COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS FOR COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE
(until further notice)
Genealogical Searches – NO in person searching until further notice
- Availability Under Illinois State Law (410 ILCS 535-Vital Records Act) only specific individuals have legal access to birth, death, or marriage certificates. The Ogle County Clerk’s Office will issue certificates to authorized individuals only. To do otherwise is a violation of Illinois Law. Vital records are not considered public information, neither are they subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
- FOIA - Under Section (1)(a) of FOIA, these records are exempted as "information specifically prohibited from disclosure by federal or state law or rules and regulations implementing federal or state law." See 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a). The Vital Records Act states, "it is unlawful for any custodian to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in, vital records, or to copy or permit to be copied, all or any part of any such record except as authorized by this Act or regulations adopted pursuant hereto."
Genealogical Requests - NO IN PERSON GENEALOGICAL SEARCHES DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Please note: Absolutely no information can be given over the telephone regarding vital records.
Certified Copy
To obtain a certified copy of a death certificate, you must be one of the following:
- Executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate
- Someone who has a personal or property right interest in the certificate
- The informant listed on the death certificate
- The next of kin
Death records are not public records and are only available to those who have a personal or property right interest (“property right” is defined as something that it is owned, tangible such as a car title or a property deed) with the decedent. If you are not a relative of the deceased person, a letter or document from the office or agency that needs the death certificate must accompany the request.
REQUEST OPTIONS
1 - In Person
2 - By Mail
3 - Online