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Cook County, Illinois

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records

Cook County was created on January 15, 1831 (Laws, 1831, p. 54) and was formed from Putnam County. Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Putnam County (1825–1831) , Fulton County (1823–1825) , Pike County (1821–1823) , Clark County (1819–1821) , Crawford County (1816–1819) , Edwards County (1815–1816) , Madison County (1812–1815) , St. Clair County (1801–1812) and Knox, Northwest Territory (1795–1801) .

The County was named for Daniel Pope Cook. In 1819, Cook was elected to Congress as the sole representative from Illinois. In Congress, Cook served on the committee on Public Lands and later on the Ways and Means Committee. He secured a grant of government lands to aid in the construction of the Illinois-Michigan Canal. In 1824, he had as sole congressman from Illinois cast the vote of the state for Adams, thus practically deciding the decision. Daniel Cook always suffered from poor health and died October 16, 1827, at the age of 33. Four years after his death, a county in Illinois was named in his honor. He probably never visited the area we call Cook County. The County Seat is Chicago (1831-Present) .

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County Courthouse Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Illinois Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records

The Official County website is located at http://www.co.cook.il.us . All departments below at located at the Cook County Courthouse, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60602 , unless a different address is listed below.

NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1871 and Court Records from 1871 and is located at Archives Department, Rm 1113, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago, IL 60602; (312) 603-6601 or  (312) 603-6628

Cook County Recorder has Land Records from 1871 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (312) 603-5050

Cook County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1871 and Marriage Records from 1856 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (312) 603-5656

County Treasurer’s responsibilities include the statutory duties required as County Treasurer and as Ex-Officio County Collector of Real Estate Property Taxes and Drainage District Taxes for the entire county.

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Cook County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Illinois

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 605 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, IL 62702-5097. It can take up to 6 weeks to get a vital record from Illinois.

A number of resources are available for individuals doing genealogical research using vital records filed in the state of Illinois. Births and deaths before January 1, 1916 and marriages before January 1, 1962 are recorded only in the office of the county clerk where the event occurred. Most county clerks have indexes to the records that are prior to 1916 that are available for the purpose of genealogical research. These indexes generally provide the name, date and place of occurrence and are located in county courthouses located throughout the state. Although self-service access to the indexes is generally permitted, the law limits physical access to the individual records to the clerk's staff. When you locate a record from the index, it will be necessary for the clerk to pull the record for you once you have paid the appropriate search fee. Please check with the county clerk for fees and policies on reviewing indexes.

  • Birth, Death Certificates: The Division of Vital Records and Statistics maintains birth, death and marriage records that occur in Illinois from 1916 to the present.
    • Cost: Initial search and one certified copy or certification of the record or No Record Statement is $17.00 (long) or $10.00 (uncertified) per certificate by mail [application for birth records, application for death records].
      Make your check or money order payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. The cost of each record includes a ten-year search if the exact date or place of event is not known. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep check amount for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • In Person: In-person orders can be dropped off for mail out within two business days at the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records office, 605 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, on Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. (Large volume orders may take longer.) PLEASE NOTE: the person requesting the record will be asked to show a valid picture identification card.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates:The Division of Vital Records also maintains an index of marriages & divorces from 1962 to the present. Copies of the marriage & divorce records are available from the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage license was obtained or divorce was granted. Fees vary.
    • Cost: $5.00 by MAIL. Make your check or money order payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health". Enclose a business-size self-addressed envelope. The cost of each record includes a ten-year search if the exact date or place of event is not known. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Ordering Vital Records - You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Cook County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for Illinois

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Cook County, Illinois are 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Cook County, Illinois are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.

The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Cook County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Illinois

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Maps. Email us with websites containing Cook County Maps by clicking the link below:

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County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Illinois

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Cook County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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County County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Illinois

There are many churches and cemeteries in Cook County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Cook County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Cook County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Illinois

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Cook County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Cook County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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