Illinois · 102 counties
When someone dies in Illinois
Two things matter first: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick your county below for exact contacts.
The paperwork
Death certificates in Illinois
Certified copies come from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, or the county clerk where the death occurred (official site).
Go through the county clerk if you can. The state office costs $19 for a full certified copy but takes about 12 WEEKS to process, which is far too slow for settling accounts. The county clerk where the death occurred is the practical alternative and fees vary by county. The state office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, checks payable to Illinois Department of Public Health. You need the completed application plus a readable, unexpired government photo ID.
Planning ahead
Nobody has died yet? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Illinois's exact rules and official forms.
Illinois power of attorney rulesIf money is tight
Statewide burial assistance
Illinois runs a statewide Funeral and Burial Benefits Program through the Illinois Department of Human Services, which reimburses funeral and burial or cremation costs for a deceased person who was receiving, or was eligible for, certain public aid such as TANF, AABD, or All Kids Medical when their resources and other payment sources are less than the states standard payment rates. Claims are handled by the IDHS Funeral and Burial Unit in Springfield using specific state forms, and the official page notes the reimbursement is limited to state set standard rates so families should check eligibility and required documentation with IDHS before making final arrangements with a funeral home. You can apply through your local Family Community Resource Center or by contacting the Funeral and Burial Unit directly.
Pick your county