How to Get Illinois Vital Records (Start Here)
Don't guess which office to contact. Follow this order:
- Birth & death certificates: Order from the state health department or the county where the event occurred.
- Marriage certificates: Go to the county Clerk (or Recorder) where the marriage license was issued.
- Divorce records: Go to the court where the divorce was filed — usually the county circuit or district court.
⚠ Key Fact: Each office maintains its own records separately. There is no single database for all Illinois vital records.
Every source on this page is verified by SearchSystems.net — est. 1997.
Use the databases below to search Illinois vital records.
Arthur Village Birth Index 1868-1925
Visit → Official Free
Illinois State Archives birth certificates issued in the Village of Arthur during the period.
Barrington | Births, Deaths, Marriages
Visit → Official Free
Barrington, Illinois birth, death, and marriage notices.
Carroll County Births | 1877-1913
Visit → Official Free
Illinois State Archives database of birth certificates issued in Carroll County during the period 1877-1913 by parent name(s) and/or child name.
Chicago Homicides 1870-1930
Visit → Official Free
Search this Illinois State Archives database of Chicago Police Department Homicide Records by name of decedent. Index includes over 12,705 records.
Cook County Divorces | Court Dockets
Visit → Official Free
Cook County, Illinois Civil, Law, Chancery, and Domestic Relations full case dockets from the Clerk of Circuit Court.
Cook County Vital Records Archives
Visit → Official Free
Cook County birth, death, and marriage certificates 75 years or older. Search by name, year or file number.
Deaths | 1916-1950
Visit → Official Free
Search Illinois death certificates by name or county. Gives gender, race, date of death, certificate number, city & county of death, and filing date.
Deaths | before 1916
Visit → Official Free
Search Illinois death certificates filed prior to 1916 by name or county. Site also includes information on ordering copies of the certificates.
Freeburg Obituaries 1904-1939
Visit → Official Free
Browse Freeburg obituaries and death notices by name. Gives age and date/page/column where the obituary or notice appeared in the Freeburg Tribune.
Fulton County Divorces | Court Index 1825-1876
Visit → Official Free
Search Illinois State Archives database of Fulton County, Illinois Circuit Court Case Files for the period 1825-1876.
Galesburg Cemetery Records
Visit → Official Free
Search the Linwood and East Linwood cemetery records in Galesburg, Illinois.
Highland Park Obituary Index
Visit → Official Free
Browse alphabetical index of obituaries for residents of Highland Park, Illinois to view name of deceased, date of death, personal details and.
Kankakee County Birth Index 1878-1916
Visit → Official Free
Kankakee County birth records by name. Covers 1878 - 1916.
Kankakee County Death Index 1877-1916
Visit → Official Free
Browse Kankakee County death records by name. Gives book/page number and information on how to order a copy of the record.
Lake County Divorces | Court Index 1840-1898
Visit → Official Free
Search Illinois State Archives database of Lake County, Illinois Circuit Court Case Files for the period 1840-1898.
Macon County Divorces | Court Records 1829-1861
Visit → Official Free
Search the Illinois State Archives database of Macon County, Illinois Circuit Court Case Files for the period 1829-1861 by plaintiff and/or.
Madison County | Divorces
Visit → Official Free
Madison County family and divorce court records by name or case number.
Marriages | 1763-1900
Visit → Official Free
Search the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index for the period 1763-1900. Search by groom name and/or bride name statewide or by county.
Mattoon Death Certificates 1899-1918
Visit → Official Free
Search for Mattoon, Illinois death certificates by name. Gives certificate number, date of death, and notes.
McHenry County Baptisms
Visit → Official Free
McHenry County Genealogical Society list of baptisms recorded at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Covers 1852-1868.
McHenry County Church Records 1852-1868
Visit → Official Free
McHenry County Genealogical Society list of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church marriage, death, and confirmation records 1852-1868.
McHenry County Deaths | Crystal Lake Herald
Visit → Official Free
McHenry County Genealogical Society death notices from the Crystal Lake Herald newspaper.
McHenry County Deaths | Marengo Republican
Visit → Official Free
Genealogical Society of McHenry County death notices that appeared in the Marengo Republican newspaper.
McHenry County Deaths | McHenry Plaindealer
Visit → Official Free
McHenry County death notices that in the McHenry County Plaindealer between 1875 and 1880.
McHenry County Deaths | Woodstock Sentinel
Visit → Official Free
McHenry County Genealogical Society database of death notices in the Woodstock Sentinel newspaper between 1856 and 1894.
McHenry County Marriages
Visit → Official Free
McHenry County Genealogical Society database. Search by decade and name for Crystal Lake Herald marriage, wedding, engagement, and anniversary.
McLean County Birth Index 1860-1915
Visit → Official Free
McLean County, Illinois birth index by name for the period 1860-1915.
McLean County Will Index 1838-1940
Visit → Official Free
Use Illinois Secretary of State service to search by name to determine if a Will was recorded in McLean County between 1838 and 1940.
Sangamon County Deaths
Visit → Official Free
Search for Sangamon County divorce records from the circuit clerk by date, case type, or sequence number. Select divorce from the case type menu.
Shelby County Divorces | Circuit Court Case Files 1828-1871
Visit → Official Free
Search the Illinois State Archives database of Shelby County, Illinois Circuit Court Case Files for the period 1828-1871.
St. Clair County Cemeteries
Visit → Official Free
Provided by: St. Clair County, Illinois Genealogical Society (SCCGS). Browse by surname for the cemetery or cemeteries where people by that name are.
St. Clair County Deaths | 1870-1880
Visit → Official Free
Provided by: St. Clair County Genealogical Society. Browse proofs of death and death certificates by name.
St. Clair County Divorces | Chancery Court Index 1815-1870
Visit → Official Free
Search the Illinois State Archives database of St. Clair County Chancery Court Case Files Index for the period 1815-1870.
Wayne County Coroner Inquests 1888-1960
Visit → Official Free
Search the Illinois State Archives database of Wayne County, Illinois Coroner Inquest Record Index for the period 1888-1960.
Wilmette Births | 1893-1926
Visit → Official Free
Wilmette Historical Museum partial list of Willmette birth records for the period 1893 through 1926.
Search Illinois by Record Type
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get Illinois vital records? ▼
Start with the strategy box at the top of this page. It tells you exactly where to order birth certificates, death records, marriage certificates, and divorce records in Illinois.
Is there a single office for all Illinois vital records? ▼
It depends on the record type. Birth and death certificates usually go through the state health department. Marriage licenses go through the county. Divorce records go through the court. Use the databases listed on this page.
How long does it take to get Illinois vital records? ▼
Processing times vary by office and method. Online orders are typically fastest. Mail orders can take 2-6 weeks. In-person requests at the issuing office are usually same-day if records are available.
Last reviewed:
BBB A+ Rated