How to Look Up Divorce Records in Illinois: Steps, Fees, and Sources

To look up divorce records in Illinois, you go to one of two offices depending on what you actually need. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issues a short verification letter confirming that a dissolution happened, for any divorce finalized from 1962 onward. The circuit court clerk in the county where the case was heard holds the full Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, with all the legal terms. Picking the right one at the start saves you from paying for the wrong document and starting over.

Decide Which Document You Need

The verification letter and the full decree are not two versions of the same thing. They come from different offices and answer different questions.

A verification letter from IDPH lists the names of both spouses and the date and county of the dissolution. That’s it. No property division, no custody terms, no support obligations. It works for administrative uses like applying for a new marriage license or updating government records where an agency just needs proof that a prior marriage ended.

A Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is the actual court order. It contains who got what property, whether maintenance was ordered, custody and support terms if children were involved, and any name restoration. You need this version for court proceedings, enforcing or modifying the original terms, dividing retirement accounts, refinancing a mortgage, or changing your name on a passport or Social Security card. When in doubt, ask the agency or institution requesting the record whether a verification is enough or whether they need a certified copy of the judgment.

Requesting a Verification From IDPH

IDPH’s Division of Vital Records can verify any dissolution of marriage that occurred from 1962 through the current index date. The fee is $5 per copy.¹

What to Put on the Application

The application asks for information about both spouses and the divorce itself:

Full names of both spouses, including middle names and maiden name where applicable
Dates of birth for both spouses
City, county, and state of the dissolution
Month, day, and year of the dissolution (a best estimate is acceptable if you don’t know the exact date)
A copy of your valid, current, readable government-issued photo ID — IDPH returns requests submitted without one

The more accurate your details, the faster the search. Vague information still gets searched, but it slows things down.² Sign and date the form before submitting; unsigned applications get returned.

How to Submit

IDPH accepts requests by mail, by fax, or in person.¹ For mail, send the completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $5 payable to the “Illinois Department of Public Health” to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Do not send cash. In-person requests can be made at the Springfield office.

Requesting a Full Decree From the Circuit Clerk

For the complete Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, contact the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce was finalized. IDPH does not have this document. The court that issued the judgment is the official custodian of the full file.

Each county sets its own procedures and fees. Certified copies across Illinois generally run from a few dollars to around $25 or more, depending on the jurisdiction and page count. Call the clerk’s office or check its website for the current fee schedule before submitting. Many offices accept requests in person, by mail, or through an online portal. In Cook County, divorce record requests go through the Domestic Relations Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.³

Have the case number if you know it. If you don’t, give both spouses’ names and the approximate year of the divorce so the clerk can search the index. Some counties charge a separate search fee on top of the copy fee.

Searching Illinois Court Records Online First

Before paying for a certified copy, you can often look up basic case information electronically and pull the case number that speeds up your later request. Illinois offers re:SearchIL, a statewide portal that provides unofficial case index information and documents from participating counties’ e-filing systems. You can search by party name to find case numbers, filing dates, and sometimes scanned documents. Anything you get from re:SearchIL is unofficial — the circuit clerk remains the official custodian.

Individual counties also run their own online lookup tools. If you know which county handled the divorce, checking that county’s clerk website first is usually the fastest way to see what’s available before you go in person or mail anything.

Fees and Processing Times

The IDPH verification is $5 per copy.¹ IDPH’s general processing time for vital records requests is roughly 12 weeks from when your paperwork arrives, and the department does not send status updates during that window.⁴ Build that timeline in if you have a deadline; a request submitted two weeks before you need the document will not arrive in time.

County-level certified copies vary. Some clerks charge per page, others charge a flat rate per document. Ask about mailing or expedited fees if either applies. In-person requests at the clerk’s office are sometimes processed the same day, while mail requests can take several weeks depending on the county’s backlog.

Divorces Finalized Before 1962

IDPH’s index only reaches back to 1962.¹ For an earlier divorce, the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was heard is your only option through the state system. Court records extend back much further than the state’s centralized index. If you don’t know which county handled the case, older files are sometimes transferred to the Illinois Regional Archives Depository system or county historical records.

Sealed Divorce Records

Most Illinois divorce files are part of the public court record, but a judge can order specific cases or documents sealed when there’s a strong reason: domestic violence, sensitive financial information, or a minor’s welfare. A sealed record cannot be accessed without a court order. To request access, you file a motion with the court that sealed the record, explaining why you need it, and the judge decides whether to unseal it or allow limited access.

Using the Decree Abroad

If you need an Illinois divorce decree recognized in another country, you’ll usually need an apostille — a certificate that authenticates the document for countries in the Hague Apostille Convention. The Illinois Secretary of State’s Index Department handles apostilles for court documents including divorce decrees.⁵

First, get a certified copy from the circuit clerk of the county where the divorce was granted. It must include the official’s seal, signature, printed name, and title. Do not have the document notarized; the Secretary of State specifically warns against notarizing documents signed by a circuit clerk or circuit judge.⁵

The apostille fee is $2 per document. You can submit by mail to the Chicago office (allow 7 to 14 business days) or visit the Springfield or Chicago office in person, where documents are typically processed while you wait. Mail submissions should include the completed Application for Authentication, the original certified document, payment, and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.⁵ For countries outside the Hague Convention, an apostille is not enough; those countries require authentication through the U.S. Department of State and the destination country’s embassy or consulate, and the requirements vary, so confirm the steps with the relevant foreign mission before submitting anything.

1
Illinois Department of Public Health. Dissolution of Marriage Records
2
Illinois Department of Public Health. Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Record Files
3
Cook County Government. Divorce Records
4
Illinois Department of Public Health. Birth, Death, Other Records
5
Illinois Secretary of State. Apostilles and Certifications