Find Springfield Birth Records
Springfield birth records work differently than in most Illinois cities. The Springfield City Clerk manages and distributes birth records for births that occurred in the city from 1985 to the present. This is unusual because in most of Illinois, the county clerk handles all birth records. For births before January 1, 1985, you contact the Sangamon County Clerk instead. If you are trying to get a birth certificate from Springfield, the date of birth tells you which office to call. Both offices are in downtown Springfield, just blocks from each other, so it is not hard to visit in person once you know where to go.
Springfield Quick Facts
Springfield City Clerk Birth Records
The Springfield City Clerk handles birth records from 1985 to the current date. Sangamon County records for Springfield births in that range are managed and distributed by the City Clerk's office, not the county. This is a unique setup in Illinois. The City Clerk office is at 300 South 7th Street, Room 106, Springfield, IL 62701-1688. You can call them at (217) 789-2216 or send an email to Vital.Records@Springfield.IL.US.
The fee for a certified birth certificate from the Springfield City Clerk is $17 for the first copy. Each extra copy of the same record costs $7. To pick up a copy in person, you need to bring valid photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, state ID card, military ID, or passport. If you do not have one of those, you can bring three forms of identification that show your name and address. The office will not give out birth record information over the phone. Birth certificates are confidential records under 410 ILCS 535, so staff cannot confirm or deny details by telephone.
Here is the Springfield City Clerk's birth and death records page, which shows the ordering process and accepted ID forms for Springfield birth certificate requests.
The City Clerk office only has birth records from 1985 to the current date. If the birth you are looking for happened before January 1, 1985, in the City of Springfield, you need to contact the Sangamon County Clerk's office instead. The City Clerk staff can point you in the right direction if you are not sure which office holds the record you need.
Sangamon County Clerk Birth Records
For Springfield births before 1985, the Sangamon County Clerk is the office to contact. They also handle all other Sangamon County births regardless of date. The county clerk office is at 200 South Ninth Street, 1st Floor, Springfield, IL 62701. Call (217) 753-6700 for questions about older Springfield birth records.
The Sangamon County Clerk charges $25 for the first certified copy. Additional copies cost $7 each. This is more than the City Clerk charges, but it is the only local option for pre-1985 Springfield birth records. The county clerk keeps records from 1877 forward. So if you need a very old birth record from the Springfield area, this is the place to go. Payment is due at the time you place your order.
Below is the Sangamon County Clerk's birth records page, which shows details on ordering copies and the types of records they have on file for Springfield and the rest of Sangamon County.
If you are not sure whether the birth happened inside or outside Springfield city limits, try the County Clerk first. They have all Sangamon County birth records regardless of the specific city or township. The City Clerk only has Springfield city births from 1985 on. So the county is the safer bet if you are unsure about the location or the date.
Getting a Springfield Birth Certificate
In person is the fastest way to get a Springfield birth certificate. For 1985 or later, go to the City Clerk at 300 South 7th Street, Room 106. For before 1985, go to the County Clerk at 200 South Ninth Street. Both offices are in downtown Springfield. Bring your ID. Fill out the form. Pay the fee. You can usually leave with the certified copy the same day.
Mail is also an option at both offices. Write a letter with the full name on the birth record, date of birth, place of birth, mother's maiden name, and your relationship to the person. Include a copy of your photo ID and a money order for the fee. Send it to the right office based on the birth date. The City Clerk's mailing address is 300 South 7th Street, Room 106, Springfield, IL 62701-1688. The County Clerk uses 200 South Ninth Street, Springfield, IL 62701. Allow a couple of weeks for mail orders from either office.
Under 410 ILCS 535/25, only certain people can get a certified copy. The person named on the record, a parent, a legal guardian, or an authorized representative with proper documentation can request one. Government agencies acting in an official capacity also qualify. If you do not fit one of those categories, you will not be able to get a certified Springfield birth certificate from either office. You may ask for a non-certified copy or a verification, but those have limited use.
Note: Email requests can go to Vital.Records@Springfield.IL.US for the City Clerk, but certified copies still have to be picked up or mailed with proper ID verification.
State Birth Records in Springfield
Springfield has a unique advantage for birth record searches. The Illinois Department of Public Health headquarters is right in Springfield at 925 East Ridgely Avenue, IL 62702. The IDPH keeps birth records for the entire state from 1916 to the present. So Springfield residents have three possible sources for birth records: the City Clerk for 1985 forward, the County Clerk for 1877 forward, and the IDPH for 1916 forward.
The IDPH charges $10 for a short-form certified copy and $15 for a long-form version. Additional copies are $2 each when ordered at the same time. Genealogy copies of older records cost $10. The IDPH phone number is (217) 782-6554. Even though the IDPH is in Springfield, mail orders still take about 12 weeks to process. In-person pickups at the IDPH may be faster, but you need to call ahead and check their current policy on walk-in service.
Online ordering through VitalChek is available for state-level orders. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the IDPH price. This works well if you need the order shipped to an address outside of Springfield. Under 410 ILCS 535/27, records that are 75 years or older may be available for genealogy research with fewer restrictions on who can request them. The IDPH handles those requests as well.
Fixing Springfield Birth Certificates
Errors on a Springfield birth certificate can be corrected. The process depends on the type of mistake and which office holds the record. Under 410 ILCS 535/12, the state registrar can approve corrections to vital records when the right supporting documents are provided. For Springfield births from 1985 on, start with the City Clerk office. For older records, contact the Sangamon County Clerk.
Small mistakes like a misspelled name need an affidavit of correction and supporting proof. Hospital records, baptismal certificates, and school records all work as evidence. Larger changes, such as adding a parent's name or changing a legal name after adoption, require a court order from the Sangamon County Circuit Court. Once the judge signs the order, the holding office updates the record. The IDPH file gets updated too so all copies going forward reflect the change.
Delayed registrations are possible if a Springfield birth was never recorded. You file a delayed registration with the county clerk. Two or more pieces of evidence that the birth happened are required. The older the birth event, the harder it can be to gather enough documentation. Call the Sangamon County Clerk at (217) 753-6700 to ask what they will accept.
Sangamon County Birth Records
Springfield is the county seat of Sangamon County and also the state capital of Illinois. All birth filings for the area go through either the Springfield City Clerk or the Sangamon County Clerk, depending on the date. The county page has more details on office hours, other vital records services, and resources for the broader Sangamon County area beyond Springfield.