Chicago Birth Records
Chicago birth records go back to 1871 and are held by the Cook County Clerk. With more than 2.7 million people, Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and has some of the highest demand for birth certificate copies in the state. You can get a birth certificate in person at the downtown office, by mail, by phone, or at a local currency exchange. The Cook County Clerk also runs satellite offices in several suburbs. If you were born in Chicago, your birth record is on file with Cook County, and you can also get a copy from the state through the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Chicago Quick Facts
Cook County Birth Records for Chicago
The Cook County Clerk is the main place to get a Chicago birth certificate. Karen A. Yarbrough serves as the Cook County Clerk. The office keeps birth records from 1871 to the present for all of Cook County, which includes Chicago. Most records are printed on demand while you wait. This makes in-person visits the fastest way to get a certified copy of a Chicago birth record.
The in-person office is at 50 W. Washington St on the Pedway Level in downtown Chicago. You can walk in and get your birth certificate the same day. Bring a valid photo ID. The fee is $15 for the first certified copy and $4 for each extra copy you order at the same time. Staff will look up the birth record by name and date of birth. If the record is on file, they print it right there. For Chicago residents who live far from downtown, the Cook County Clerk runs satellite offices in Bridgeview, Markham, Maywood, Rolling Meadows, and Skokie. Each one can pull up and print Chicago birth records.
| Office | Cook County Clerk, Vital Records |
|---|---|
| In-Person | 50 W. Washington St, Pedway Level Chicago, IL 60602 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 641070 Chicago, IL 60664-1070 |
| Phone | (312) 603-7790 |
| Fees | $15 first copy, $4 each additional |
You can also get a Chicago birth certificate by mail. Send a written request with the full name on the birth record, date of birth, place of birth, mother's maiden name, your relationship to the person, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $15. Mail it to P.O. Box 641070, Chicago, IL 60664-1070. On average, mail orders are processed within 20 working days. Plan ahead if you need the certificate by a set date.
Chicago Birth Certificate Options
Besides the clerk office, there are other ways to order a Chicago birth certificate. The phone option goes through VitalChek, a third-party service that processes orders for Cook County. Call (866) 252-8974 to place a phone order. VitalChek charges a $12.45 processing fee on top of the $15 county fee. You pay by credit or debit card. This option works well if you can't visit in person or wait for mail.
Birth records can be ordered at any participating Chicago and Cook County Currency Exchange. Call (847) 759-8905 to find a location near you. The currency exchange charges a $5 surcharge on top of the county fee. This is a good choice if you live in a part of Chicago that is far from the downtown clerk office and don't want to deal with mail or phone orders. The currency exchange can pull up the same records that the main office has.
The Cook County Clerk also offers free birth certificates for certain groups. Homeless individuals, survivors of domestic violence, and recently incarcerated people can get a certified copy at no cost. You may need to show proof of your status. Ask at the clerk office or call (312) 603-7790 for details on how to get a free Chicago birth certificate.
Note: Phone orders through VitalChek typically arrive faster than standard mail requests to the Cook County Clerk.
Illinois Birth Records for Chicago
The Illinois Department of Public Health is the state-level source for Chicago birth records. IDPH keeps records for births that took place in Illinois from 1916 to the present. If you were born in Chicago after 1916, you can order from either Cook County or IDPH. The state office is in Springfield at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702. You can reach them at (217) 782-6554.
State fees differ from Cook County fees. IDPH charges $10 for a certified copy of a full birth certificate. A short form costs $10 as well. Each extra copy is $2. Genealogy searches cost $10. Under 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act sets the rules for how birth records are kept and who can get copies. Processing time at the state level is about 12 weeks, which is much longer than the Cook County office. For a Chicago birth record, the county is almost always faster.
The Illinois Department of Public Health birth records page provides full details on how to order from the state, including which forms to use and what documents you need.
The IDPH obtain birth certificate page walks you through each step of the state-level process for getting a Chicago birth certificate.
Who Can Get Chicago Birth Records
Not just anyone can walk in and get a birth certificate. Illinois law limits who can order a certified copy. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian, or a legal representative can get a certified copy. You must show a valid photo ID and state your relationship to the person on the record.
If you need a Chicago birth record for someone else, you may need a court order or a notarized letter of authorization. The Cook County Clerk checks ID at the counter before they release any birth certificate. This is true at the downtown office and all satellite locations. For genealogy research on older Chicago birth records, the rules may be different. Records over 75 years old are generally open to the public under 410 ILCS 535/27. Ask the clerk if the record you need falls into this group.
Historical Birth Records in Chicago
Chicago has a long history of record keeping that goes back to the 1800s. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed many early records. Cook County birth records start from 1871, the same year as the fire, because that is when the county began keeping new records after the loss. If you need a birth record from before 1871 in Chicago, very few exist.
For genealogy work on older Chicago birth records, the Chicago Lying-In Hospital records at the University of Chicago can be a useful source. These cover births at that hospital from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Cook County Clerk also handles genealogy requests for older records. The state charges $10 for a genealogy search through IDPH. For records from 1916 and later, the state office can help with research even when the county copy is hard to find.
The Cook County vital records portal gives you more detail on what is on file and how to request older records for Chicago.
Cook County updates its vital records page with current fees and office hours, so check before you visit for a Chicago birth certificate.
Fixing a Chicago Birth Certificate
If your Chicago birth certificate has an error, you need to get it corrected through the right office. Minor errors like a misspelled name can sometimes be fixed at the county level. Larger changes, such as adding a father's name or changing a legal name after adoption, go through the Illinois Department of Public Health or the courts.
Under 410 ILCS 535/12, the state sets rules for how birth records can be changed. You will need supporting documents such as a court order, a marriage certificate, or other legal papers. The Cook County Clerk can tell you which office handles your type of correction. Call (312) 603-7790 and explain what needs to be fixed on your Chicago birth record. They will point you to the right process.
Note: Some corrections require a court order from the Cook County Circuit Court before the birth record can be changed.
Birth Records Near Chicago
Several cities near Chicago also fall under Cook County or neighboring counties. If you were born in one of these places, your birth record may be on file at a different county clerk office. Cook County covers a large area, so many nearby cities use the same Cook County Clerk office as Chicago for birth records.
Nearby cities with birth records pages include Cicero, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Berwyn, Des Plaines, Schaumburg, and Arlington Heights. Cicero, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, and Berwyn are all in Cook County and use the same clerk office. Des Plaines is also in Cook County. Schaumburg and Arlington Heights are in Cook County as well, so the same $15 fee and office locations apply for their birth records.
Cook County Birth Records
Chicago is the county seat of Cook County. All birth records filed in Chicago are part of the Cook County vital records system. The county page has more detail on the clerk office, satellite locations, fees, and how to order birth certificates for anyone born in Cook County.