Sunday 18 January 2015

State Free Online Death Records Search

By Claire Dowell


Typically, people looking for information on their ancestors skip right past the death record, heading in a beeline for other vital records such as marriage and birth. One might not imagine what a document about death could possibly do with the living. Documents of death, like any other vital records, can be very helpful in various ways. Perhaps the most significant information such record can provide is the cause of death. With the knowledge of how genetics contribute to health and diseases, the fact that an ancestor may have died from a genetically predisposed disease is paramount. Death records also provide so many other important details about the deceased. The central repository for Illinois death notices is the Bureau of the Vital Statistics which functions under the Department of Public Health.

Death records are not public records in Illinois. The State restricts access to such records only to those who are related to the decedent. When doing background checks and you're not at any point related to the decedent, you will have to submit a letter from the agency that demands the death certificate. Hence, if you wish to conduct genealogy research, you may have to settle for an uncertified copy of a death record. Bear in mind that this copy will only be obtainable if the death occurred at least 20 years before the date of your request.

In procuring certified or uncertified copies of death records, you can request access to such from the Division of Vital Records. Additionally, these copies of death notices can also be acquired through the Office of the County Clerk in the county where the death took place. For deaths recorded prior to 1916, these can only be obtained from the County Clerk's office.

Each certified copy of a death record costs $19, while the uncertified, genealogical copy is worth $10. For additional copies of certified copy, a fee of $4 is required if requested at the same time. In case no record is found, a no record statement will be given. The processing fees are non-refundable regardless if a record is found or not. Payment can be made by check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health or with a credit card. Payment should not be in cash. Credit card transactions will charge an additional $10 for the handling and an extra $19.50 fee if you choose that the death record be delivered to you.

In requesting for a copy of a death record, the important details you need to provide are the decedent's full name, date and county of the death, the parents' name, your relationship to the deceased, and the reason for your request. In addition, a written and notarized document naming you as the authorized individual should be submitted. If your purpose is to claim legal, personal or property interest, a printed document verifying that you have a personal or property interest at stake, such as a will naming you, should be submitted to the Office of Vital Statistics along with your request form.

Indicating as to why you wish to peruse someone's death certificate is paramount as death records in Illinois are restricted to those related to the decedent only. If you are a legal representative, providing a proof or evidence that you are indeed authorized to request for the said record is necessary. For purposes or other intentions like claiming legal, property or personal interest, a printed document proving that you have indeed a personal or property interest at stake, a will with your name for instance, is as important. To hasten this transaction, doing it online is a better option. Death records free public can be acquired through various alternatives online which is way economical as there will be less paper works, cheaper as you no longer need to pay loads of buck as most record solutions online are free, and easier as you can do such transaction at home or anywhere you want to so long as you have a device that is connected to the Internet.




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