Adams County Death Records

Death records for Adams County, Illinois are kept by the Adams County Clerk's Office in Quincy. If you need a certified death certificate or want to search death records from this county, this page explains your options and how to get started.

Adams County Clerk's Office

The Adams County Clerk handles vital records for deaths that occur within the county. The office is at 507 Vermont Street, Quincy, IL 62301. You can reach them by phone at 217-277-2150 during regular business hours. The county seat of Quincy is where all death certificates filed in Adams County are stored and maintained. For general information about county services, visit the Adams County official website.

The clerk's office processes requests for certified death certificates. Staff can guide you through what forms you need and what ID you must bring. They do not give out vital records information over the phone, so plan to contact them in writing or visit in person if you need specific details about a record.

How to Get Death Records in Adams County

There are three ways to get a death certificate from Adams County. You can visit the clerk's office in person, send a request by mail, or order online through VitalChek. Each method works, though processing times differ.

For an in-person visit, go to 507 Vermont Street in Quincy during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You will need to provide the full name of the person who died, the date of death, the place of death, and your relationship to the deceased. Payment is due at the time of the request.

Mail requests go to the same address. Include a completed request form, a photocopy of your photo ID, the details listed above, a written signature, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash. Allow extra time for mail processing on top of the standard turnaround.

Online orders are available through VitalChek, which handles electronic requests for Illinois counties. VitalChek charges a service fee in addition to the certificate fee. If the death occurred outside Adams County or before 1916, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health at (217) 782-6554 instead.

The VitalChek Illinois vital records portal lets you order Adams County death certificates online without visiting the clerk's office.

VitalChek is a trusted vendor used by many Illinois counties and the state's Department of Public Health for online certificate orders.

Who Can Request Adams County Death Records

Death records in Illinois are not public records. Access is limited by state law under 410 ILCS 535/24, which restricts who may receive a certified copy. The law protects the integrity of vital records and specifically excludes them from the Freedom of Information Act.

People who may legally request a death certificate in Adams County include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person who died. Others who may qualify are someone with a direct personal or property interest in the record, a legal representative acting on behalf of an eligible person, a funeral home or mortuary involved in the case, and genealogical researchers looking at records that are at least 20 years old. Genealogical copies are uncertified. All requesters must show a valid government-issued photo ID when they apply.

Note: If you are not sure whether you qualify, call the Adams County Clerk at 217-277-2150 before submitting your request.

Death Certificate Fees in Adams County

The Adams County Clerk sets local fees for death certificate copies. Contact the office at 217-277-2150 for the current fee schedule, as rates can change. For reference, the Illinois Department of Public Health charges $19 for the first certified copy, $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, and $10 for a genealogical (uncertified) copy. County fees may be similar but are set independently.

Pay by check or money order when mailing a request. In-person requests typically accept cash, check, or card depending on the office. Online orders through VitalChek carry an additional service fee charged by the vendor. Keep a copy of your payment receipt in case you need to follow up on your order.

State and Genealogical Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health is the statewide authority for vital records. IDPH maintains death records for deaths that occurred anywhere in Illinois, making it a useful backup if the county clerk cannot locate a record or if the death happened before the county's records begin. You can reach IDPH Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, by phone at (217) 782-6554 (available 10am-3pm on weekdays), or by email at DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov. Learn more at the IDPH death records page.

State law under 410 ILCS 535/25 requires that a search fee be paid before a death certificate is issued. This applies at both the state and county level. For genealogical work, IDPH can also help with older records when county-level copies are not available.

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page explains statewide options for Adams County residents who need to locate or request death certificates.

IDPH processes requests with a standard turnaround of about 12 weeks by regular mail, or 5 to 7 days for urgent requests when proof of need is provided.

Towns in Adams County

Cities and towns in Adams County file death records through the county clerk in Quincy. Communities like Camp Point, Clayton, and Ursa are all served by the Adams County Clerk's Office at 507 Vermont Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Adams County. If you are not sure which office holds the records you need, check the county where the death occurred.