Cook County Vital Records

Newberry
Library
Family History
Library
Cook County
Clerk's Office
Illinois
Department of
Public Health
IRAD (Illinois
Regional
Archives
Depository
Illinois State
Archives
Birth Record
Index
1871-1916 1871-1916 1871-present
(not searchable
by public)
1916-present
(not searchable
by public)
1871-1916 No
Birth Certificates,
Records or
Registers
No 1878-1922
(city),
1878-1894
(county)
1871-present 1916-present 1871-1915 No
Marriage
Index
1833-1871
Fink's *
1871-1916 1871-present
(not searchable
by public)
1962-present
(not searchable
by public)
1871-1904 Pre-1900 incomplete. See Web site
Marriage
Licenses
No 1871-1920 1871-1920 1871-present Verification
only 1962-
present
1871-1900 No
Death Index 1856-1889
Fink's *
1871-1916,
1916-1947
1871-1933 1871-present
(not searchable
by public)
1916-present
(not searchable
by public)
1871-1916 1916-1950
online searchable
Death
Certificates
No 1878-1909,
1916-1945
1871-present 1916-present 1878-1909
(outside
Chicago only)
1916-1947

Important notes about Cook County Vital Records:

*Fink's Marriages and Deaths (1834-1889) is an index to newspaper marriage notices, obituaries, and deaths (1878-1884)

Newberry Library
60 West Walton
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 255-3512
http://www.newberry.org

Quick Search service for Cook County birth index 1871-1916, Cook County death index 1871-1916, Illinois death index 1916-1947. $7 for each index searched. See http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/quicksearch.html for more information.

Cook County Court House
Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 642570
Chicago, IL 60664-2570
(312) 603-7790
http://www.cookctyclerk.com

$10 per requested death certificate. $4 each for additional copies of the same certificate. $1 for each additional year searched, maximum of 10 years. Birth and marriage certificates are $7 per request; $2 additional copies. See 2nd floor Reference Librarian for forms. Mail orders can take 4-6 weeks to process.
If you go in person: Cash only. No bills larger than $20. If you are requesting deaths over 20 years, you will not receive it on the same day. See additional suburban courthouse locations on back. Available at some currency exchanges for an additional $4.

Bridgeview Courthouse
10220 S. 76th Ave.,
Room 238
Bridgeview, IL
(708) 974-6150
Maywood Courthouse
1311 Maybrook Sq.,
Room 119
Maywood, IL
(708) 865-6010
Markham Courhouse
16501 S. Kedzie,
Room 238
Markham, IL
(708) 210-4150
Rolling Meadows
Courthouse
2121 Euclid Ave.
Rolling Meadows, IL
(847) 818-2850
Skokie Courthouse
5600 W. Old Orchard Rd.
Skokie, IL
(847) 470-7233

Family History Library
http://www.familysearch.org

Check the Family History Library Catalog to determine which microfilm reels to order. There is also a binder at the 2nd floor reference desk with Chicago and Cook County record film numbers. Readers may borrow film for $3.50 a reel to be delivered to the Newberry. Loan time is about a month. Film can also be ordered at any Family History Center. To locate a Family History Center near you, ask at the 2nd floor reference desk or see http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
605 W. Jefferson Street
Springfield, IL 62702-5097
(217) 782-6553
http://www.idph.state.il.us/vital/vitalhome.htm

Birth records are not open to the public, only to the person on the certificate, their parent or legal guardian. $10 for certified birth certificate. $15 for certified copy of original. $17 for certified death certificate. $10 for genealogical copy of death certificate older than 20 years. $2 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Order forms are available at the website. Can also fax requests for records or order online through Vitalcheck for an additional fee at http://www.vitalcheck.com

Illinois Regional Archives Depository
Ronald Williams Library
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625-4699
(773) 442-4506
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/irad/iradhome.html

See reference policy at:
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/irad/refpol.html
Will search their records free of charge with information supplied by you. Two requests at a time. Nominal charge for copies. Will supply estimates for orders over $5.

Illinois State Archives
Reference Unit
Margaret Cross Norton Building
Capitol Complex
Springfield, IL 62756
Telephone: (217) 782-3556
Fax: (217) 524-3930
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/services.html

Will search Illinois Death Certificates 1916-1947 and send copies free of charge. Can be submitted at their website http://www.sos.state.il.us/cgi-bin/archives/arcreq.s or requested via mail. Two names per request. Also see their pre-1900 Illinois Marriage Index at: http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/marriage.html


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