Cook County Genealogy Records

Cook County genealogy records cover the largest county in Illinois, home to more than 5 million people and the city of Chicago. The Cook County Clerk holds vital records going back to the early 1870s, though the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed most earlier documents. You can search for birth, death, marriage, land, and court records through several county offices and online tools. The county clerk runs an award-winning genealogy database that lets you search indexes from home. Whether you need a birth record from 1880 or a naturalization petition from 1910, Cook County has one of the deepest genealogy collections in the state.

Cook County Clerk Genealogy Office

The Cook County Clerk Bureau of Vital Records is the main source for genealogy records in Cook County. They hold birth and death records from 1871 and 1872 forward. Earlier records were lost in the Great Chicago Fire. Marriage records are also kept here. The office sits at 118 N. Clark St., Room 120, in downtown Chicago. You can reach them by phone at (312) 603-5656 or send mail to P.O. Box A3390, Chicago, IL 60690.

Cook County runs an award-winning searchable genealogy database online. You can look up birth, death, and marriage indexes from home. Genealogy thresholds follow state law: birth records open after 75 years, marriage after 50 years, and death after 20 years. Copies for genealogy purposes get stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only." Birth and marriage records cost $15 for the first copy and $4 for each additional one. Death records cost $17 for the first copy and $6 for each extra. VitalChek adds a $13.45 processing fee on top of these amounts.

Mail requests for Cook County genealogy records take about 20 business days. Genealogy and dual citizenship requests may take longer. Walk-in service at the Clark Street office is faster if you can visit in person.

Note: Deaths for suburban Cook County are missing for the years 1910 to 1915 in the county records.

Cook County Circuit Court Genealogy Records

The Circuit Court of Cook County holds a massive collection of genealogy records beyond vital records. Their archives at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001 (archives in Room 1113) contain more than 500,000 naturalization petitions from 1871 to 1929. Many of these are searchable online through the court case portal. Probate records, divorce files, and civil case files are also at this office. Call (312) 603-5030 for general info or (312) 603-6601 for the archives.

Naturalization records are a gold mine for Illinois genealogy. If your ancestor became a citizen in Cook County, the petition file may include their country of origin, ship name, arrival date, and physical description. These details help you trace the family line back across the ocean. Cook County's naturalization collection is one of the largest in the country because of Chicago's history as a major port of entry for immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Cook County Land Records for Genealogy

The Cook County Clerk Recordings Division, formerly the Recorder of Deeds, keeps all land records for the county. The Recorder of Deeds merged into the County Clerk's Office on December 7, 2020. You can search land records online at the recordings search page. The office is at 118 N. Clark Street, Room 120, and the phone number is (312) 603-5050.

Land records are useful for genealogy because they show when your ancestor bought or sold property. Deeds list the names of both parties, the date, and the property location. Mortgage records show financial details. These records can help you pin down when a family lived in Cook County and where they were based.

Searching Cook County Genealogy Records

There are several ways to search genealogy records in Cook County. The online genealogy database on the county clerk website lets you search birth, death, and marriage indexes for free. You need a name and rough date range to get results. The court portal covers naturalization and other case records. Land records have their own search tool. Each system works a bit differently, but all are free to search.

For in-person research in Cook County, you can visit the clerk office at 118 N. Clark Street. Staff can help you look up records and order copies. The Circuit Court archives are a short walk away at 50 W. Washington. The IRAD depository for Cook County is at Northeastern Illinois University, located at 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. in Chicago. Call (773) 442-4506 to check their hours. IRAD holds historical Cook County government records including older vital records, court files, and probate records. Research there is free.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), genealogical copies of birth records are available when the birth date is 75 or more years ago. Death records open for genealogy after 20 years. Marriage records become available after 50 years. These rules apply to all Cook County genealogy records held by the clerk.

Cook County Genealogy Record Fees

Fees for Cook County genealogy records depend on the type of record you need. The county clerk charges the following:

• Birth or marriage record: $15 first copy, $4 each additional
• Death record: $17 first copy, $6 each additional
• VitalChek processing fee: $13.45 on top of county fees
• Genealogy copies: stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only"

The Illinois State Archives also holds records for Cook County at no charge for in-person research. The Archives databases are free online. Out-of-state researchers who want the Archives to do a search must pay $10 prepaid. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs public access to government records, though vital records have their own rules under the Vital Records Act that take priority.

Cities in Cook County

Cook County has more than 130 cities, towns, and villages. All of them rely on the Cook County Clerk for vital records. Several of the largest have their own genealogy library collections. Below are the qualifying cities with dedicated pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cook County. If you are not sure where your ancestor lived, check the surrounding counties. Records may be in a neighboring county if they lived near a border.