St. Clair County Death Records

Death records for St. Clair County, Illinois are filed with the St. Clair County Clerk's Office in Belleville. If you need a certified copy of a death certificate or want to look up a death record from this county, the clerk's office is the primary contact. This page covers how to request records in person, by mail, or online, who qualifies to get a copy, what fees apply, and where else you can look if the county office cannot help.

St. Clair County Clerk's Office

The St. Clair County Clerk maintains birth, marriage, civil union, and death records for events that took place within St. Clair County. The office is located at 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220, inside the county courthouse. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can reach the records staff by calling 618-277-6600, extension 2380, or toll-free at 888-290-6363. For more information about services, visit the St. Clair County Clerk official page.

The clerk issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred within St. Clair County. Records go back many decades. If you are not sure whether the death occurred inside the county boundaries, call ahead before visiting or sending a mail request.

The St. Clair County Clerk's Office website provides contact details, office hours, and instructions for requesting vital records including death certificates.

The clerk's office at 10 Public Square handles walk-in requests during regular business hours. Staff can tell you what identification and payment are required for your specific request.

How to Get a Death Certificate in St. Clair County

You have three ways to request a death certificate from St. Clair County. Walk-in visits are the fastest option. Come to 10 Public Square in Belleville between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM on any weekday. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. You will need to supply the full legal name of the deceased, the date of death, and the place of death. Staff will process most requests while you wait, though some older records may take longer to locate.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write or print your request, include a copy of your photo ID, provide all the same details, and include payment by check or money order made out to the St. Clair County Clerk. Do not send cash through the mail. Add your return address and allow extra time beyond the standard processing window for delivery in both directions.

Online orders go through VitalChek. St. Clair County has its own VitalChek portal at VitalChek St. Clair County. This is the most convenient option if you cannot visit in person. VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the county's certificate fee. The fax number for the office is 877-846-4972 if you need to send documents that way.

The VitalChek St. Clair County ordering portal lets you request a death certificate from St. Clair County online, with secure payment and delivery options.

VitalChek is a state-authorized vendor used by St. Clair County and many other Illinois counties to handle online vital records requests.

Who May Request St. Clair County Death Records

Illinois law limits who can receive a certified copy of a death certificate. Under 410 ILCS 535/24, death records are not open to the general public. The law keeps these records confidential and removes them from the scope of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

Eligible requesters 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, an authorized legal representative acting for an eligible person, and licensed funeral directors involved in the case. Genealogical researchers may also request records, but only for deaths that occurred at least 20 years ago. Genealogical copies are uncertified and marked accordingly. Everyone who requests a record must show a valid, government-issued photo ID at the time of the request, whether in person or by mail.

Note: If you are unsure whether you qualify to request a death certificate, call the St. Clair County Clerk at 618-277-6600 ext. 2380 before submitting your request.

Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders connects county offices across the state. This organization provides a directory of all county clerks, which can help you find the right office if you are researching a death that may have crossed county lines. You can browse the directory at the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders site.

This resource is useful when you are not certain which county a death was recorded in. If the deceased lived near a county border or died in a hospital outside the home county, the records could be in a different jurisdiction than you expect. The IACCR directory lists contact details for every county in Illinois, making it easy to reach the right office.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory lists every county clerk in Illinois, including St. Clair County, with contact information and office addresses.

The IACCR directory is a practical tool when you need to confirm which county holds a specific death record or when a search spans multiple counties.

Illinois Department of Public Health Death Records

The Illinois Department of Public Health serves as the statewide repository for vital records. If the St. Clair County Clerk cannot locate a death record, or if the death occurred before the county's records begin, IDPH is your next step. IDPH Vital Records is at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. The phone number is (217) 782-6554. They also accept requests by mail and process certified copies under the same legal framework as county offices.

IDPH charges $19 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4. Genealogical copies, which are uncertified, are $10 each. The standard mail turnaround is about 12 weeks. Expedited processing is available with proof of urgency and takes roughly 5 to 7 business days. You can read full instructions on the IDPH death records page.

The Illinois Department of Public Health death records page covers statewide options for requesting death certificates and explains eligibility rules that apply across all Illinois counties.

IDPH maintains statewide death records and is the right contact when county-level records are unavailable or a death occurred outside St. Clair County.

Cities and Towns in St. Clair County

Deaths that occur in any city or town within St. Clair County are recorded with the county clerk in Belleville. Communities such as O'Fallon, Fairview Heights, Mascoutah, Swansea, Cahokia, and many others are all served by the St. Clair County Clerk's Office. If you are requesting a death certificate from any of these areas, contact the county clerk directly at 10 Public Square in Belleville.

Nearby Counties

Deaths that occurred near the county border may have been recorded in an adjacent county. Check these neighboring counties if you cannot find a record in St. Clair County.