Organ Donation in Illinois

Organ Donation in Illinois

There is an enormous need for organ donors throughout the United States. 17 people die everyday waiting for an organ transplant.

Life Goes On is responsible for the registration of organ donors in Illinois. You too can make a difference in the lives of many people by becoming an organ donor.

Continue reading this page to find out how you can register as an organ donor and support organ donation in Illinois.

Who Can Register as an Organ Donor

In order to register as an organ donor in Illinois, you must be at least 18 years old. At 16 years old*, you may join the first person consent organ and tissue donor registry.

When you register, the organ donor registry will carry out your wish to donate your organs and tissues upon your death. Your family will NOT have to pay any amount for the removal of your organs.

Although everyone is eligible for organ donation (regardless of age, race, or medical history), medical professionals will make determinations whether the organs are suitable for transplant once an organ donor passes.

NOTE*: If you are younger than 18 years old, your parents or next of kin will make the ultimate decision about organ donation. However, this is an incredibly difficult and painful decision to make during a time of loss; therefore, it's important to make your wishes known to your family and friends, in order to relieve them of this burden.

How to Become an Organ Donor in Illinois

NOTE: You must have an IL driver's license or ID card to register for organ donation.

To register online to become an organ donor in Illinois, you can visit:

  • The LifeGoesOn website to fill out a simple online form.
  • ORGANIZE.org, which will extend your registration to a national database of donors.

You can also register in person at your local Secretary of State (SOS) facility at the same time you apply for or renew your driver's license or ID card.

The IL SOS will add you to the organ donor registry, and you will receive instructions by mail about how to complete the back of your driver's license or ID card.

Update/Change Your Organ Donor Status

While your decision to be an organ donor is legally binding, you can easily remove your name from the donor list by visiting the IL SOS Removal Page.

Before you opt out, we recommend reading the following pages to learn more about organ donation:

As an organ donor, you have the potential to save up to 8 lives and impact so many others upon your death.

Other Ways to Support Organ Donation

After you register as an organ donor, you can also:

Organ Donation Resources

LifeGoesOn.com is the official website of the Illinois SOS organ donation program.

At its website, you can:

  • Read organ donor stories.
  • See details about the first-person consent law.
  • Learn about the facts and myths related to donating.
  • Access other resources about organ donation.

For more information about organ donation, please visit the following pages:

DMV.ORG BBB Business Review