Illinois Divorce Records

United States   Illinois    Divorce Records

In the early 1800s, the legislature, the circuit courts, and city courts granted divorces. Illinois divorce records may indicate the date and place the marriage was dissolved. Circuit or city courts have handled most divorce proceedings. The Superior Court of Cook County in Chicago also has jurisdiction over divorces.

The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records has a register of divorces statewide and can verify the date and county of a divorce or annulment recorded after 1 January 1962. Requests can be made by mail, fax, or in person:


 * Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records 605 W. Jefferson St. Springfield, IL 62702-5097
 * 217-782-6553 217-523-2648 Fax

You must use the Application for Verification of Divorce Record Files form (available in .PDF format) to make your request. For research policies and detailed ordering instructions, see the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records web site.

The actual records before and after 1962 are available in the county where the divorce occurred, and certified copies may be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court for that county. Illinois Regioanl Archive Depositories (IRAD) have divorce records for many counties. Not all records are indexed, so if you don't find a record using the Global Database Search, then check the 0n-line index to Local Government Records in the IRAD System to see what records are available for the county you are searching. The Local Government Records database is a listing searchable by county of records available through IRAD, not a listing of individuals named in those records.

The Family History Library has copies of the records for some counties. They can be found in the by doing a Place Search in the Family History Library Catalog. Once you locate the listing of records available for a county, look for subtopics of Court Records, Divorce Records, and/or Vital Records.

Web Sites

 * http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/index.htm
 * http://www.vitalrec.com/il.html
 * http://www.countyregistry.org/divorce-records/illinois/