This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DonnaMilano Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.illinois.unknown/12769.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: >From my experience with ordering records, a state will usually search for one date for a base fee, and an additional year or two for a few dollars extra. Just because they didn't find it, it doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist--they may not have looked in enough places based on the info you provided or the amount of searching you paid for. What criteria did you give them for searching? I'm not sure if this is who you used: "The original death certificates remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Requests for death records on or after January 1, 1916 may be made to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, by mail, by fax, in-person and online. Researchers who are unable to visit the Illinois State Archives Reference Room may direct requests for death certificates after 1915 to the Illinois Department of Public Health." "Visiting the Illinois State Archives Reference Room Researchers wishing an unofficial and uncertified copy of a death certificate may visit the Illinois State Archives Reference Room. To locate a death certificate in our Reference Room, the following information from the database will be needed: decedent's name; date of death; name of county and, if provided, township where the death took place; and death certificate number." http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/deathinfo.htm You may also want to try Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. There are a few people who will do record lookups: http://www.raogk.org/illinois.htm Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.