Search Illinois Birth Records
Illinois birth records are held by the state and county offices across Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps birth records filed from 1916 to the present. County clerks hold their own copies too, and some counties have records going back to the 1870s. You can search for birth records in Illinois by mail, online, or in person. Each of the 102 counties has a County Clerk who issues birth certificates for births that took place in that area. Whether you need a certified copy for a legal purpose or want to trace family history, Illinois offers several ways to find the birth records you need.
Illinois Birth Records Quick Facts
How to Get Illinois Birth Records
The Illinois Department of Public Health runs the Division of Vital Records in Springfield. This is the main state office for birth records in Illinois. The mailing address is 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Walk-in service is at 605 W. Jefferson St. in Springfield, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call (217) 782-6554 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also email DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov with questions. No birth record details are given over the phone. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), the State Registrar has authority over all vital records filed in Illinois.
The IDPH birth records page at dph.illinois.gov shows how to start a request for Illinois birth records.
You can find the application form, FAQs, and full contact details on that page.
To get a birth certificate from the state, fill out the Application for Search of Birth Record Files. Mail it with a copy of your valid photo ID and payment by check or money order made out to "IDPH." The ID must be readable and not expired. If it is unreadable or out of date, the state sends your request back unprocessed. Processing takes about 12 weeks from the time IDPH gets your papers. You will not get an update during this wait, so plan well ahead. The Springfield office can also search records in person, though same-day service is limited to birth and death records only. The full IDPH vital records portal covers all record types available in Illinois.
The IDPH vital records portal at dph.illinois.gov is the starting point for birth, death, and other record requests.
Use this page to learn about every type of vital record kept by the state of Illinois.
County clerks are often much faster than the state office. Many process birth record requests the same day or within a few business days. That can save you weeks of waiting.
Illinois Birth Certificate Fees
Illinois charges set fees for birth certificates at the state level. A short-form certified copy costs $10 for the first copy and $2 for each extra copy of the same record ordered at the same time. This version shows the child's name, date of birth, sex, place of birth, parent names, ages, and birthplaces. A long-form certified copy costs $15 and includes all details collected at the time of birth. That information has changed over the years, so older records may have different fields. A genealogical copy costs $10. Both certified types work for legal use in Illinois.
The IDPH page at dph.illinois.gov has the full fee schedule and the application form for Illinois birth records.
Download the form and check current fees before sending your request.
County clerk fees differ from the state. Cook County charges $15 for the first copy and $4 extra. DuPage County is $14 and $2. Lake County charges just $10 and $4 for additional copies. Will County is $12 and $4. Kane County has the higher rate at $16 and $6. Champaign County charges $21, and Sangamon County is $25 for the first copy. Most counties take cash, check, or money order. Some also accept credit cards with a small service charge. Always call the county clerk to check their current fees for birth records in Illinois.
Who Can Get an Illinois Birth Certificate
Birth records are not public in Illinois. State law limits who can get a certified copy. This is different from many other types of government records in Illinois.
Under 410 ILCS 535/25, only certain people can get a certified copy of a birth certificate in Illinois. The person named on the record can ask for their own copy if they are 18 or older. Parents shown on the certificate can get copies too. A legal guardian with signed court papers is also eligible. Legal representatives with the right authorization can make requests. Government agencies can get copies with a written request. Anyone else would need a court order from a judge to get Illinois birth records. For genealogy, researchers can access uncertified copies of birth records that are 75 or more years old.
Valid ID is a must when you ask for birth records in Illinois. A state driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or naturalization certificate all work. Some counties let you use three other forms of ID if you lack a photo ID. These can include a voter card, bank statement, or utility bill showing your current name and address. The law is strict about misuse of birth certificates. Under 410 ILCS 535/27, using a birth certificate for deception is a Class 4 felony in Illinois. That can mean up to three years in prison. Keep your request honest and bring the right identification.
Note: No birth certificate information is provided over the phone by state or county offices in Illinois.
County Birth Records in Illinois
County clerks in Illinois offer another way to get birth records. The state has 102 counties, and each County Clerk office issues birth certificates for births in that county. Many people prefer the county route since it is faster. While IDPH takes about 12 weeks, county clerks often fill requests the same day or within a few business days. Birth records are filed in the county where the birth took place. If you were born in Cook County, you contact the Cook County Clerk even if you live somewhere else now. Under 410 ILCS 535/12, each live birth in Illinois must be registered with the local registrar in the district where it happened within 7 days. County records often go back further than state records. State records start at 1916, but Cook County has birth records from 1871. Most other counties started keeping records around 1877. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders has a directory to help you find the right office for birth records in Illinois.
The IACCR directory at iaccr.net lists every county clerk office in Illinois.
Use this resource to find contact details and office hours for birth records in your county.
Some counties also have health departments that keep recent birth records. These offices typically hold records from the last 10 years only. For anything older, go to the County Clerk. A few larger cities like Skokie and Springfield have their own local registrars for recent births too.
Correcting Illinois Birth Records
Only the state handles corrections to birth records in Illinois. County clerks cannot make changes to a birth certificate. You must contact the IDPH Division of Vital Records for any correction. Under 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 500, corrections fall into two types. A major correction includes changing a surname, date or place of birth, or parent identity. It also covers any change made more than one year after the event. Minor corrections are smaller fixes made within one year of the birth. The process and cost depend on the type of change you need on your Illinois birth record.
The IDPH correction page at dph.illinois.gov has forms and steps for fixing errors on an Illinois birth certificate.
Review the requirements carefully before you send a correction request.
New birth certificates can be issued in some cases. Under 410 ILCS 535/17, the State Registrar creates a new certificate after an adoption, paternity ruling, or gender change. The new one replaces the old. The original gets sealed and is not open for inspection. A new certificate costs $15, with $2 for extra copies. Delayed registration is also an option under 410 ILCS 535/14. If a birth was not filed on time, the steps depend on how much time has passed. Births more than 7 years late need a Delayed Record of Birth form with sworn testimony in Illinois.
Illinois Genealogy Birth Records
Genealogy researchers can get uncertified copies of older birth records in Illinois. The IDPH genealogy page explains the rules. A birth record opens for genealogical access when the date of birth is 75 or more years before the current date. These copies are stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and cannot be used as legal ID. The fee is $10. You still fill out the Application for Search of Birth Record Files. Marriage records open after 50 years, and death records after 20 years. County clerks can also provide genealogical copies of older records in Illinois. The Illinois Regional Archives Depository System may have very old records for some counties as well.
The IDPH genealogy records page at dph.illinois.gov covers the access rules for older birth records.
Check that your request meets the 75-year threshold before applying for genealogy birth records in Illinois.
Online Birth Certificate Orders
VitalChek is an authorized third-party service for ordering birth certificates from many Illinois counties. The site adds a processing fee of $7 to $12.45 on top of county fees. You can order online at vitalchek.com or call their hotline. Some counties let you order by phone through VitalChek as well. While VitalChek is convenient for getting Illinois birth records, the Lake County Clerk has warned that online vendors sometimes charge customers far more than the county itself. Ordering straight from the county clerk office can save you money on birth records in Illinois.
The VitalChek website at vitalchek.com lets you order Illinois birth certificates from home.
Compare VitalChek fees with your county clerk fees before placing an order.
For birth certificates that need an apostille for use in another country, contact the Illinois Secretary of State Index Department at 800-252-8980. The apostille confirms the document is genuine for international purposes. Many people who need Illinois birth records for travel or foreign legal matters will need this extra step.
Browse Illinois Birth Records by County
Each county in Illinois has its own County Clerk who handles birth records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and resources for birth records in that area.
Birth Records in Major Illinois Cities
Most Illinois cities do not keep their own birth records. County clerks handle them. Pick a city below to find which county office serves that area and how to get birth records there.