Perry County Death Records Lookup

Death records for Perry County, Illinois are kept by the Perry County Clerk's Office in Pinckneyville. If you need a certified death certificate for an estate, legal matter, or personal use, or if you are searching for a historical record, this page explains where to go and what to expect from the request process in Perry County.

Perry County Clerk's Office

The Perry County Clerk is the local office for vital records, including death certificates. The office is located at 3764 State Route 13/127, Pinckneyville, IL 62274. You can call 618-357-5116 during regular business hours. For details about county services and current contact information, check the Perry County official website.

The county seat of Pinckneyville is where all death certificates filed in Perry County are stored. The clerk's office processes requests for certified copies and can tell you what identification and payment are needed. Staff will not share vital records details over the phone, so written requests or in-person visits are required.

The Perry County official website lists current contact details and office hours for the clerk and other county departments.

Checking the county website before your visit can save time by confirming hours and any updated procedures.

How to Get a Perry County Death Certificate

You can request a death certificate from Perry County in person, by mail, or online. Each method has a different processing time, so choose based on how quickly you need the record.

In-person requests go directly to 3764 State Route 13/127 in Pinckneyville during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You must provide the full name of the person who died, the date and place of death, and your relationship to the deceased. Payment is collected at the time of the request.

For mail requests, send your completed form along with a photocopy of your ID, all the information above, a written signature, your return address, and a check or money order. Don't send cash through the mail. Mail adds extra processing time, so factor that in if you have a deadline.

The VitalChek Illinois vital records portal provides an online option for ordering Perry County death certificates without traveling to Pinckneyville.

VitalChek handles online orders for many Illinois counties and charges a service fee on top of the county's certificate cost.

Who Can Request Perry County Death Records

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

Eligible requesters in Perry County include the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. Also eligible are individuals with a direct personal or property interest in the record, legal representatives acting for an eligible person, funeral homes involved in the case, and genealogical researchers working with records that are at least 20 years old. Genealogical copies are uncertified. All applicants must provide valid photo ID.

Note: If you are unsure whether you qualify, call the Perry County Clerk at 618-357-5116 before sending a request.

Certificate Fees and Payment

The Perry County Clerk sets local fees for certified death certificate copies. Contact the office at 618-357-5116 for the current fee schedule. For comparison, IDPH charges $19 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. County fees are set independently and may differ.

For mail requests, pay by check or money order. In-person requests depend on what the office accepts. Online VitalChek orders include an extra vendor fee. Save your payment receipt in case you need to track your order later.

Statewide Records at IDPH

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains death records for all deaths that occurred in Illinois. If the Perry County Clerk cannot find the record you need, or if the death happened before the county's records begin, IDPH is the next step. IDPH Vital Records is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, and can be reached by phone at (217) 782-6554 between 10am and 3pm weekdays. See the IDPH death records page for complete request information.

State law under 410 ILCS 535/25 requires a search fee before IDPH issues any certificate. Standard mail processing at IDPH takes around 12 weeks. Urgent requests with proof of need take 5 to 7 business days.

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page is a statewide resource for Perry County residents who need to locate or request a death certificate.

IDPH is especially useful for older records or deaths that occurred before Perry County's local records begin.

Communities in Perry County

Perry County includes several small communities in southern Illinois. Towns like Du Quoin and Tamaroa file death records through the Perry County Clerk at 3764 State Route 13/127 in Pinckneyville. No cities in the county meet the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

If you need records from a neighboring county, each office below maintains its own death records separately from Perry County.