Illinois

Vital Records and Other Help

Department of Vital Statistics: 
Birth or Death from January 1916

Division of Vital Records, 
Illinois department of Public Health,
 605 West Jefferson Street,
 Springfield, IL 62702-5097

Marriage and Divorce same as Birth or Death January 1962

Money orders, certified checks, or personal checks should be made payable to 
Illinois Department of Public Health. 
To verify current fees, 
the telephone number is (217) 782-6553. 
This is a recorded message.

** The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin is located at 415 North State Street in Chicago
312-644-7800. 
The petition to adopt was published in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin newspaper from 1930's to 1964. It will give you information on the adopting parents and the child's birth name. Here you can look up information that lists the publication of the adoption petition to the court. This will give you the docket number, name of the attorney, the adopting parents names, and the child's birth name, this covers adoptions from the 1930's to 1964. There are exceptions, mostly in the 1930's where the birth name is omitted. After 1964, the birth name and attorney's name are omitted. It can also be looked up in the law library at the Daley Center. 
To view microfilm free go to the newspapers offices or the Daley Center.

If you were adopted in Cook County, (the Chicago area) write or call for non id information: 
The Adoption Information Center of Illinois,
 Supportive Services, 
188 West Randolph Street, Suite 600, 
Chicago, IL 60601,
 312-346-1516

For other areas in IL call (217) 785-2519
 the Illinois State Adoption Department.
 
For agencies and other business calls 800-572-2390 For family inquiries about adoption.

Central Information Agency:
 State Capitol, 
Springfield, IL 62706, 
217-782-2000

State Adoption Department: 
Department of Children and Family Services,
 1001 Walnut Street, 
Springfield, IL 62701, 
217-786-6830 or 800-572-2390 In Illinois only

Adoption Records were closed in 1945 Court records are locked upon finalization. A court Order is required to release information. Most agencies will release non-identifying information to an adult involved party, but they may charge a fee for this service.

State Archives/Records Department: 
Illinois State Archives, 
State Archives Building,
213 State Capitol Bldg., 1st Floor E, 
Springfield, IL 62756, 
217-782-4682

Land Records: Available through the County recorder/Clerk

Department of Motor Vehicles: Must be 16 years old to get a drivers license. At the present time, transcripts are $4.00. Need Drivers License number to run search. Payment must be in the form of a money order or certified check made out to the 
"Illinois Vehicle Services Department".
 Mail request to: 
Office of the Secretary of State, 
Vehicle Services Department,
408 Howlett Bldg., Springfield, IL 62756,
 217-782-6992

Physician Licensing Board: 
Department of Professional Regulation, 
320 West Washington,
 Springfield, IL 62786, 
217-785-0800

Attorney Licensing Board: 
Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, 
1 North Old Capitol Plaza, Suite 345, 
Springfield, IL 62701, 
217-522-6838

Vital Statistics Agency: 
State Department of Health, 
Bureau of Vital Statistics,
 605 West Jefferson Street, 
Springfield, IL 62702-5097, 
217-782-6553

Illinois State Adoption Department

Illinois Coalition for Truth in Adoption
also has a mailing list

The Cradle
adoption agency located in Evanston IL just outside of Chicago.

State of Illinois, Getting Public Health Records
Information on the Illinois Adoption Registry and more.

State of Illinois Home Page

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