Will County Birth Records

Will County birth records go back to December 1877, and two offices in Joliet can help you get a certified copy. The County Clerk on North Chicago Street holds the full set of records, while the Will County Health Department keeps certificates from 1985 forward. With close to 700,000 residents spread across the county, this is one of the most active vital records offices in Illinois. Whether you need a birth certificate for a passport, school, or proof of age, the process starts with knowing which office to call and what to bring. Both offices serve walk-in visitors on weekdays, and mail orders are also an option for Will County birth records.

Will County Clerk Birth Certificates

The Will County Clerk is the main source for birth records in the county. This office holds records from December 1, 1877 to the present day. A certified copy costs $12 for the first one and $4 for each one after that when you order at the same time. You can visit the clerk in person, send a request by mail, or use VitalChek to order a copy from home. Most people who need a Will County birth certificate start here because the clerk has the most complete set of files.

You will need a valid photo ID to get a copy of any birth record. Illinois law under 410 ILCS 535 limits who can get a certified birth certificate. The person named on the record must be 18 or older to request their own. Parents and legal reps can also make the request. If you plan to mail your order, include a check made out to the Will County Clerk along with a copy of your ID. Walk-in requests at the Joliet office are often filled the same day.

The Will County Clerk birth certificates page shows the full steps to place your order.

That page lists forms, fees, and what ID you need to bring for a Will County birth record request.

Will County Health Department Birth Records

The Will County Health Department acts as the Local Registrar of Vital Records. It keeps birth certificates from 1985 to the present. If you were born in Will County after 1985, this office on Ella Avenue in Joliet can issue your certificate. The first copy costs $21, and each extra copy is $11. These fees are higher than the County Clerk, but the Health Department may be a faster option for recent birth records. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with a break from noon to 1:00 PM.

Born before 1985? The Health Department can't help with those. Their files only go back to that year. For older Will County birth records, call the County Clerk at (815) 740-4615. The Health Department staff will point you in that direction too, but it saves time to know up front which office to contact based on the birth year.

Note: The Will County Health Department is the official Local Registrar for all births that occur in Will County, but their files start at 1985.

How to Get Birth Records in Will County

There are three ways to get a Will County birth certificate. You can go in person to either the County Clerk or the Health Department in Joliet. You can mail a written request. Or you can order through VitalChek online. Each method has its own steps and costs, so pick the one that works best for your situation.

In person is the fastest way. Bring your photo ID to the County Clerk at 302 North Chicago Street. Tell the clerk what you need. Pay the $12 fee. They will search their files and print a certified copy, often while you wait. The Health Department at 501 Ella Avenue works the same way for births after 1985, though the fee there is $21. Both offices take cash, checks, and cards. If you pay by card, there may be a small service fee added on top of the birth record cost.

For mail requests to the Will County Clerk, send a completed form with a copy of your ID and a check or money order for $12 payable to the Will County Clerk. Include the full name on the birth certificate, date of birth, and the names of the parents if you know them. Mail takes longer than a walk-in visit, but it works well if you live far from Joliet. Online orders through VitalChek carry an extra service fee on top of the county charge.

The screenshot below shows the VitalChek page for Will County birth record orders.

VitalChek processes online orders and ships certified copies by mail to your home address.

Who Can Get a Will County Birth Certificate

Illinois law is strict about who can get a certified birth certificate. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, birth records are not public. Only certain people have the right to request a certified copy from Will County or any other county in the state.

The list of people who can get a certified Will County birth certificate includes:

• The person named on the record, if 18 or older
• A parent listed on the birth certificate
• A legal guardian with court papers
• A legal rep with written proof of authority
• A court order from a judge

Anyone who uses a birth certificate for fraud faces a Class 4 felony under 410 ILCS 535/27. That charge can bring up to three years in prison. The Will County Clerk checks ID for every request and will turn away anyone who does not meet the legal standard. This rule applies to all requests made in person, by mail, or through the web.

Birth Registration in Will County

Every live birth in Will County must be filed with the local registrar within seven days. That rule comes from 410 ILCS 535/12. When a baby is born at a hospital or clinic, the staff there files the birth record. Home births put that job on the parents or the midwife. Once filed, the record goes to both the county and the state.

If a birth was never registered or was registered late, you may need a delayed birth certificate. Under 410 ILCS 535/14, a birth more than seven years old at the time of filing needs a special form called a "Delayed Record of Birth." You must give sworn testimony and back it up with proof. The Will County Clerk can walk you through this process. It takes more time and paperwork than a normal request, but it is the only legal path to get a birth record on file when the original was missed.

Corrections to a Will County birth record depend on what needs to change. Minor fixes, like a spelling error found in the first year, are simple. Major changes (a different last name, a change to the parents listed, or a date correction) go through a longer review with the State Registrar. The rules for what counts as a major correction are in 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 500.

Will County Birth Records for Genealogy

Family history researchers can get uncertified copies of Will County birth records that are 75 years old or more. These copies are stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and cannot be used for legal matters like getting a passport or driver's license. The fee is $10 through the state, or you can check with the Will County Clerk about their genealogy rates.

Will County birth records go all the way back to 1877. That gives genealogy researchers a deep pool of files to work with. The Illinois Department of Public Health genealogy page explains how to request older records from the state. You can also try the Will County Clerk directly, since their records start 39 years before the state began keeping files in 1916. For the oldest Will County birth records, the county office is your best bet.

State-Level Birth Records for Will County

The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps birth records from 1916 to the present. You can order a Will County birth certificate from either the county or the state. The state office in Springfield charges $10 for a short-form copy and $15 for a long-form copy that has all the details from the time of birth. Each extra copy costs $2.

State orders take about 12 weeks to process. That is much slower than the Will County Clerk. No phone updates are given during that time. For most people, going through the county is faster and cheaper. But if you have trouble reaching the Will County office or need a record from the state files, the IDPH Division of Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Ave in Springfield handles those requests. You can also visit their walk-in office at 605 W. Jefferson St. on weekdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders keeps a list of all county clerk offices in the state if you need to contact more than one county.

Cities in Will County

Will County has several large cities. All birth records for these cities are filed through the Will County Clerk in Joliet or the Health Department. The city where the birth took place does not change which county office handles the record.

Naperville and Bolingbrook also span into DuPage County. If a birth took place on the DuPage side of those cities, you would contact the DuPage County Clerk instead of Will County. Check the address on the birth record to be sure.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Will County. If you are not sure where a birth was registered, check the address. The county where the birth took place is the one that holds the record.