Find Death Records in Moultrie County

Moultrie County death records are held by the Moultrie County Clerk's Office in Sullivan, Illinois. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate or are searching for a death record filed in this county, this page covers how to request records, who qualifies to receive them, and what the process looks like from start to finish.

Moultrie County Clerk's Office

The Moultrie County Clerk is the local office responsible for recording and issuing death certificates for deaths that occurred in Moultrie County. The office is at 10 S. Main Street, Sullivan, IL 61951. You can call 217-728-4389 during regular business hours. For more about county services, visit the Moultrie County official website.

Sullivan is a small county seat, but the clerk's office maintains complete records for all deaths filed in Moultrie County. Staff can walk you through what you need to submit a request. Like all vital records offices in Illinois, they do not provide information over the phone about individual records.

Requesting a Moultrie County Death Certificate

There are three ways to request a death certificate from Moultrie County. You can go in person to the clerk's office in Sullivan, send a request by mail, or order online through VitalChek. Each method has different wait times.

If you visit in person, go to 10 S. Main Street, Sullivan during regular business hours. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. You will need to know the full name of the person who died, the date of death, the place of death, and your relationship to the deceased. Pay at the time you submit the request.

For a mail request, write to the clerk at the same address. Include a copy of your photo ID, the information listed above, a signature, your return address, and a check or money order. Don't send cash. Mail takes longer than an in-person visit, so plan ahead if you need the certificate quickly.

The VitalChek Illinois vital records portal offers an online option for ordering Moultrie County death certificates from home.

VitalChek processes online requests on behalf of Illinois counties. A vendor service fee applies in addition to the certificate fee set by the county.

Who Can Access Moultrie County Death Records

Illinois law limits access to death certificates. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, only certain people may receive a certified copy. Death records are not public records and are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Eligible requesters in Moultrie County include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the person who died. Others who may qualify are individuals with a direct personal or property interest in the record, legal representatives acting for an eligible person, funeral homes or mortuaries connected to the case, and genealogists researching records that are at least 20 years old. Genealogical copies are uncertified. All requesters must show a valid photo ID.

Note: Call 217-728-4389 before you send a request if you are uncertain about whether you meet the eligibility requirements.

Death Record Fees

The Moultrie County Clerk sets its own fee schedule for death certificate copies. Contact the office directly at 217-728-4389 for current rates. For context, IDPH charges $19 for a first certified copy and $4 per additional copy ordered at the same time. County fees may be similar but are set independently from state fees.

Pay by check or money order for mail requests. Online orders through VitalChek carry an additional vendor fee. Always keep your payment receipt in case you need to track your order later.

State Vital Records and IDPH

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains statewide death records. If the Moultrie County Clerk cannot locate a record, or if the death occurred before local records begin, IDPH is the next option. IDPH Vital Records is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, and can be reached at (217) 782-6554 between 10am and 3pm on weekdays. Full details are available on the IDPH death records page.

State law under 410 ILCS 535/25 requires a search fee before any death certificate is issued at the state level. Regular mail requests to IDPH take around 12 weeks. Urgent requests take 5 to 7 business days when proof of need is provided.

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page outlines statewide options for residents of Moultrie County seeking death certificates.

IDPH serves as a statewide backup when the local county clerk does not hold the record you need.

Communities in Moultrie County

Moultrie County is a smaller rural county in central Illinois. Communities including Arthur, Bethany, and Lovington all file death records through the Moultrie County Clerk in Sullivan. No cities in the county meet the qualifying population threshold for a separate city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Moultrie County. If you are not sure which county holds the record you need, start with the county where the death occurred.