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Will County, Illinois

Will County was created on January 12, 1836 (Laws, 1836, p. 262) and was formed from Cook and Iroquois Counties. Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Cook County (1831–1836) , Iroquois County (1833–1836) , Vermilion County (1826–1836) , Putnam County (1825–1827) , Edgar County (1823–1825) , Fulton County (1823–1825) , Clark County (1819–1823) , Pike County (1821–1823) , Crawford County (1816–1823) , Edwards County (1815–1816) , Madison County (1812–1815) , St. Clair County (1801–1812) and Knox, Northwest Territory (1790–1801) .

The County was named for Conrad Will, a pioneer politician, Territorial Recorder of Jackson County, member of the Constitutional Convention of 1818, and member of the General Assemblies of the State from the first to ninth inclusive. The County Seat is Joliet (1836-Present) -Name changed from Juliet on May 24, 1845..

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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.willcountyillinois.com/. All departments below at located at the Will County Courthouse, 14 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432 , unless a different address is listed below.

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

Will County Circuit Court Clerk has Probate Records from 1836 and Court Records from 1837 and is located at the address above. Phone Number: (815) 727-8592

Will County Recorder has Land Records from 1835 and is located at the courthouse. County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432; (815) 740-4637

Will County Clerk has Birth / Death Records from 1877 and Marriage Records from 1836 and is located at the courthouse. County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432; (815) 740-4615.

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 Will County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Will 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 Will County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Will 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 Will County, Illinois are 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Will 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 Will County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Will 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 Will County Maps. Email us with websites containing Will 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 Will County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Will 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 Will County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Will County Tombstone Transcription Project.

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

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