Bureau County Death Records

Bureau County, Illinois death records are maintained by the Bureau County Clerk in Princeton. The county has death records going back to 1878 and also has a dedicated genealogy site with historical records. This page explains how to request death certificates and search older records from Bureau County.

Bureau County Clerk's Office

The Bureau County Clerk is located at 700 S. Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356. You can reach the office by phone at 815-875-2014 or by email at bcvitalrecords@yahoo.com. The clerk maintains death records for all deaths that occurred within Bureau County. Princeton serves as the county seat and is where all vital records requests are processed. The county's records go back to 1878, making Bureau County a strong resource for genealogical research as well as current certificate needs.

For questions about older records or historical research, Bureau County also has a dedicated genealogy website at bureaucountygenealogy.com. That site holds historical records and can be a useful starting point if you are tracing family history in this area. Current certificate requests still go through the County Clerk's Office in Princeton.

Bureau County accepts VitalChek orders for online requests. The clerk's office is also reachable by mail if you cannot visit Princeton in person.

How to Get Death Records in Bureau County

Bureau County offers three ways to get a death certificate: in-person, by mail, or online through VitalChek.

For in-person requests, visit 700 S. Main Street in Princeton during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID along with the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, your relationship to the person, and payment for the fee. Staff will process your request while you wait or tell you when to return for pickup.

Mail requests go to the same Princeton address. Include a written request, a photocopy of your photo ID, the details about the deceased, your signature, your return mailing address, and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash. Add extra time for postal delivery on both ends of the process.

Online orders are processed through VitalChek. VitalChek charges its own service fee in addition to the certificate cost. If the death occurred before 1916 or in a different county, the Illinois Department of Public Health at (217) 782-6554 may be the better contact.

The Bureau County Genealogy website hosts historical death records and other genealogical resources for Bureau County, Illinois.

The genealogy site covers historical Bureau County death records and is a helpful first stop for researchers looking at older records from this part of Illinois.

Who Can Access Bureau County Death Records

Illinois law restricts death records to certain eligible requesters. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, death certificates are not public records and are not subject to FOIA. Access is limited to protect the integrity of vital records.

Certified copies can be requested by a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. Someone with a direct personal or property interest in the death may also qualify. A legal representative acting on behalf of an eligible person can apply, and funeral homes involved in the case may obtain copies as part of their work. For genealogical purposes, death records that are at least 20 years old are available as uncertified copies to researchers. All applicants must present valid government-issued photo ID when they request a record.

Note: The Bureau County Clerk can clarify eligibility questions by phone at 815-875-2014 or by email at bcvitalrecords@yahoo.com.

Death Certificate Fees in Bureau County

Bureau County has a defined fee structure for death certificate requests. A certified death record search costs $25 plus a $6 search fee. Genealogical (uncertified) copies are $10. For comparison, birth and marriage searches cost $19 plus a $6 search fee. These fees are set locally and apply to requests handled by the Bureau County Clerk. When you mail your request, include a check or money order payable to the Bureau County Clerk. Do not send cash.

Online orders through VitalChek carry an additional vendor service fee. The state of Illinois via IDPH charges $19 for the first certified copy, $4 per additional copy, and $10 for genealogical copies. Bureau County's local rates apply when you go through the Princeton office directly.

State and Genealogical Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health is the statewide resource for vital records. IDPH holds death records from across the state and can help when Bureau County's own records don't go back far enough or when the death occurred in another county. Contact IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, phone (217) 782-6554 (weekdays 10am-3pm), or email DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov. The IDPH death records page walks through the application process in detail.

State law under 410 ILCS 535/25 requires a search fee before any death certificate is released. Bureau County's death records date from 1878, which means local records cover a long stretch of history and are often sufficient for family research going back well into the 19th century.

The VitalChek Illinois vital records portal accepts online death certificate orders for Bureau County and other Illinois counties.

VitalChek is available for online Bureau County orders and typically delivers in fewer days than regular mail to the county office.

Towns in Bureau County

Cities and towns in Bureau County file death records through the county clerk in Princeton. Communities like Tiskilwa, Neponset, and Sheffield are all served by the Bureau County Clerk's Office at 700 S. Main Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bureau County. If you need records from a neighboring area, contact the clerk in the county where the death occurred.