Illinois Public Divorce Records

By Ben Kingsley


Divorce certificates, like many vital documents, are considered as a matter of public domain. This means that, with the proper requirements and credentials, any member of the public can have access to any vital information they seek, including divorce decrees and other pertinent data. In the state of Illinois, public documents fall under the jurisdiction of the state's Department of Public Health. Its Division of Vital Records keeps Illinois divorce records that date back to January 1962. Unfortunately, the state office does not release certified copies of such reports.

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.

For access to certified copies of divorce documents, you can contact or visit the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was filed and granted. Talk to somebody in the office. They may be able to help you with the proper procedures in obtaining a certified copy of a divorce certificate, as well as the complete requirements you might need in filing your request. And since each county in the state of Illinois has its own policies, requirements, and fees, you may want to consider checking out the state website for additional information. And always make sure that you comply with the county's policies to avoid any snags later on in the process.

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.

If you decide to go with a record retrieval website, you will need to register an account and pay the one-time fee. In return, you will have unlimited searches and unrestricted access to the provider's database of public information. Once the registration process is complete, you can start running searches from your own home or office. If you are interested in someone's divorce records, all you have to do is enter the name and the state. It doesn't get more complicated than that. Quick and comprehensive results are what you can expect from such service.




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