|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genealogy Records
|
| What vital records information is available to me in researching my family history? |  |
Copies of birth, death, marriage and divorce records are available to a genealogical researcher under certain conditions. Births and deaths before January 1, 1916 and marriages before January 1, 1962 are recorded only in the office of the county clerk where the event occurred. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses)
Uncertified copies of birth records for genealogical purposes are available to individuals who may not otherwise be entitled to receive a certified copy if the person's date of birth precedes the current date by 75 years or more. Birth certificates filed before 1916 must be obtained from the county clerk. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses)
A GENEALOGICAL copy of a birth record of a deceased individual, which occurred more than 75 years ago, may be available to eligible parties upon completion of a special application form and showing proof of death. Eligibility will be determined upon receipt and review of the documentation submitted. You may request this special application form at dph.vitalrec@illinois.gov or by writing to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Uncertified, genealogical copies of death records can be obtained for persons who died 20 or more years prior to the date the record is requested. Uncertified copies of these records can be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the death occurred or from IDPH, Division of Vital Records. The Illinois State Archives has copies of death records on a limited basis.
Copies of marriage records can be obtained from the county clerk in the county where the marriage occurred. Copies of divorce records are maintained by the circuit clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. (List of county circuit court clerk offices) IDPH, Division of Vital Records does not provide copies of these records. It only performs searches and verifications of the facts of a marriage or divorce for the years 1962 through the current index date available.
Most county clerks have indexes to records prior to 1916 that are available for the purpose of genealogical research. These indexes generally provide the name, date and place of occurrence and are located in county courthouses located throughout the state. Although self-service access to the indexes is generally permitted, the law limits physical access to the individual records to the clerk's staff. When you locate a record from the index, it will be necessary for the clerk to pull the record for you once you have paid the appropriate search fee. Please check with the county clerk for fees and policies on reviewing indexes.
The Illinois State Archives and many public and genealogical libraries also have death indexes that can be searched. The Illinois State Archives also has an index containing information on more than 1 million marriages for the years 1763 to 1900.
| How can I obtain a copy of a relative's birth, death or marriage certificates? | |
You may only receive a relative's birth record if you are doing genealogical research and the person is deceased (a special application form and proof of his/her death is required) or the person is 75 years of age or older. Birth records for genealogical purposes may be requested from either IDPH, Division of Vital Records or from the county clerk. Records filed prior to 1916 must be obtained from the county clerk's office in the county where the birth occurred. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses) Requests of IDPH, Division of Vital Records cost $15 for the long form, genealogical copy and can be made by mail.
Uncertified, genealogical death records of persons who died 20 or more years prior to the current date may be requested from either the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records or from the county clerk. Records filed prior to 1916 must be obtained from the county clerk's office in the county where the death occurred. Requests of IDPH, Division of Vital Records cost $10 and can be made by mail.
Copies of marriage records can only be obtained from county clerks in the county where the marriage occurred. If you do not know the county where the marriage occurred, IDPH, Division of Vital Records has a statewide index from 1962 through the current index date available. Staff will search this index for a $5 fee. To request a search, you can use the (application for verification of marriage record form) and submit it by mail.
| Is there a cost for copies? What is it? | |
An uncertified, genealogical copy of a death record costs $10.
Searches of the death record indexes for genealogical purposes costs $10 per name. If the requested record is found and more than 20 years old, one uncertified copy shall be issued without additional charge.
Birth records cost $15 for the long form, uncertified, genealogical copy.
Searches for marriage and divorce information cost $5 for each search.
| Are there indexes available to search? | |
Many public and genealogical libraries, including the Illinois Regional Area Depository (IRAD) system, have statewide microfiche indexes of Illinois deaths that occurred from 1916 to 50 or more years ago. In addition to microfiche, the Illinois State Archive's maintains a database index on death certificates for the years 1916 to 1950.
For records filed prior to 1916, you may be able to search birth, death and marriage indexes at most county clerk offices. These indexes generally provide the name, date and place of occurrence and are located in county courthouses located throughout the state. Although self-service access to the indexes is generally permitted, the law limits physical access to the individual records to the clerk's staff. When you locate a record from the index, it will be necessary for the clerk to pull the record for you once you have paid the appropriate search fee. Please contact the county clerk's office for information about searching pre-1916 indexes. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses)
IDPH, Vital Records staff can perform a search of the death record indexes for genealogical research for a fee of $10 per name. If the requested record is found and is more than 20 years old, one uncertified copy would be issued without additional charge. (How to Obtain a Certified Copy of an Illinois Death Record)
The Illinois State Archives maintains a statewide marriage index for the years 1763 to 1900; however, there is no statewide index from 1901 to 1961. Illinois State Archive's maintains a database index on death certificates for the years 1916 to 1950. Some individual county indexes prior to 1916 are available in the Illinois State Archives.
IDPH, Division of Vital Records has a statewide index from 1962 through the current index date available of all marriages and divorces. Search of these indexes can be performed for a $5 fee. (For information on obtaining verifications of marriages and divorces.)
| Is an appointment needed to view records? Is more than one person allowed in to search? What can I bring in or cannot bring in (i.e., tote bag, pencil)? | |
Please contact the county clerk's office for information about guidelines and procedures for searching pre-1916 indexes. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses)
| Is there a cost to view records and write down what I see? | |
Any fee would depend on the local jurisdiction. Please contact the county clerk's office for information about guidelines and procedures for searching pre-1916 indexes. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses)
| Can you provide military or other records on Illinois residents? | |
No. The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records only has birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Military service information is available from the Illinois State Archives. Information about these records and how to access them can be found on the Genealogy in the Illinois State Archives page of the Illinois Secretary of State's Web site. More recent military service information also can be obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration's National Personnel Records Center.
| How far back do your records go? | |
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records began collecting birth and death records in 1916. Birth records prior to 1916 were recorded only by county clerks. (Most Illinois counties did not begin recording births until 1877.) IDPH has records for a small number of pre-1916 births as a result of delayed registrations. Marriage and divorce indexes maintained by IDPH date from 1962 through the current index date available. Marriage records are maintained by county clerks; divorce records are maintained by circuit court clerks.
| Where can I get a death record that is over 50 years old? | |
Copies of death records over 50 years old can be obtained from the county clerk of the county where the death occurred. (List of county vital records Web sites or county clerk addresses) IDPH, Division of Vital Records can provide a copy if the record was filed on or after 1916. The Illinois State Archives also can provide copies of records. The Illinois Regional Area Depository (IRAD) system has death records, including those prior to 1916, for many counties. Click here to learn about the information available at the Illinois State Archives and seven regional archives depositories.
| Where else can I go to find records for genealogical purposes? | |
The Illinois State Archives has extensive holdings that would be of interest to the genealogical researcher. Information about these records and how to access them can be found on the Genealogy in the Illinois State Archives page of the Illinois Secretary of State's Web site. Information of benefit to genealogical researchers can be obtained from a number of federal sources as well.
LINKS
Marriage, Dissolution, and Invalidity Records Act
Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act
County Circuit Court Clerks
Illinois Vital Records Code (rules)
County Vital Records Web Sites or County Clerk Addresses
