Death and Estates

Requesting RecordsThe Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office maintains its full and complete records in accordance with the Illinois Local Re…

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after J…

The Cook County Clerk's office keeps official records of deaths that occur in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Under state law, you may le…

Please note: If you are a journalist or member of the media interested in submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, visit the…

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office employs a talented team of grief counselors to assist families following the death of a loved one.…

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to reunite family members and loved ones of decedents who made final arrangements for c…

The unexpected death of a relative requires multiple decisions to be made in a short amount of time, including where to find the funds for a…

The Medical Examiner’s Office fills a vital role with law enforcement and public health for the County of Cook.One of our most important dut…

Once the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has concluded its investigation and determined the cause and manner of death, the next of kin…

International Observership Program – Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office 

Meeting MinutesBelow are the minutes from past meetings of the Medical Examiner Advisory Council:MEAC 10-19-18 Minutes

 Identification Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., weekends and official Cook Co…

Working for the Office of the Medical Examiner With more than 16,000 deaths reported to the Medical Examiner annually, this office requires…

Tours Out of respect for the deceased and their families and to avoid any disruption to daily operations, only a limited number of tours of…

The Public Administrator for each of Illinois' 102 counties is a State Official, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of th…

In Illinois, an unclaimed person is a deceased individual, who has been positively identified and has been examined by the Cook County Medic…

An unidentified person is an individual whose identity is unknown at the time of death and could not be confirmed through available identifi…

Veterans Burials and SurvivorsThere are many benefits and programs available to certain fallen veterans and their survivors.

In February 2014, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office began using cremation as a dignified alte…