Access Clark County Death Records

Clark County, Illinois death records are maintained by the Clark County Clerk in Marshall. This page explains how to get a death certificate from Clark County, who is eligible to request one, what it costs, and where to go when county records do not have what you need.

Clark County Clerk's Office

The Clark County Clerk's Office is at 101 N. Main Street, Marshall, IL 62441. You can reach the office by phone at 217-826-8311. The clerk handles vital records for all deaths that occur within Clark County. Marshall is the county seat and the location where death certificates are stored and where requests are processed.

Clark County is a small rural county in eastern Illinois, close to the Indiana border. The clerk's office is the primary resource for death records in this county. Staff do not give out records information over the phone, so plan to visit in person or submit a written request. If the death occurred in Indiana or another state, you will need to contact that state's vital records office instead.

How to Get Death Records in Clark County

Clark County death certificates can be requested in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. All three methods result in the same certified document.

In-person requests are processed at 101 N. Main Street in Marshall 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 your payment for the fee. The clerk will process your request and let you know if anything is missing.

For mail requests, send your written application to the Clark County Clerk in Marshall. Include a photocopy of your photo ID, all the details about the deceased, your own name and signature, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash by mail. Mail takes longer, so factor in postal delivery time on both ends.

Online requests go through VitalChek. A vendor service fee applies in addition to the certificate cost. For deaths before 1916 or in a different county, contact IDPH at (217) 782-6554 for guidance on where to send your request.

The VitalChek Illinois portal handles online death certificate requests for Clark County and many other Illinois counties.

VitalChek is a state-approved vendor that makes it possible to order a Clark County death certificate without traveling to Marshall.

Who Can Get Clark County Death Certificates

Death records in Illinois are restricted under 410 ILCS 535/24. These records are not public and are excluded from FOIA requests. Access is controlled to protect the integrity of the records.

Eligible requesters include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. Someone with a direct personal or property interest in the record may also apply. Legal representatives acting on behalf of a qualified individual can submit a request, as can funeral homes involved in the case. Genealogical researchers may receive uncertified copies of death records that are at least 20 years old. All applicants must show a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of the request.

Note: Contact the Clark County Clerk at 217-826-8311 if you have questions about whether you qualify before sending your request.

Death Certificate Fees in Clark County

The Clark County Clerk sets local fees for death record copies. Verify the current fee by calling 217-826-8311 before sending payment. For reference, IDPH charges $19 for the first certified copy, $4 for each additional copy in the same request, and $10 for a genealogical copy (uncertified). Clark County may set similar or different rates.

Mail payments as a check or money order payable to the Clark County Clerk. VitalChek online orders add a service fee on top of the certificate rate. Save proof of your payment until the certificate is in hand.

State Resources and Genealogy

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains vital records for the whole state and serves as a reliable backup when Clark County's records are not available. IDPH is useful for deaths that occurred in other counties or for records predating local county files. You can reach IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, by phone at (217) 782-6554 on weekdays between 10am and 3pm, or by email at DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov. More information is at the IDPH death records page.

State law under 410 ILCS 535/25 requires a search fee before IDPH releases any certificate. Standard mail orders from IDPH take about 12 weeks. Urgent requests with proof of need are handled in 5 to 7 days. Genealogical researchers can get uncertified copies of records that are at least 20 years old by contacting IDPH directly.

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page serves Clark County residents who need state-level access to death certificates.

IDPH can process death certificate requests for Clark County residents when county records are unavailable or the death occurred elsewhere in Illinois.

Towns in Clark County

Cities and towns in Clark County file death records through the county clerk in Marshall. Communities like Casey, Martinsville, and Darwin are all served by the Clark County Clerk's Office at 101 N. Main Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clark County. If you need records from a different county, contact the clerk where the death occurred.