Joliet Birth Records

Joliet birth records are available from two main sources in Will County. The Will County Clerk has records going back decades, and the Will County Health Department serves as the local registrar for more recent births. Joliet is the county seat of Will County with about 150,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the state. Which office you go to for a Joliet birth certificate depends on when the birth took place. The two offices cover different time periods and charge different fees.

Will County Birth Records for Joliet

The Will County Clerk is one of two offices where you can get a Joliet birth certificate. The clerk office is at 302 N. Chicago St in Joliet, IL 60432. Since Joliet is the county seat, the office is right in town. Call (815) 740-4615 to ask about a Joliet birth record or check what is on file.

The fee for a certified birth certificate at the Will County Clerk is $12 for the first copy and $4 for each extra copy. That is one of the lower fees in the Chicago metro area. You need a valid photo ID and must state your relationship to the person on the record. Bring the full name as it appears on the birth record, date of birth, and the mother's maiden name if you know it. Walk-in service is available, and most requests are filled the same day.

The Will County Clerk has a broader range of records than the health department. If you were born before 1985 in Joliet, the clerk office is where you need to go. The health department only has records from 1985 to the present. The clerk can search older Joliet birth records that the health department does not have on file.

The Will County Clerk's vital records page shows the current fees and has details on what you need to bring for a Joliet birth certificate.

You can also order by mail. Send a written request with the required information, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order to the address listed on the clerk's site.

Joliet Birth Certificates from the Health Department

The Will County Health Department is the official site of the Local Registrar for birth records in Will County. Their office is at 501 Ella Ave, Joliet, IL 60433. The phone number is (815) 727-8639. The health department is a separate option from the county clerk for getting a Joliet birth certificate, but it covers a shorter time span.

Their records start at 1985 to present. If you were born before 1985, you need to call the Will County Clerk at (815) 740-4615 instead. The health department cannot pull up older Joliet birth records. This is the biggest thing to know before you visit. If the birth was in 1985 or later, the health department can help. The fee is $21 for the first certified copy and $11 for each extra copy. Those fees are higher than the Will County Clerk charges, but some people find it more convenient to visit the Ella Ave location instead of going downtown to the clerk.

Note: The Will County Health Department only has Joliet birth records from 1985 forward, so for older records call the clerk at (815) 740-4615.

Illinois State Birth Records for Joliet

The Illinois Department of Public Health is the state-level option for Joliet birth records. IDPH keeps records for all births in Illinois from 1916 to the present. This includes all Joliet births in Will County and the small portion that falls in Kendall County. The state office is at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702. Call (217) 782-6554.

State fees are lower than the Will County Health Department. IDPH charges $10 for a certified copy and $2 for each additional copy. A genealogy search costs $10. But the trade-off is time. Processing at the state level takes about 12 weeks. For a Joliet birth record, the Will County Clerk is the fastest option if you can visit in person. Under 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act governs how all birth records are maintained and accessed in the state, including records for Joliet.

You can also order through VitalChek online. VitalChek processes orders for both the county and the state. They add a service fee on top of the base cost. This option works for people who cannot visit the Joliet offices in person.

The IDPH site has all the forms and details you need to order a Joliet birth certificate from the state level.

Who Can Get Joliet Birth Certificates

Illinois law limits who can get a certified birth certificate. The rules apply at the Will County Clerk, the health department, and the state office. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, only the person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian, or an authorized legal representative can get a certified copy of a Joliet birth record.

You must show a valid photo ID at any of these offices. If you are ordering for someone else, you may need a notarized letter of authorization or a court order. The clerks in Joliet check ID before they hand over any birth certificate. This is not optional.

For genealogy research, older Joliet birth records have more open access. Under 410 ILCS 535/27, birth records over 75 years old are generally available to the public. That means Joliet birth records from before 1951 can be pulled by anyone doing family research. Ask at the Will County Clerk office about genealogy searches for older Joliet records.

Correcting Joliet Birth Records

If your Joliet birth certificate has an error, corrections go through the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Will County Clerk and the health department cannot make changes to birth records on their own. Under 410 ILCS 535/12, IDPH handles all amendments to vital records filed in Illinois.

You will need to submit supporting documents. A court order is required for some types of changes, like adding a parent or changing a name after adoption. For minor errors such as a misspelled name, you may be able to fix it with an affidavit and supporting papers. Contact IDPH at (217) 782-6554 to find out what you need. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months for Joliet birth records depending on the type of correction.

Birth Records Near Joliet

Several cities near Joliet share the Will County boundaries or sit in neighboring counties. Naperville is to the north and partly falls in Will County, so the same Will County Clerk office handles some Naperville birth records. Aurora is to the northwest and spans Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will counties. Bolingbrook is in Will County to the northeast of Joliet.

If you were born in a hospital near the edge of Joliet and one of these cities, your birth record may be filed under the other city's name. What matters is the county where the hospital is. The Will County Clerk holds records for all Will County births, and the Kendall County Clerk covers births on the Kendall side. Check with the right clerk to find your record.

Will County Birth Records

Joliet is the county seat of Will County. The Will County Clerk office in downtown Joliet handles birth certificates for everyone born in Will County. The county page has more detail on fees, office hours, mail-in procedures, and what records are available.

View Will County Birth Records →

A small part of Joliet extends into Kendall County. Check the Kendall County page if your birth was on that side of the line.