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Illinois vital records

The Division of Vital Records is the vital records office for Illinois.1 It issues certified birth certificates and death certificates23. It does not issue marriage certificates or divorce records; this page shows who does.45 Local offices also issue certified copies.6

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The state office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Current notices from the office

  • Springfield office moved to 110 W Lawrence Avenue, opening September 14, 20267
  • Mail requests take approximately 12 weeks; no status updates7

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records11916 to today8$159Online through VitalChek: 10 to 15 business days on average10
Death certificateIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records111916 to today8$1911Online through VitalChek: 10 to 15 business days on average12
Marriage certificateCounty clerk of the county where the marriage occurred41962 to current index date (verification of facts only, not certified copies)4–Online through VitalChek: 10 to 15 business days on average13
Divorce recordsCircuit court clerk of the county where the dissolution was granted51962 to current index date (verification of facts only, not certified copies)5–At a local office: 2 to 10 days14

Birth certificate

Who holds it
County clerks also issue birth certificates1
Older records
County clerk of the county of birth9
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, at a local office, by phone

How to get an Illinois birth certificate

Death certificate

Who holds it
County clerks also issue death certificates11
Older records
County clerk of the county of death15
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek Network, online through VitalChek, by mail, at a local office, by fax

How to get an Illinois death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
IDPH does not keep marriage records and can only verify facts from 19624
Older records
County clerk of the county of marriage4
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, at a local office, by phone, by fax

How to get an Illinois marriage certificate

Divorce records

Who holds it
IDPH does not issue certified copies; it verifies facts from 19625
Older records
Circuit court clerk of the county that granted the dissolution5
Ways to order
By mail, at a local office

How to get Illinois divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
Yes6
Which offices
County clerk or local registrar16

Access rules and the law

Who may get certified copies
Closed records: only people the law names may get certified copies2

Laws and rules the office cites

  • Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 53517
  • 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 500, Illinois Vital Records Code18
  • 410 ILCS 535/25: fees, who may obtain copies6

The state office

Office
Division of Vital Records1
Mailing address
Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 110 W Lawrence Ave., Springfield, IL 62704-2610
1
Walk-in address
110 W Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, IL
7

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in Illinois?

A certified birth certificate costs $15 for the first copy and a death certificate $19.911

What is the phone number of the Illinois vital records office?

Division of Vital Records: 217-782-6554.19

Where do I get a marriage certificate in Illinois?

County clerk of the county where the marriage occurred. IDPH does not keep marriage records and can only verify facts from 1962.4

Where do I get divorce records in Illinois?

Circuit court clerk of the county where the dissolution was granted. IDPH does not issue certified copies; it verifies facts from 1962.5

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Obtain birth certificateIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  2. Birth recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  3. Death recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  4. Marriage recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  5. Dissolution marriage recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  6. Illinois General AssemblyIllinois General Assembly, Illinois Compiled Statutesdated July 1, 2024read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  7. Birth death other recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  8. CDC National Center for Health Statistics pageCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  9. Birth record application (PDF)Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Recordsdated August 1, 2026
  10. Birth certificatesCook County Clerk
  11. Obtain death certificateIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  12. Death certificatesCook County Clerk
  13. Marriage certificatesCook County Clerk
  14. Archives departmentClerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
  15. Death record application (PDF)Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Recordsdated August 1, 2026
  16. ApostillesIllinois Secretary of Statedated October 23, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  17. Correct birth certificateIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  18. Section 077005000000200RIllinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rulesdated October 13, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  19. Illinois Department of Public Health: Contact usIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records