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Obtain Birth Certificate

NOTICE:

Requests for vital records may be submitted to the IDPH Division of Vital Records via regular mail. Be advised that the processing time for requests is approximately 12 weeks from the time your paperwork is received. You will not receive an update from IDPH during the processing time.

What You Need to Provide

In order to request a copy of a birth certificate you must complete the form Application for Search of Birth Record Files. To learn more, see FORMS located in the right-hand column. Completely fill out the form. Submit it with the following information: 

A valid government issued photo identification (ID) that must be readable and is not expired/out of date (if an ID is not provided, unreadable, or expired, the request will be returned unprocessed).

To learn more about valid IDs, see Resources

To learn more about the required costs/fees, see Resources

How to Order

You may contact the county clerk where the event occurred.

Method Description Cost

Mail

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

Submit check or money order payable to IDPH

$10 - certified copy with the following items: name, date of birth, sex, place of birth, mother/co-parent’s maiden name, mother/co-parent’s place of birth, mother/co-parent’s age, father/co-parent’s name, father/co-parent’s place of birth, father/co-parent’s age, file date, date issued and State File number

$15 - certified copy with information collected at time of birth (information has varied throughout the years)

$2 each additional copy

$10 - genealogical copy

Fax

217-523-2648  

Online

To order online, visit VitalChek Network.

A major credit card is required.

$15 - certified copy with all information collected at time of birth (information has varied throughout the years)

$2 - each additional copy
$15.00 - handling fee
$22 - UPS fee if selected (U.S. only); additional fee (outside the U.S.)

In person

   

Certified copies of birth certificates available - suitable for legal purposes.

For $10 for the first copy of a birth certificate and $2 for each additional copy of the same certificate requested at the same time, you will obtain a birth certificate with the following 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; and state file number.

For $15 for the first copy of a birth certificate and $2 for each additional copy of the same certificate requested at the same time, you will obtain a birth certificate with information collected at the time of your birth (information has varied throughout the years).

Other Certificates:

  • Birth Record of a Deceased Individual
  • Birth Record of a Deceased Infant
  • Commemorative Birth Certificates
    • The fee for a commemorative birth certificate is $40 for each copy.
    • The proceeds are equally divided between the Illinois Child Abuse Prevention Fund and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

NOTICE:

Requests for vital records may be submitted to the IDPH Division of Vital Records via regular mail. Be advised that the processing time for requests is approximately 12 weeks from the time your paperwork is received. You will not receive an update from IDPH during the processing time.

Resources

Forms

Laws & Rules