Grief Counseling & Support Information

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office employs a talented team of grief counselors to assist families following the death of a loved one. They are available to provide immediate over the phone support to help navigate urgent grief-related situations and provide connections to resources.

Identification of Decedent

In cases where the death is ruled a homicide or if the decedent is unidentified then the legal next of kin may be required to confirm identification. Only a limited number of cases require identification at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. When identification is required, the legal next of kin will complete a visual identification of the decedent via an image on computer screen. During each identification, family will meet with a grief counselor who will provide support during the identification process and provide valuable information on the next steps and resources.

Please call 312-997-4487 to speak to a grief counselor or 312-997-4418 to speak to intake to confirm if an identification is necessary. We are unable to accommodate identifications or viewings outside of these parameters.

Identifications hours are between Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Weekends and Official Cook County holidays between 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please enter the building at the Harrison Street entrance. Only two (2) family members will be allowed in the building at any time. Free parking is available to visitors in the East Visitor Parking lot (near blue roof building) and free street parking on Harrison St. Please do not park in the West lot indicated for Staff only.

The legal next of kin is as follows: Legal spouse; adult child; parent(s); sibling(s); grandparents; cousins; nieces or nephews. The legal next of kin must provide a physical copy of a valid photo ID; digital copies or photos will not be accepted.

Low-Cost Arrangements

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office does not handle final arrangements, and it does not endorse any programs. The following information is made available to the public for awareness:

Local Cremation Options: Utilizing a search engine such as Google to explore low-cost cremation services in your area.

Social Security Death Benefit: Contact Social Security to determine if the decedent qualifies for the one-time death benefit to offset costs of arrangements. Survivor benefits | SSA

Illinois Department of Human Services Programs: Check eligibility for funeral or cremation reimbursement through specific state programs. IDHS: Funeral & Burial Benefits

Illinois Crime Victims Compensation: reimbursement for expenses incurred by eligible victims as a result of a violent crime. Crime Victim Compensation or call 1-800-228-3368

Illinois Funeral and Burial Assistance Program for Murdered Children Act: helping to cover the costs for funerals, burials and cremations of those children, 16 years old and under, murdered by gun violence. Illinois Funeral and Burial Assistance Program for Murdered Children Act or call 1-312-625-2010

Whole Body Donation to Science: whole body donation to universities or hospitals for the advancement of medical science. Time frames and costs vary between agencies, but this option can significantly reduce costs. Cremated remains of the decedent are available to the family after the term of donation is completed.

Grief Support Organizations & Hotlines

For grief support or assistance related to Medical Examiner cases, please contact griefcounselors@cookcountyil.gov

Additional Resources can be found below:

Red Cross

211 Referral Helpline

Grief & Bereavement

Grief Share

National Alliance for Children's Grief

Hotline Information

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: (800) 422-4453

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio: (888) 628-9454