Search DeKalb County Death Records

DeKalb County death records are maintained by the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder in Sycamore, Illinois. If you need a certified death certificate or want to look up historical death records from DeKalb County, this page walks you through each step of the process, including who can request records, how to submit a request, and what to expect.

DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder

The DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder's office is the official repository for all vital records in DeKalb County, Illinois. This includes death certificates filed for deaths that occurred within the county. The office is led by Tasha Sims and is located on the second floor of the Administration Building in Sycamore. Staff can help you find the right form, confirm your eligibility, and process your request during regular business hours.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the vital records line directly at 815-895-7149, or send a fax to 815-895-7148. Email inquiries may be sent to countyclerk@dekalbcounty.org. For deaths that happened within the past ten years, you may also contact the DeKalb County Health Department at 815-758-6673, which issues certificates on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Office address: 110 East Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor, Sycamore, IL 60178. Learn more at the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder's official page.

How to Get Death Records in DeKalb County

There are three ways to request a death certificate from DeKalb County: in person, by mail, or online. Each method works, but they differ in speed and what you need to bring or include.

If you go in person, visit the clerk's office at 110 East Sycamore Street during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and be ready to fill out a request form and pay the fee at the counter. This is the fastest option. Walk-in requests are handled the same day in most cases.

For mail requests, write a letter or complete the county's request form and mail it to the Sycamore address. Your letter should include the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, your relationship to the deceased, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Allow extra time for processing and return mail delivery. If the death did not occur in DeKalb County, you will need to contact the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) rather than the county clerk, since each county only holds records for deaths that happened within its own boundaries.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek, a third-party service used by many Illinois counties. You can start an order at VitalChek's Illinois portal. VitalChek charges an additional service fee on top of the certificate cost. The certificate is then mailed to you.

Who Can Request Death Records

Death records in Illinois are not public records. They are restricted under 410 ILCS 535/24, which limits access to specific people. Not everyone can walk in and request a certified copy.

The following individuals are generally eligible to request a certified death certificate from DeKalb County:

• Spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased
• A person with a documented personal or property right interest
• A legal representative acting on behalf of an eligible person
• A funeral home handling arrangements for the deceased
• An individual with a court order granting access

You must show a valid government-issued photo ID when you request a record. If you are acting as a legal representative, bring documentation of your authority. Requests that do not meet these requirements will not be processed. Genealogical researchers have a separate path, which is covered in the section below on state resources.

Death Certificate Fees in DeKalb County

Contact the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder directly at 815-895-7149 to confirm the current fee schedule before submitting a request. Fees can change, and the office can tell you exactly what to include in your payment.

For reference, the state of Illinois charges $19 for the first certified copy of a death certificate requested through the Illinois Department of Public Health. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4. If you are a genealogical researcher requesting an uncertified copy, the state fee is $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy in the same order. Local county fees may differ from these state rates.

Note: If you use VitalChek to order online, an additional service fee applies beyond the base certificate cost.

Illinois State Death Record Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health is the state agency that oversees all vital records, including death certificates. If the death you are researching happened outside of DeKalb County, or if you need a record that the county clerk cannot locate, the IDPH is your next step. Their office is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. You can reach them by phone at (217) 782-6554 or by email at DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov. Office hours for certificate issuance are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Processing times through the state office run about 12 weeks for regular mail requests. If you have an urgent need and can provide proof of that need along with overnight delivery arrangements, the state can sometimes process requests in 5 to 7 days. The VitalChek platform at vitalchek.com also connects to the IDPH system for online orders. More details about what to bring and how to apply are on the IDPH obtain a death certificate page.

Genealogical researchers have access to older records under different rules. Deaths that occurred 20 or more years ago are available as uncertified copies. Records that are 50 or more years old may be inspected in person at the state office. DeKalb County has its own strong genealogical resources as well. The DeKalb County Genealogy website offers free online index searches and holds death records going back to 1878, marriage records from 1837, and birth records from 1878. Genealogical copies from the county follow slightly different age rules: deaths must be at least 20 years old, marriages at least 50 years old, and births at least 75 years old.

The legal framework for all Illinois vital records access is found in the Illinois Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535. Section 535/24 covers who may access records. Section 535/25 covers search fees. These statutes are the basis for both county and state-level policies on death records access across Illinois.

The DeKalb County Genealogy website provides a free index for historical death records dating back to 1878 in DeKalb County, Illinois.

The genealogy index covers deaths, births, and marriages and is freely searchable without an account.

Cities in DeKalb County

The county clerk in Sycamore handles death records for all communities in DeKalb County. Cities and towns in the county include DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa, Malta, Cortland, and Sandwich. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, but residents of any town in DeKalb County can use the county clerk's office or the IDPH to request death certificates.

Nearby Counties

If the death you are researching may have occurred in a neighboring county, check these surrounding areas.