Obtain Free Cook County Illinois Divorce Records (Resource)

Search Cook County, Illinois, divorce records for free using the convenient databases linked in this resource.

Divorce records can provide researchers with insightful information regarding the separation case; this can include basic details of the divorcees (full names, addresses, contacts, ages, and dates of birth), the time and location when and where the marriage was legally dissolved, the circumstances of the separation, the name of the judicial officer assigned, and even details of other intricate legalities such as alimony, child custody, division of assets, and child support.

This resource explains to interested residents how to conduct a divorce records search in Cook County, Illinois, through various government agencies and online repositories.

How To Track Down Free Cook County Illinois Divorce Records

The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court manages court records, including divorce records. The Domestic Relations Division of the Clerk’s Department particularly handles divorce records and anyone can access these records as they are considered open public documents.^{1, 2}

Although the physical copies of original documents are present in the respective courthouse where the case was heard, for the convenience of citizens, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Department has a designated online public portal that can be used by citizens to search divorce records for free.³

Residents can choose to search divorce records by case number or the full name of either one of the divorcees. However, before beginning their search, it is important that they select “Domestic Relations/Child Support” in the “Select a Division” section so that only results related to divorce cases show up. As the citizen commences the search, a page will show up consisting of the matching results.

The searcher will be able to view a summary of the divorce case as well as additional information. Primarily, the search tool will provide details such as the time and place when and where the divorce case was filed, basic information about the divorcees, a list of events that unfolded during the proceedings, and the current status of the case or its conclusion.

The database of the public portal is updated regularly by the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk’s Department to ensure that residents have access to the most recent court records. The department also provides a complete user guide as well as a tutorial video to help citizens make the best use of the search tool. In case of confusion or questions, residents can call 312-603-6300 or email [email protected].

It is important to understand here that the public portal only provides basic information about the divorce extracted from the case files. In case the researcher wants to view the actual, detailed divorce records in physical form, they will have to visit the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk – Domestic Relations Division in person.⁴

Circuit Court Clerk – Cook County
Domestic Relations Division
50 West Washington Street
Room Number 802
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Phone Number: 312-603-6300
Email Address: [email protected]

The office of the Domestic Relations Division is open for the general public from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday and anyone can visit it during these hours (note that the office is closed on weekends and public holidays).⁵

In addition, the department can also be called, mailed, or emailed for a records request using the abovementioned credentials. Residents can request a divorce records search from the department free of cost by providing basic details of the case (such as case number or the name of either one of the divorcees).

In addition to that, copies of the divorce records can also be ordered from the Domestic Relations Division. The division only provides residents with certified copies of records which cost $10 per page.

Before commencing their research, citizens must keep in mind that the department can restrict certain sensitive information in the public divorce records to ensure the privacy and safety of those involved in the cases. This kind of information can include financial details, social security numbers, exact addresses, and especially information about minor children (in the case the divorcees are parents).

Furthermore, certain records can be completely unavailable if the court specifically orders to seal them.

Search Divorce Records at the State Level Through the Illinois Department of Public Health

In case the citizen is unable to find divorce records from the circuit court clerk’s department, there could be a chance that the desired records are actually in the custody of a state-level agency. In this situation, the researcher must know which state-level agency they should use to search all Illinois divorce records.

The Illinois Department of Public Health can help interested individuals in searching divorce records all over the state.⁶ The state department has case records of all separations that took place in Illinois after the year 1962 and can verify their occurrence.

Residents can request a marriage dissolution verification by filling out an Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Record Files and submitting it to the department by mail, email, or through an in-person visit using the following details:⁷

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62702 2737

Phone Number: 217-782-6554
Fax Number: 217-523-2648
Email: [email protected]

The office is open for in-person requests from 10 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday (it is closed during weekends and other public holidays).

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health fee schedule, a fee of $5 will be charged for verification of a single divorce.⁸ Furthermore, it is also a requirement that the requestor provide a valid government-issued photo ID along with the filled-out application.

To search divorce records before the year 1962, citizens will have to contact the appropriate county-level agency (that manages said records) of the respective county in which the marriage dissolution originally took place.

Interested citizens can also choose to look up older divorce records in Cook County for genealogy, lineage, or ancestral research purposes through the Archives Division of the Circuit Court Clerk’s Department.⁹ This office maintains a divorce index that has records of separations dating as far back as 1871.

The department’s staff can search the index to find specific divorce records for citizens upon request. The division can be called at (312)603-6601 or (312)603-6628 for any assistance or queries.

Who Is Authorized To Look Up Divorce Records in Cook County Illinois?

In accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIC) and the Court Records Act (CRA), anyone from the general public can view a person’s divorce records in Cook County if otherwise specifically ordered to be sealed by the court.^{10, 11} However, there are a few complications to be considered here.

Divorce papers or records consist of the separation certificate and the final court decree. The separation or divorce certificate is available to the general public.

On the other hand, the divorce decree (the court’s final verdict regarding a separation case) can be difficult to obtain for individuals unrelated to the case. The same is the matter in the case of common law divorce records.

There are various third-party sources available that can assist interested individuals in searching divorce records in Cook County. However, the resident must not use the information gained from these sources for legal purposes unless endorsed by an official agency.

This resource contains streamlined instructions on how to conduct a Cook County Illinois divorce records search for free through various official county-level agencies.