Madison County Death Records

Madison County, Illinois death records are issued by County Clerk Linda Andreas through the office in Edwardsville. If you need a certified death certificate or are searching for a death record filed in Madison County, this page covers how access works, who qualifies, and where to send your request.

Madison County Clerk's Office

The Madison County Clerk, Linda Andreas, handles all vital records requests for deaths occurring within the county. The office is at 157 N. Main Street, Suite 109, Edwardsville, IL 62025. The mailing address is P.O. Box 218, Edwardsville, IL 62025-0218. Call (618) 692-6290 with questions. The fax is 618-692-8903. Full details on vital records are available through the Madison County death certificates page.

Certified copies of death certificates are issued from this office for all deaths recorded in Madison County. Staff there can walk you through the request process and confirm what supporting documents you need. One thing to know: death records in Madison County cannot be faxed. You must request in person, by mail, or online.

There is also a note specific to Madison County: death certificates for deaths occurring in District 60.2 are kept on file with the City Clerk's office rather than the county clerk, and are retained there for 10 years. If you are looking for a record from that district, you may need to contact the city directly.

Death Certificate Fees in Madison County

Madison County charges $23.00 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $8.00. These fees are set by the Madison County Clerk and apply to all in-person and mail requests.

Active duty or retired veterans receive their first copy free of charge. Each copy after the first costs $6.00 for veterans. To receive the veteran discount, you will need to show appropriate documentation when making your request. This benefit applies whether you order in person or by mail.

Online orders through VitalChek's Madison County portal carry an additional service fee from the vendor, on top of the county's standard charge. Keep that in mind when comparing cost across ordering methods.

How to Request Madison County Death Records

There are three ways to request a death certificate from Madison County. You can visit the clerk's office in Edwardsville, send a request by mail, or order online through VitalChek. Death records cannot be requested by fax.

For in-person requests, go to 157 N. Main Street, Suite 109 in Edwardsville. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You must be at least 18 years old to request a death record. Know the deceased's full name, date and place of death, and your relationship to them. Payment is required at the time of the visit.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 218, Edwardsville, IL 62025-0218. Write a signed request letter, include a photocopy of your ID, and enclose a check or money order for the applicable fee. Do not send cash. Allow extra time for postal transit on top of processing time at the office.

The Madison County death certificates page has the official request process, fee schedule, and eligibility rules directly from the county clerk.

This official county page is updated periodically. Check it before submitting your request to make sure the fee amounts and requirements listed here are still current.

Who Can Get a Death Certificate in Madison County

Access to death certificates is restricted under Illinois law. The relevant statute is 410 ILCS 535/24, which limits who may receive a copy. Requesters must be 18 or older. Certified copies go only to qualifying individuals, not to the general public.

The county follows the state statute, which outlines who qualifies. Eligible people include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased; a legal representative acting on behalf of an eligible person; someone with a direct property or personal interest in the record; and genealogical researchers, who may receive uncertified copies of records that are over 20 years old. Funeral homes involved in the case also qualify for access.

Note: Death records in Madison County cannot be faxed under any circumstances. All requests must come in person, by mail, or online.

Edwardsville City Clerk Records

If you are looking for a death certificate for someone who died in the City of Edwardsville specifically, you may also check with the city clerk's office. The city provides information on death and birth certificates for city residents through the Edwardsville City death certificates page. Some records may be held at the city level, particularly for recent deaths.

The Edwardsville City death and birth certificates page explains how city residents can access records through the municipal clerk's office.

For most Edwardsville deaths, both the city clerk and the Madison County Clerk may hold relevant records. It is worth checking both offices if a search at one location comes up empty.

Ordering Online Through VitalChek

Madison County residents can order death certificates through VitalChek's dedicated Madison County portal. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor that handles electronic orders for Illinois counties. This is a good option if you cannot visit the Edwardsville office in person.

The VitalChek Madison County ordering portal lets you submit a certificate request online and track the status of your order.

VitalChek adds a service fee to each order. The total cost will be higher than ordering directly through the county clerk, but the convenience of online ordering may be worth it depending on your situation.

Madison County Clerk Department

The county clerk's main office manages more than just vital records. If you need information on other county services or want to see a full list of the clerk's functions, the Madison County Clerk main page is a good starting point.

The Madison County Clerk main page provides an overview of all services the clerk's office handles, including vital records, elections, and notary services.

The clerk's office at 157 N. Main Street in Edwardsville is your central point of contact for Madison County death certificates and other vital records.

Illinois Department of Public Health

IDPH keeps statewide death records and can be a helpful backup when county records are unavailable or incomplete. Reach IDPH Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, or call (217) 782-6554. The IDPH death records page covers how to request a certificate from the state, what identification is needed, and what fees apply. State law under 410 ILCS 535/24 applies at both the state and county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Madison County. If you are unsure where a death was recorded, check the county where the event actually occurred.