Des Plaines Birth Records Lookup

Des Plaines birth records are maintained by the Cook County Clerk. The city itself does not issue birth certificates or keep vital records on file. With about 59,000 residents, Des Plaines is a mid-size suburb in the northwest corner of Cook County, close to O'Hare Airport. If you were born in Des Plaines, your birth certificate is on file at the Cook County Clerk office in downtown Chicago. You can also use the Rolling Meadows satellite office, which is closer to Des Plaines than the Loop. The clerk has records going back to 1871 for all births in Cook County.

Cook County Birth Records for Des Plaines

The Cook County Clerk is where you get a Des Plaines birth certificate. Karen A. Yarbrough is the Cook County Clerk. The office holds birth records from 1871 to the present for all cities and villages in Cook County. Des Plaines does not have a local vital records department. Every request goes through the county.

The main office is at 118 N. Clark St, Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602. For walk-in service, go to 50 W. Washington St on the Pedway Level in downtown Chicago. Des Plaines residents also have the option of visiting one of several satellite offices. Cook County has locations in Bridgeview, Markham, Maywood, Rolling Meadows, and Skokie. The Rolling Meadows office is the most convenient for most Des Plaines residents since it is only a short drive away. You can get a certified copy of a Des Plaines birth certificate at any of these offices. Just bring a valid photo ID. The staff will pull up the record, verify your identity, and print the certificate while you wait.

Des Plaines Birth Certificate Fees

The fee is $15 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy is $4 if you order them at the same time. These are the standard Cook County rates. They apply to every birth record in the county, including Des Plaines. At the in-person offices, you can pay with cash, check, money order, or card.

Mail orders go to P.O. Box 641070, Chicago, IL 60664-1070. You need to include the full name on the birth record, date of birth, place of birth, mother's maiden name, your relationship to the person named, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for $15 payable to the Cook County Clerk. Expect about 20 working days for mail processing. Des Plaines residents who are in no rush can save a trip by mailing in their request.

Phone orders are handled by VitalChek at (866) 252-8974. There is a $12.45 processing fee added to the $15 county charge. You can also order at a participating currency exchange by calling (847) 759-8905, which adds a $5 surcharge. The Cook County Clerk offers free birth certificates to homeless individuals, domestic abuse survivors, and recently incarcerated people. Call (312) 603-7790 for details on that program.

Note: Des Plaines residents who order by mail should allow extra time around holidays when processing slows down.

Illinois State Birth Records for Des Plaines

The Illinois Department of Public Health is another source for Des Plaines birth records. IDPH has records from 1916 onward. The state charges $10 for a certified copy and $2 for each additional copy. The office is at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702, and you can call (217) 782-6554. The Illinois Vital Records Act under 410 ILCS 535 sets the rules for birth record access statewide.

The downside of ordering from the state is the wait. IDPH takes about 12 weeks to process mail orders. That is a full three months. For Des Plaines residents, the Cook County Clerk is the faster option by a wide margin. You can get your certificate the same day at the Rolling Meadows or downtown office. The only real advantage of the state route is the lower price. If you have time and want to save $5, order from IDPH. Otherwise, stick with Cook County.

The IDPH page for obtaining a birth certificate explains how to order from the state and what forms to use.

That page covers the full process for state-level orders, including which documents you need and where to send your request.

Who Can Request Des Plaines Birth Records

Illinois law is clear about who can get a certified birth certificate. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, only the person named on the record, a parent, legal guardian, or legal representative can order a certified copy. The Cook County Clerk checks ID for every request. If you do not qualify, they will not release the record.

People who need a Des Plaines birth certificate for someone else may need a court order or a notarized letter of authorization. Genealogy requests are handled under different rules. Under 410 ILCS 535/27, older birth records may be open for family research. The Cook County Clerk can help with genealogy requests for old Des Plaines records. The state also does genealogy searches for $10 through IDPH. If you are looking for a Des Plaines birth record from the early 1900s, ask which office has the best chance of finding it.

Fixing a Des Plaines Birth Certificate

Mistakes on a birth certificate need to be corrected through the right channel. For a Des Plaines birth record, minor errors might be fixed by the Cook County Clerk. Major changes like adding or removing a parent's name go through IDPH or the courts. Under 410 ILCS 535/12, the state has rules for how records can be amended. You will need supporting documents.

Call the Cook County Clerk at (312) 603-7790 to find out which office handles your correction. They will explain what paperwork you need and where to submit it. Some changes require a court order from the circuit court before the birth record can be updated. The process can take several weeks, so start early if you need a corrected Des Plaines birth certificate by a specific date.

Birth Records Near Des Plaines

Des Plaines is in the northwest suburbs of Cook County, surrounded by other communities that use the same clerk office for birth records. The Cook County Clerk handles all of them. Fees and wait times are the same across the board.

Arlington Heights is just to the west of Des Plaines. Mount Prospect borders Des Plaines to the northwest. Schaumburg and Palatine are farther west but still in Cook County. Evanston is to the southeast along the lakeshore. All of these cities use the Cook County Clerk for birth certificates. The Rolling Meadows satellite office is a good choice for people from any of these northwest suburban communities who want to avoid the drive into downtown Chicago.

Cook County Birth Records

Des Plaines is part of Cook County. Every birth record filed in Des Plaines belongs to the Cook County vital records system. For more details on office hours, satellite locations, fees, and ordering options, check the full Cook County birth records page.

View Cook County Birth Records →