How to Find Illinois Birth Records

How to Find United States Birth Records Illinois Births

Illinois gained statehood in 1816. Statewide registration of deaths began in 1916. General compliance followed in 1922.

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Next Step: When did the birth occur?

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 * Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's birth record:


 * Births before 1877
 * Births between 1877 and 1916
 * Births after 1916
 * I don't know when the birth is


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Births before 1877
Before 1877, only 30% of the counties in Illinois recorded birth records. Search to see if your ancestor's birth record was included. If not, you will need to search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.

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Births between 1877 and 1916
In 1877, Illinois required all births be reported to the county clerk; however, many were not reported because compliance was not enforced. The statewide registration began in 1916 with full compliance by 1922.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
There are two options:

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 * FamilySearch.org - If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can order the microfilm from the Family History Library.
 * Individual County Clerks - If there is no GS microfilm number available, or if you cannot gain access to the microfilm, you may contact the county clerk where your ancestor was born and order a copy of the birth record.

Births after 1916
The Vital Records office of the Illinois Department of Public Health has copies of births from 1916 to present day. Anything before 1916 must be obtained from the county clerk's office in the county where the birth occurred.

Obtain the Certificate
See restrictions below to find if you "qualify" to order a certificate. You must have full name, exact date and place of the birth to order from the Illinois State Department of Public Health. If you do not have the exact information, a search can be conducted for a fee. Contact the Vital Records Office for more information.

Restrictions to qualify for certificates for persons born within the last 75 years: To obtain a copy of the certificate, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parents shown on the certificate
 * A legal guardian or legal representative of the child. Written evidence of guardianship or legal representation is required.

'''If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search. ''' Return to top: Choose another birth year

Births after 1990
Only immediate family members and selected others may obtain certified copies of birth records created less than 75 years ago. You may obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate for a birth that occurred in Illinois after 1990, at any County Health Department, but not at the State Health Department.

Obtain the Certificate
If you qualify to request a certificate you must have full name, exact date and place of the birth. You can then order a copy of the birth certificate for a fee from any County Health Department. This is considered a complete certificate, with all available information.

Restrictions to qualify for certificates for persons born within the last 75 years: To obtain a copy of the birth certificate for those born within the last 75 years, you must be:


 * The person on the certificate
 * The parent or grandparent of the person on the certificate (paternal grandparent is eligible if father is listed on the vital record)
 * The spouse of the person on the certificate
 * The child of the person on the certificate
 * The sibling of the person on the certificate
 * The legal guardian of the person on the certificate
 * Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate
 * NOTE: A copy of the birth certificate cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 75 years have passed from the date of the birth.

'''If you do not want to order the birth record, there are other records with birth information you can search. ''' Return to top: Choose another birth year

Related Wiki Articles

 * Learn more about U.S. Birth Records
 * United States Record Selection Table
 * U.S. Vital Records Overview
 * United States Vital Records
 * Locating United States Vital Records
 * United States Death Records
 * United States Marriage Records