Find Death Records in Montgomery County

Montgomery County, Illinois death records are issued through the County Clerk's Office in Hillsboro. Whether you need a certified copy of a death certificate for a legal matter or are researching records for family history, the Hillsboro clerk's office handles all Montgomery County death record requests.

Montgomery County Clerk's Office

The Montgomery County Clerk's Office keeps vital records, including death certificates, for all deaths that occur within Montgomery County. The office is at 1 Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 595, Hillsboro, IL 62049. You can call 217-532-9530 for information on records, fees, and what you need to submit a request. The office fax is 217-532-9581. More information on county departments is available at the Montgomery County official website.

Hillsboro is the county seat and the Courthouse Square address is where all Montgomery County death certificates are stored. Whether a death occurred in Hillsboro, Litchfield, Nokomis, or any other community in the county, the record is kept here. The clerk's staff can tell you whether a specific record exists, what documentation you need, and what the current fees are. It is worth calling first, especially for older or less common records.

Mail requests go to P.O. Box 595, Hillsboro, IL 62049. Write a signed letter that includes the deceased's full name, the date and place of death, and your relationship to the person. Attach a photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order for the applicable fee. Do not send cash through the mail.

How to Get a Montgomery County Death Certificate

You have three options for requesting a death certificate from Montgomery County. Visit the clerk's office in person in Hillsboro, mail a written request to the P.O. Box address, or order online through VitalChek. In-person is typically the fastest. Mail requests work well if you cannot get to Hillsboro. Online is convenient from any location.

For in-person requests, go to 1 Courthouse Square in Hillsboro during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Have the deceased's full name, date and place of death, and your relationship to them ready when you arrive. Staff will process the request and collect payment before issuing the certificate.

If you prefer to avoid the trip, VitalChek handles online vital records orders for Illinois counties, including Montgomery. A vendor service fee applies on top of the county fee. Your order is tracked electronically from submission through delivery.

The VitalChek Illinois vital records portal is the online option for ordering Montgomery County death certificates without a visit to the Hillsboro courthouse.

VitalChek processes requests securely and provides tracking so you know when your Montgomery County death certificate ships.

Who Can Request Montgomery County Death Records

Certified death certificates in Illinois are not available to the general public. Access is limited by state law under 410 ILCS 535/24, which defines who may receive a copy. These restrictions are in place to protect privacy and apply whether you request through the Montgomery County Clerk or through the state office in Springfield.

People who qualify include the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person who died. A legal representative working for one of those individuals can also apply. Those with a direct personal or property interest in the deceased's estate may qualify. Funeral professionals involved in the case have access for their work. Genealogical researchers can request uncertified copies for records that are at least 20 years old, but must still show valid photo identification at the time of the request.

Note: If you are unsure whether you are eligible, call the Montgomery County Clerk at 217-532-9530 before making the trip to Hillsboro or submitting a mail request.

Death Certificate Fees in Montgomery County

Montgomery County sets its own fees for death certificates, independent of what the state charges. Contact the clerk at 217-532-9530 to confirm the current fee schedule before submitting a request, since rates can change. For reference, IDPH charges $19 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. County fees may differ from those amounts.

For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the Montgomery County Clerk. Do not include cash. In-person payment options vary by office. Online orders through VitalChek add a vendor service charge on top of the county fee. Hold onto your receipt or confirmation number so you can follow up if there is any issue with your order.

Illinois Department of Public Health

IDPH holds statewide death records for every Illinois county, including Montgomery. If the county clerk's office cannot locate a record, or if you are looking for a very old record that may not exist at the county level, IDPH is the next resource. IDPH Vital Records is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Call (217) 782-6554 on weekdays for assistance.

The IDPH death records page explains how to order from the state office, including required forms, acceptable identification, the current fee schedule, and mailing address. Standard mail processing at the state level takes approximately 12 weeks. Faster service is available for urgent requests when documentation of need is provided. The same access restrictions under 410 ILCS 535/24 apply at the state level.

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page provides full instructions for ordering a Montgomery County death certificate from the state office in Springfield.

IDPH is the statewide authority for vital records and is particularly useful when county-level records are incomplete or unavailable for older Montgomery County deaths.

Communities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County includes the county seat of Hillsboro along with other communities such as Litchfield, Nokomis, Raymond, and Coffeen. All death records for events occurring anywhere in Montgomery County are filed through the county clerk at 1 Courthouse Square in Hillsboro. No separate vital records office exists for any other town within the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery County. If you are not certain which county holds the record you need, check where the death occurred before contacting a clerk's office.