. The rules come from 410 ILCS 535, Section 25, which spells out who has the right to request a death certificate. If you do not fall into one of the allowed groups, the Will County Clerk will deny your request.

People who can get Will County death index records include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person who died. Legal representatives with proper documentation also qualify. Anyone who can show a personal or property right interest in the death may request a copy too. That includes things like settling an estate, dealing with a car title, or handling a property deed. If you are not a relative, you will need a letter from the office or agency that needs the death certificate. Bring a valid photo ID every time.

The Will County Clerk accepts an Illinois driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or out-of-state license. An expired or unreadable ID means your request gets sent back.

Will County Death Certificate Fees

Fees for Will County death index copies follow state guidelines. A certified copy of a death certificate costs $19. Each extra certified copy is $4 more. These are the same rates the state charges. The Will County Clerk also collects a $2 surcharge on each certified death certificate, which goes to the Death Certificate Surcharge Fund as required by 410 ILCS 535, Section 25.

Genealogical copies cost less. An uncertified copy for genealogy purposes is $10 for the first one, then $2 for each additional copy. These are stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and cannot be used for legal matters. You can get genealogical copies of death records that are 20 or more years old from the Will County Clerk. They are a good option for family history research when you don't need a certified document.

Note: All fees are subject to change, so call the Will County Clerk at 815-740-4615 to confirm current prices before you visit.

How to Get Will County Death Records

There are a few ways to get death index records from Will County. In person is the fastest. Go to the clerk's office at 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet during business hours. Bring your photo ID and the name of the person who died along with the approximate date of death. Staff will search the Will County death index and make your copy on the spot if they find the record.

Mail is another option. Send a written request to the Will County Clerk at 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Include a copy of your photo ID, a completed request form, and a check or money order for the right amount. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, so plan ahead if you have a deadline. You can also order online through VitalChek, though VitalChek adds a $15 handling fee on top of the base cost. Online orders need a major credit card.

For more information on how to obtain a death certificate in Illinois, the IDPH instructions page walks through each step.

The page above explains the state process for ordering death certificates, which applies to Will County requests made through IDPH or VitalChek.

State Resources for Will County Death Index

If the Will County Clerk does not have the record you need, the Illinois Department of Public Health keeps death index records for the entire state 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 take about 12 weeks to process. No updates are given during that time, so be patient.

The Illinois State Archives holds the statewide death index for records before 1916 and death certificates from 1916 to 1972. Family history researchers looking for older Will County death records may find what they need there. The Archives is in the Margaret Cross Norton Building at the Capitol Complex in Springfield.

The Illinois Administrative Code, Title 77, Part 500 has the full regulations that govern how death records are handled across all counties, including Will County. These rules cover everything from how certificates are filed to how copies get issued.

Will County Death Index for Genealogy

Will County death records that are 20 or more years old can be issued as uncertified genealogical copies. These cost $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional. They are stamped for genealogy use only. If you are building a family tree or doing research on ancestors who lived in Will County, these copies give you the information you need at a lower cost than certified records.

The Will County Clerk keeps records going back many decades. For very old records, you may need to check with the Illinois State Archives, which holds pre-1916 death index records and death certificates from 1916 to 1972. Between the Will County Clerk and state resources, most family history researchers can find what they are looking for.

Cities in Will County

Will County includes several large cities and towns. All death index records for these areas are filed with the Will County Clerk in Joliet. No matter which city or village the death took place in, the Will County Clerk's office is the source for the certificate.

Other communities in Will County include Plainfield, Romeoville, Lockport, New Lenox, and Frankfort. Residents of all Will County cities get death index records through the county clerk in Joliet. Tinley Park straddles Will and Cook counties, so check the address to determine which clerk holds the death record.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Will County. If you are not sure where a death took place, check the address. The death certificate is filed in the county where the death occurred.