Certified Copies in Illinois: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Illinois
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Illinois, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $15.00 certified copy; $10.00 certification
- Death certificate
- $19.00 certified copy; $10.00 genealogical
- Marriage
- $5.00 verification only
- Divorce
- $5.00 verification only
Vital records
Issued by: Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
Post to: Division of Vital Records, Illinois Department of Public Health, 925 E Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702
Verify current fees: (217) 782-6553
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $15.00 certified copy; $10.00 certification |
| Death | $19.00 certified copy; $10.00 genealogical |
| Marriage | $5.00 verification only |
| Divorce | $5.00 verification only |
What Illinois requires
- Certified marriage and dissolution copies are NOT available from the state. Use the county clerk.
- State records from January 1916; earlier records and extra certified copies come from the county clerk.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Illinois entity come from Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, normally online and often the same day.
Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Illinois goes through Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, at $2.00 per apostille.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Illinois birth certificate?
From Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records. Post to Division of Vital Records, Illinois Department of Public Health, 925 E Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702. A certified copy is $15.00 certified copy; $10.00 certification.
Does the Illinois Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
Can I get a certified marriage certificate from the state of Illinois?
Not in the ordinary way. $5.00 verification only Plan on dealing with the county rather than the state office.
What will Illinois reject?
Certified marriage and dissolution copies are NOT available from the state. Use the county clerk.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
