Illinois Public Divorce Records

By Ben Kingsley


Vital information like divorce decrees are made open to the general public. Civilians with the proper credentials and requirements can effectively obtain public documents such as divorce certificates, marriage licenses, birth records, and death reports. In the state of Illinois, documents like these are maintained and disseminated by the Illinois Department of Public Health through its Division of Vital Records, which is in charge of the agency's database of vital documents. The Illinois divorce records in this office can be traced back to January of 1962. Unfortunately, though, certified copies of divorce documents are not accessible at the said office.

The state of Illinois' Department of Public Health may only verify the legitimacy of marriage and divorce reports. Applicants requesting to obtain a copy of a divorce certificate will only get a verification letter stating the existence of such record. Certified copies of birth and death records, on the other hand, can be availed through this office. Verifications for marriage and divorce certificates will cost you five dollars each. All payments must be made payable to the state office, by personal check, certified check, or money order.

If you are after a certified copy of a divorce certificate, then you should visit or call the Clerk of Circuit Court or the county clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted. Try to find someone in the office to help you with the proper procedures in requesting a certified copy of the document. Figure out the requirements and the current fees, especially since each county has different procedures, requirements and application charges. And always remember to comply with the policies put forth by the county office to avoid any complications later on.

For older divorce certificates, you can visit the Illinois State Archives. Divorce indexes much older than those housed at the state office are stored at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository, or IRAD. If you are doing genealogy or simply researching your ancestors, this is the office where you might find the information you need. For more recent information about how you can obtain data from the state archives office, you can contact them by phone or visit the office personally.

For background research purposes, on the other hand, an online information resource is a much more convenient and practical option. There are quite a few online record retrieval services available that is capable of disseminating comprehensive vital record data. Reputable online record providers can offer unrestricted and unlimited access to an extensive database of birth certificates, death reports, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees. All you will need is a working computer and an Internet connection.

Choosing to go with a record search website will only cost you a small one-time membership fee. You will need to complete a short registration process. But once the registration is completed, you can start running searches on any vital report you want. If you wish to access the divorce records of the person you are currently dating, for instance, all you need to do is type in his name and the state where he previously resided. With this kind of service, you can expect quick and comprehensive results and no additional fees or waiting periods.




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