How to Find Illinois Birth Records

Are Birth Records Public in Illinois?

No, they are not. Illinois birth records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Thus, local and state vital records offices do not maintain public birth records, as directed by 410 ILCS 535 (Illinois Vital Records Act) and the Illinois Vital Records Code. According to the Illinois statutes, there are three categories of persons legally permitted to access certified copies of Illinois birth records:

The person identified on the birth record if they are 18 years of age or older
The parents identified on the birth certificate
A legal guardian or legal representative of the child. Written evidence of guardianship or legal representation is required.

However, the law grants an exception to an individual with a "genealogical interest" in a birth record. Here, genealogy means a birth record aged 75 years or older and whose subject is deceased.

What are Birth Records in Illinois?

A birth record is an official document containing information about the birth of an individual. It serves as proof of an individual's age, citizenship status, and identity. Birth records are created and maintained by government entities for many purposes including vital statistics, tax, military, and census purposes. Birth records are submitted to the municipality, county, and state by parents, doctors, midwives, and hospitals, usually through paper or electronic means. The state and federal governments use these records to understand population dynamics, childbirth trends, maternal and fetal health and mortality, new parent demographics, and other trends that may inform policymakers.

A birth record is necessary for any individual to apply for a passport, obtain a social security number, enroll in schools, obtain a driver's license, gain employment, or apply for other benefits. Generally, a birth record establishes who a person is and gives access to the rights and privileges, and the obligations of citizenship. An Illinois birth record contains:

Date of birth
Time of birth
Place of birth
Child's full name
Mother's name
Father's name
Child's gender
Type of birth
Mother's marital status
Birth registration number

Where to Find Public Birth Records in Illinois

As previously noted, although birth records in Illinois are not considered public records, some can be accessed by the public under certain conditions. Researchers may find these Illinois public birth records by carrying out genealogical research. Requests for genealogical or public birth records can be submitted to the county clerk’s office in the county where the birth took place. Individuals can also search the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) System, which holds the most extensive collection of earlier county birth records.

How to Find and Request Birth Records Online in Illinois

Illinois birth records do not fall under the provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and are therefore not considered public records. In line with this, the state does not provide a way for members of the public to find birth records online. However, eligible persons can make requests to obtain birth records. The State of Illinois processes online requests through its partnership with an independent company. The company accepts all major credit cards and may charge an additional fee for services provided.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, public records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government-sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

How to Get Birth Records in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records issues two types of certified copies of birth certificates. Both can be used for legal purposes. Eligible persons seeking to obtain birth records from the Illinois DPH may do so in one of these ways:

Mail
Fax

Anyone interested in obtaining a birth record in Illinois is required to complete the Application for Search of Birth Record Files form and submit it with valid government-issued photo identification. Note that the ID must be readable and not out of date. Requests will be returned unprocessed if a provided photo ID has expired or is considered unreadable by the certificate-issuing entity. Valid government-issued photo IDs include driver’s license, state-issued photo ID, and passport. Persons who have an extension sticker on their licenses must submit a copy of both sides of the licenses.

Requesters with expired or unavailable driver's licenses or ID cards must submit two pieces of documents with their names on them. An expiration date of not more than six months, will require an additional document showing the requester’s name and current address. For an expiration date over 6 months old or if a valid photo ID is unavailable, two pieces of supporting documentation with the requester’s name is required. One of the supporting documentation must show a current address. Additionally, one of the documents must also show a requester's current address and name to confirm their identity. One of the documents may be a bill (such as electricity, cellular phone, or water bill) or other USPS mail, while the second must be one of the under-listed items:

Medical or car insurance card
Voter's registration card
Car registration paperwork
Bank statement
Credit card statement
Paycheck stub with imprinted information
Public assistance card
Active-duty military ID with issued and expiration dates
Illinois Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) link card

Note that social security cards are not acceptable. A Matricula Consular card issued after October 2006 that has yet to expire is acceptable on its own. A Matricula Consular card is an identity card issued by the Mexican government through its consulate offices to a Mexican citizen residing outside of Mexico. However, a requester who presents a Matricular Consular card issued before October 2006 must provide one additional documentation showing the current address. If the requester cannot provide any of the appropriate documents listed above, a current copy of a current utility bill showing the requester's name and current address will be required.

Persons currently under incarceration are permitted to submit a dated copy of their prison intake/offender summary sheet containing their photos. For persons released from prison within the last six months, a copy of the release papers along with the prison photo ID is acceptable. Presently, there are no walk-in services available at the Illinois Department of Health's vital records division.

Fax Requests

To obtain a State of Illinois birth certificate by fax, contact the Department of Public Health on (217) 523-2648. Note that a major credit card is required to pay the appropriate fees associated with obtaining a birth record.

Mail Requests

To make an Illinois birth certificate request by mail, the requester must enclose the completed application form and a check or money order for the appropriate fee in a self-addressed envelope to the:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Ave-2737
Springfield, IL 62702

The check or money order must be made payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Persons in need of an Apostille are advised to contact the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, or call (800) 252-8980. An Apostille is a means of certifying the authenticity of the signature of the issuing authority, the capacity in which the signer was acting, and the identity of any stamp or seal attached to the document.

Where Can I Find Birth Records in Illinois?

Copies of birth records of children born in the State of Illinois are available from the Division of Vital Records of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The Division keeps a record of all births in the state since January 1916. Earlier records and copies of state birth records since January 1916 are also maintained by the local county registrars or clerks in the locations where the births occur. The IDPH website provides information for users to locate county clerk addresses in Illinois.

Can Anyone Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Illinois?

Illinois birth records are not public records. Under Illinois State Law (410 ILCS 535 - Vital Records Act), legal copies of these records can only be received by entitled persons. Under Illinois law, copies of birth records may only be issued upon:

The order of a court of competent jurisdiction
The specific written request for a certification or certified copy by the person, if of legal age (18 years or older), or by a parent or other legal representative of the person to whom the birth record relates
The specific written request for a certification or certified copy by a department of the state, a municipal corporation, or the federal government.
The State of Illinois defines a legal representative in this context as:
An attorney acting on behalf of a person(s) named on a birth record
An agent authorized by a power of attorney
A court-appointed personal representative
An agent with written, notarized authorization from a person(s) named on a birth record for the purpose of obtaining a certified copy or certification for that person
Any other agent approved by the State Registrar as a legal representative of the person to whom the birth certificate relates.

The State of Illinois considers any person who willfully and knowingly uses or attempts to use a birth record for any purpose of deception as guilty of a Class 4 felony.

Any person who is verified to hold a genealogical interest in a birth record can obtain a genealogical copy of a birth record. Note that each genealogical copy is clearly marked with a "Genealogical Purposes Only" stamp in the body of the record. Such records are non-certified, and the record of birth must have been on file for a minimum of 75 years. Where the record has been on file for less than 100 years and the subject is deceased, the requester must provide proof of the subject's death.

How Much Does a Birth Certificate Cost in Illinois?

Illinois issues two types of certified birth certificates. Both are suitable for legal purposes with the difference being only in the amount of information contained in each type. Pursuant to Illinois Law (ILCS 410/535/25(1)), a requester must make an advance payment for the search of birth record files. This fee of $10 is included in the price of the copy(ies) being requested and is non-refundable.

Costs for In-Person and Mail Requests

The State of Illinois charges $10 for the first copy of a certified birth certificate that contains the under-listed items:

Child’s name
Date of birth
Sex
Place of birth (city, county, state)
Mother/co-parent’s maiden name
Mother/co-parent’s place of birth (state/country)
Mother/co-parent’s age
Father/co-parent’s name
Father/co-parent’s place of birth (state/country) Father/co-parent’s age
File date
Date issued
State file number

Each additional copy of this type of certified birth certificate requested at the same time as the first copy costs $2. This type of birth certificate is referred to as the short form birth certificate with basic birth record information. The short form birth certificate may not be accepted by all government agencies.

The long form birth certificate which contains the most available information costs $15 per certified copy and $2 for each additional copy. The long-form birth certificate is accepted for all legal use, passport, and other governmental agencies.

Genealogical birth records are charged at $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy. Foreign birth or administrative foreign birth records cost $5 per copy. Foreign birth records are birth records of adopted persons born outside of the United States who were re-adopted in Illinois.

Acceptable modes of payment for mail orders are check and money orders. These must be made payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health. For in-person orders, fees may be paid by cash, personal check, money order, or debit/credit card. Visa credit card is not accepted for payments for in-person orders.

Costs for Fax and Online Requests

A long form certified copy costs $15 and $2 for each additional copy. There is also a handling fee of $12.95 and $3 for each additional person in a group order. If a requester chooses to use UPS services for delivery to locations within the United States, an extra $19.50 will be charged. For UPS delivery to locations outside the United States, additional fees may apply. Payments for fax and online orders can be made using all major credit cards, including American, Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa Card.

Under Illinois law, homeless individuals born in Illinois are entitled to a free certified copy of their birth records from the county in which they were born. However, the homeless status of any such individual will be verified by a human services agency, legal services, or any other similar agency.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Birth Certificate in Illinois?

Birth certificate requests to the Illinois Department of Public Health currently take over 12 weeks to complete. Due to the limited staff attending to requests in compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, requests now take longer to complete. Online requests and requests made to the local county registrars take less time to complete. Processing time for birth record requests from the local county clerks or registrars in many Illinois counties takes 10 - 14 business days to complete.

How to Get a New Birth Certificate in Illinois

According to 410 ILCS 535/17, the State Registrar of Vital Records (Illinois Department of Public Health) can issue new birth certificates under these four circumstances:

Interested persons can click the above links to obtain the appropriate application forms and supporting documentation they must submit for the DPH to create a new Illinois birth certificate. For persons whose need for a new birth certificate arises from adoption, getting a new birth certificate is part of the adoption process. The DPH will issue the new birth record after receiving a certificate of adoption or certified copy of the adoption order from the court approving the adoption, the adopted person, or adoptive parents (except such parties do not request a new certificate). The requester must also provide information that can be used to identify the original birth certificate and create a new birth certificate.

Per the law, the processing fee for any new birth certificate request in Illinois is $15. This amount covers the creation of a new birth certificate and the issuance of one certification or certified copy of the new birth certificate to the requester. Each additional certified copy or certification requested at the same time costs $2.

After the Illinois Department of Health creates a new birth certificate, the original birth certificate will no longer be subject to inspection or certification unless by order of a circuit court, the request of the registrant, or as provided by law. Furthermore, all copies of the original birth certificate held by local custodians will be sent to the DPH and sealed from further inspection unless permitted under Section 18.1b of the Illinois Adoption Act.

How to Expunge Your Birth Records in Illinois

An expungement is a term used to describe the permanent removal of records. Expunging a birth record means removing certain details from it. Illinois makes no provision for expunging birth records.

How to Seal Your Birth Records in Illinois

Pre-adoption birth records for adoptees are automatically sealed upon the completion of an adoption process in Illinois. No separate steps are required to seal a birth record other than the legal completion of an adoption filing.

How to Unseal Your Birth Records in Illinois

To reinstate an original birth record as a legal record of birth after adoption, a certified copy of the court order to vacate the adoption must be submitted to the Adoption Unit of the Division of Vital Records in the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois specifies that the court order must be issued by the Circuit Court that originally granted the adoption. The court order must direct the Illinois Department of Public Health to vacate the adoption and to reinstate the original birth record. It must also include the following information:

Complete name after adoption
Complete name before adoption
Date of birth of the adoptee
Place of birth of the adoptee

Illinois Public Act 96-0895 which came into effect on May 21, 2010, now makes it possible for adult adoptees or surrendered persons born in Illinois, who are 21 years or older to request a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate (OBC). The Act permits birth parents of adopted or surrendered persons born on or after January 1, 1946, to specify their wishes with regard to contact and the release of their identifying information.

To obtain a non-certified copy of an OBC, complete a Request for a Non-Certified Copy of an Original Birth Certificate form and enclose it with a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and the appropriate fee in a mail. The fee is $15 and can be paid via a check or money order made payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

According to the Illinois Public Act 98-0704 which came into effect on January 1, 2015, birth parents of adoptees born in Illinois can request a non-certified copy of the OBC as it was filed at the time of birth. To obtain a copy of an OBC, complete the application form and enclose it along with a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order for $15 made payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Completed applications for OBC from adoptees or parents of adoptees under the Public Act 96-0895 and the Public Act 98-0704 are to be submitted to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records - IARMIE
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Who Signs Birth and Death Certificates in Illinois?

In Illinois, the person in charge of the institution where a birth took place or their designee signs the birth certificate (410 ILCS 535/12 (2)). It is also this individual's responsibility to secure the personal signatures of the mother and acknowledged father of the child on the hospital worksheet required to create the birth certificate. Such a person must also file the birth certificate with the local registrar.

On the other hand, an Illinois death certificate is signed by the physician in charge of the patient's care for the condition that led to death, except the death is subject to a coroner or medical examiner's investigation (410 ILCS 535/18). With the physician's approval, the associate physician, the physician who carried out an autopsy, or the chief medical officer of the institution where the death occurred can also sign the death certificate.