How to Get Illinois Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Illinois — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce records — can be obtained from County Clerk (local) / IDPH (state). Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk.

What this page covers: Illinois vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact County Clerk (local) / IDPH (state). For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Birth Records - Illinois Department of Public Health
Parent agency
Vital Statistics - Illinois Department of Public Health
Records back to
Illinois: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Online ordering
What You Need to Provide In order to request a copy of a birth certificate you m
Marriage license issued by
Before getting married in Chicago or suburban Cook County
Local intake
Cook County Clerk's Office
Population
12,710,158
Households
4,956,000
Median Income
$78,433
Median Home Value
$250,800
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Illinois vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at dph.illinois.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Illinois Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Illinois — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request an Illinois vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Illinois Vital Records

2026
Illinois vital records portal active
The official Illinois portal at dph.illinois.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Illinois state records.
2026
Illinois access in 2026
For 2026, Illinois continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check dph.illinois.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Illinois's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 4-Step Illinois Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Illinois, start with the Illinois health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Illinois typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Illinois records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Illinois Vital Records

MYTH"Anyone can order anyone's birth certificate."
FACTBirth certificates are restricted nearly everywhere — the person named, parents, spouse, child, or a legal representative. Strangers don't qualify.
MYTH"Every birth was registered on time."
FACTHome births and older rural births often went unrecorded for years. Delayed registration files exist precisely because of this — ask the state archives.
MYTH"Old records stay sealed forever."
FACTThe opposite — most states open birth records after 75-125 years and death records sooner. That's why genealogy sites are full of historical certificates.
MYTH"The court divorce file and the divorce record are one document."
FACTTwo systems: the court keeps the case file, the vital records office keeps the divorce record/certificate. Which one you need depends on who's asking for it.
MYTH"Vital records are federal records."
FACTThey're state records. The CDC compiles national statistics but has never issued a birth or death certificate — the state (and in Illinois, its vital records office) does.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Illinois counties: Adams · Alexander · Bond · Boone · Brown

Vital Records Databases

34 official Illinois vital records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Vital Records

Arthur Local Registrar Birth Certificates Index, 1868-1925
Official Free
Vital records office.
🌐 apps.ilsos.gov
Barrington Area Library - Barrington Courier-Review Marriages 1981-1984
Official Free
History of Cook County, Illinois Andreas, A.T. They Builded Better Than They Knew Benson, Barbara L. Echoes of a Century First Baptist Church (Barrington, IL).
🌐 barringtonarealibrary.org
MCIGS Summer Conference - McHenry County Illinois Genealogical Society
Official Free
This is the request channel for McHenry County vital records — births, deaths, and marriages. Confirm details with the official vital record office before relying on them.
🌐 mcigs.org
Cook County Clerk of Court - Case Search
Official Free
For your convenience, the Clerk of the Circuit Court offers on-line access to electronic docket information for cases in the Criminal divisions. By using this service, the user agrees and understands that he or she is bound by the on-line access to court records Terms of Agreement.
🌐 casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
Vital Records | Cook County Clerk
Official Free
Birth / Death Records Request official records of births & deaths that occur in Chicago & suburban Cook County. Marriage / Civil Union Apply for a Marriage/Civil Union License for ceremonies in Chicago & suburban Cook County. Business / Notary Register an Assumed Business Name or Receive your Notary Public Commission Certificate approved by the IL Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions Frequently asked vital records questions.
🌐 cookcountyclerkil.gov
Illinois Death Certificates, 1916–1972
Official Free
Contacting the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, by mail, fax, in-person or online. Contacting the County Clerk’s office where the death occurred. Photocopies of death certificates dated before 1916 can be obtained by: Searching the IRAD Local Governmental Records.
🌐 ilsos.gov
Genealogy - Illinois Department of Public Health
Official Free
Uncertified, genealogical copies of death records of persons who died more than 20 years ago, but not before 1916, may be requested either from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records or from the county clerk in the county where the death occurred (see RESOURCES.
🌐 dph.illinois.gov
Linwood and East Linwood Cemeteries include 30 acres of manicured lawn for
Official Free
Vital-record certificates connected to Illinois are ordered here. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official vital record office.
🌐 ci.galesburg.il.us
Highland Park Obituary Index - Highland Park Public Library
Official Free
Please see the Obituary Request Form to inquire about obtaining scanned newspaper copies. Aarnoff, Fannie (N.K.) Feb. 28, 1946. p. 27. HPN Aaron, Alice Rowe. founder: Program for alcohol and substance abuse Highland Park Hospital. Aug. 11, 1994. p. 171. HPN Aaron, Florence D.
🌐 hplibrary.org
Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society
Official Free
Information on genealogical research in Kankakee County, Illinois. Includes Publication List, Membership Form, and other Details about KVGS.
🌐 kvgs.org
KVGS County Records Death Index
Official Free
The Index covers the years 1877 through 1916. If you would like the record for a death in this index, you can obtain one from the Kankakee County Clerk, or from the LDS FHC's. Unfortunately, many deaths were not recorded. If you do not find a record here, try probate records, church records,.
🌐 kvgs.org
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
Official Free
Enter the groom's or bride's name in the format: last name comma space first name space middle initial (for example, Smith, John D). The first name and middle initial may be omitted to accomplish a surname search. Searches are not case sensitive: you may use any combination of upper and lower.
🌐 apps.ilsos.gov
Mcleancountyil
Official Free
Mcleancountyil — countyclerk.mcleancountyil.gov.
🌐 countyclerk.mcleancountyil.gov
Sangamon County > Departments > A-C > County Clerk > Vital Records > Death Records
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Sangamon County route through this office. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 sangamonil.gov
Birth Records Index – Wilmette History Museum
Official Free
The birth certificates in the Museum’s collection document some, but not all, births in Wilmette and Gross Point between the years 1893 and 1926. Except for a few certificates from the 1920s, the majority of these documents are delayed birth registrations, filed between 1940 and 1946 by Dr.
🌐 wilmettehistory.org
Jo Daviess County
Official Free
An additional fee is charged by Official Online Records for this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa. Copies for genealogical purposes are not available for purchase online. To see if Jo Daviess County has the record related to a Marriage, Civil Union, or Death, please use the following link: https://iljodaviess.fidlar.com/ILJoDaviess/Apex.WebPortal/search
🌐 jodaviesscountyil.gov
Rock Island County Court Records (www.judici.com)
Official Free
This page is operated by Judici.com, not a court. Links to this page do not constitute endorsement by any court of the content, policies, or services offered here · For questions or comments about this web site, please see our Contacts Page
🌐 judici.com
Marion County, IL Welcome Page
Official Free
Welcome and thank you for joining us · For questions or comments about this web site, please see our Contacts Page
🌐 judici.com
Dissolution/Family
Official Free
The Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court is responsible for maintaining a record of all traffic, civil, and criminal cases filed and heard in Will County. On a daily basis, the office interacts with the public and attorneys performing several functions including the collection and disbursement.
🌐 circuitclerkofwillcounty.com
Jersey County, IL Welcome Page
Official Free
Birth, death, and marriage record requests for Jersey County route through this office. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 judici.com
Search - Wilmette Newspaper Index
Official Free
The Wilmette Public Library news site indexes obituaries, weddings, birth announcements, and articles from local newspapers about the Village of Wilmette and New Trier Township in Cook County, Illinois, U.S.A.
🌐 news.wilmettelibrary.info
Illinois Statewide Death Index
Official Free
Enter the individual's name in the format: last name comma space first name space middle initial (for example, Smith, John D). The first name and middle initial may be omitted to accomplish a surname search. Searches are not case sensitive: you may use any combination of upper and lower case.
🌐 apps.ilsos.gov
Get to Know the Great American Eclipse - Fremont Library
Official Free
Attendees will receive a free pair of eclipse viewing glasses to keep, and are invited to bring them to our eclipse viewing party on Monday at Community Park, which we are co-hosting with the Mundelein Park & Recreation District.
🌐 fremont.libnet.info
Illinois Counties Birth Certificate, Death Record, Marriage License and More (Ca-Ch)
Official Free
Warren. Washington. Wayne. White. Whiteside. Will. Williamson. Winnebago. Woodford · This page tells how to obtain copies of vital records such as birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses and divorce decrees in Illinois Counties.
🌐 vitalrec.com

Illinois Counties

102 Illinois counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Cook DuPage Lake Will Kane McHenry Winnebago Madison St. Clair Adams Alexander Bond Boone Brown

Which Illinois counties publish vital records information online

47 of Illinois's 104 counties run their own online source for vital records information, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Illinois are issued by the Official Illinois Vital Records at dph.illinois.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Illinois death certificates are issued by the Official Illinois Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at dph.illinois.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Illinois marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Illinois Vital Records (dph.illinois.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Illinois vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Illinois Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at dph.illinois.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Illinois Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at dph.illinois.gov.