Vital records office in Illinois

How to obtain certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates from Illinois for immigration filings, USCIS evidence, school enrollment, or any other purpose.

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Birth

Event: Birth Cost of copy: certified copy: $15.00 certification: $10.00 Address: Division of Vital Records Illinois Department of Public Health 925 E Ridgely Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 Remarks: State office has records since January 1916. For earlier records and for copies of State records since January 1916, write to County Clerk in county where event occurred (county fees vary). The fee for a search of the State files is $10.00. If the record is found, one certification is issued at no additional charge. Additional certifications of the same record ordered at the same time are $2.00 each. The fee for a full certified copy is $15.00. Additional certified copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $2.00 each. Money orders, certified checks, or personal checks should be made payable to Illinois Department of Public Health . To verify current fees, the telephone number is (217) 782-6553. This will be a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Illinois Department of Public Health website . Death

Event: Death Cost of copy: certified copy: $19.00 genealogical copy: $10.00 Address: Division of Vital Records Illinois Department of Public Health 925 E Ridgely Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 Remarks: State office has records since January 1916. For earlier records and for copies of State records since January 1916, write to County Clerk in county where event occurred (county fees vary). Genealogical (uncertified) copies are available from the state for death records 20 years or older for $10.00. Additional genealogical copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $2.00 each. The fee for a full certified copy is $19.00. Additional certified copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $4.00 each. Money orders, certified checks, or personal checks should be made payable to Illinois Department of Public Health . To verify current fees, the telephone number is (217) 782-6553. This will be a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Illinois Department of Public Health website . Marriage/Civil Union

Event: Marriage/Civil Union Cost of copy: $5.00 Address: Division of Vital Records Illinois Department of Public Health 925 E Ridgely Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 Remarks: Marriage Index since January 1962. Civil Union Index since January 2012. Selected items may be verified (fee $5.00). Certified copies are NOT available from State office. For certified copies, write to the County Clerk in county where license was issued. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Illinois Department of Public Health website . Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union

Event: Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Cost of copy: $5.00 Address: Division of Vital Records Illinois Department of Public Health 925 E Ridgely A

Illinois vital records office details

Why immigrants need certified vital records

USCIS, courts, schools, and many other US agencies require certified vital records (not photocopies) for:

  • I-130 family petition — birth certificate proves family relationship
  • I-485 adjustment of status — birth certificate of applicant and beneficiaries
  • N-400 naturalization — marriage certificate if applying under spouse-of-USC 3-year rule
  • Apostille — for use of US documents in foreign countries (your home country may require US apostille)
  • School enrollment — proof of date of birth
  • Real ID applications — proof of identity

Apostille and authentication

If you need to use a Illinois vital record OUTSIDE the United States (e.g., for use at your home country’s consulate), you typically need an apostille from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. See /procedures/apostille-document/ for the process.

Last verified: 2026-05-27. General procedural information — not legal advice. Fees and processing times change; verify with the Illinois office.