Cook County Clerk (IL): Records, Services & Office Information

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Cook County, Illinois Clerk Office Guide

Cook County Clerk (IL): Records, Services & Office Information

The Cook County Clerk is the official county office for vital records, marriage licenses, assumed business names, suburban Cook County elections, ethics filings, real estate tax extension records, tax maps, and Clerk of the County Board records.

This guide explains what the Cook County Clerk does, which records you can request, where the main offices are, how to use official links, and when you actually need the separate Clerk of the Circuit Court for court case records.

Open Cook County Clerk Website County Clerk Agency Page Open Google Map

Independent guide last reviewed September 2026. Always confirm current fees, appointment rules, office hours, election dates, and records requirements on the official Cook County Clerk website before visiting or ordering.

Quick Facts: Cook County Clerk Office

Official office Office of the Cook County Clerk
County Clerk Monica Gordon
Main address 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602
Main phone 312-603-5656
Vital Records phone 312-603-7788
Vital Records mail P.O. Box A3390, Chicago, IL 60690
Core records Birth, death, marriage, civil union, DBA, genealogy, elections, ethics, tax maps, and board records.
Not court cases Circuit Court case records are handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Important distinction: “Cook County Clerk” and “Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court” are not the same office. Use the County Clerk for vital records, marriage licenses, elections, tax-extension records, property-tax redemption support, ethics filings, and County Board records. Use the Circuit Court Clerk for civil, criminal, traffic, probate, domestic relations, and court case records.

Cook County Birth, Death, Marriage, and Civil Union Records

Cook County Vital Records keeps official records of births, deaths, marriages, and civil unions for Chicago and suburban Cook County. Vital records are not open to everyone in every situation, so eligibility, identification, proof of relationship, and financial-interest rules may apply.

If you need a certified certificate for school, passport, Real ID, Social Security, immigration, estate matters, insurance, or a legal name change, order directly through the official Clerk system or visit a Clerk Vital Records location.

Birth certificate Cook County Clerk records births that occur in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Certified copies commonly require proof of entitlement and ID.
Death certificate Death certificates are generally available to relatives or people who can prove a financial interest in the death record.
Marriage certificate After the officiant returns and the Clerk records the marriage license, eligible people can request a certified marriage certificate.
Civil union certificate Civil union records are handled through the Clerk’s Vital Records process with eligibility and ID requirements.

Official vital recordsCook County Vital Records Service Page

After opening this link:

  1. Choose the record type: birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, marriage license, civil union, or assumed business name.
  2. Open the matching official Clerk service page instead of using a general search result.
  3. Check who is eligible to order the record and what identification is required.
  4. Decide whether to order online, by mail, by phone, through an authorized location, or in person.
  5. Confirm the current fee before mailing payment or submitting an online request.

Birth recordRequest a Cook County Birth Certificate

After opening this link:

  1. Read the service information to confirm the birth occurred in Chicago or suburban Cook County.
  2. Click the external service link to continue to the official Clerk birth certificate page.
  3. Prepare a valid photo ID and proof that you are legally entitled to the record.
  4. For mail requests, use the official form and include payment, ID copy, and a self-addressed stamped envelope when required.
  5. For urgent needs, compare online, phone, in-person, and local authorized order options before choosing.

Death recordRequest a Cook County Death Certificate

After opening this link:

  1. Confirm the death occurred in Chicago or suburban Cook County.
  2. Review who may legally obtain the certificate, such as a relative or person with a proven financial interest.
  3. Open the Clerk’s death certificate link and choose your order method.
  4. Prepare the decedent’s full name, date of death, place of death, your relationship or financial-interest proof, and your identification.
  5. Check the fee and processing method before submitting payment.
Useful local detail: the Clerk’s Vital Records materials list Chicago, Markham, Maywood, and Skokie as in-person locations for certified birth, death, marriage, and civil union certificates. Marriage and civil union licenses can also be obtained at these locations, but always check current office notices before visiting.

Cook County Marriage Licenses and Marriage Certificates

Before getting married in Chicago or suburban Cook County, couples must obtain a marriage license from the Cook County Clerk. Both applicants must appear together, fill out and sign the application, present valid identification with proof of age, and pay the marriage license fee.

A marriage certificate is different from a marriage license. The license is issued before the ceremony. After the ceremony, the officiant completes and returns the license to the Clerk. Once recorded, the Clerk can issue a certified marriage certificate upon request.

Marriage license fee The Cook County marriage license fee is listed as $60.
Both applicants Both people must appear together at a Cook County Clerk location.
Identification Applicants must present valid identification with proof of age.
Recent divorce Applicants must provide the divorce finalization date; a divorce within the last six months may require a certified divorce decree.

Official marriage licenseCook County Marriage Licenses

After opening this link:

  1. Read the “Applying” section before going to the Clerk office.
  2. Confirm that both applicants can appear together at one of the Clerk locations.
  3. Prepare valid identification with proof of age.
  4. If either applicant was divorced, prepare the final divorce date and a certified divorce decree if the divorce was within the last six months.
  5. Confirm the current fee and payment method before visiting.

Official marriage certificateCook County Marriage Certificates

After opening this link:

  1. Confirm the marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership was recorded by the Cook County Clerk.
  2. Check whether the officiant already returned the completed license to the Clerk.
  3. Open the official Clerk request link from the service page.
  4. Prepare the full names, approximate marriage date, location, your ID, and proof of eligibility if requested.
  5. Remember that certificates are not automatically mailed to couples after the ceremony; you must request certified copies.

Cook County Clerk Google Map, Address, Phone, and Office Locations

The County Clerk’s main office is listed at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602. Vital Records service is also offered through downtown and suburban locations, including Chicago, Markham, Maywood, and Skokie.

Main Cook County Clerk Office

Address: 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602

Main phone: 312-603-5656

Best for: County Clerk administration, general routing, elections, ethics, and office information.

Google Map: use the embedded map or the button below to open the main Cook County Clerk location in Google Maps.

Open Main Office in Google Maps

Chicago Vital Records

118 N. Clark St., Room 120
Chicago, IL 60602

Phone: 312-603-7790

Use for many in-person birth, death, marriage, and civil union certificate services.

Markham Courthouse Location

16501 S. Kedzie Ave., Room 238
Markham, IL 60426

Phone: 708-232-4150

South suburban location for Vital Records and marriage/civil union services where available.

Maywood Courthouse Location

1311 Maybrook Sq., Room 104
Maywood, IL 60153

Phone: 708-865-6010

West suburban location for many Vital Records and license services.

Skokie Courthouse Location

5600 W. Old Orchard Rd., Room 149
Skokie, IL 60077

Phone: 847-470-7233

North suburban location for many Vital Records and license services.

Real Estate & Tax Services

118 N. Clark St., Room 434
Chicago, IL 60602

Hours commonly listed: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Use for tax redemption estimates, tax maps, tax extension questions, and related real estate tax services.

Clerk of the Board

118 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60602

Use for County Board agendas, records, legislative documents, ordinances, and board actions.

Official location sourceCook County Clerk Agency and Main Office Information

After opening this link:

  1. Confirm the main County Clerk phone number and address.
  2. Use the County Clerk website link for current service-specific location notices.
  3. Before visiting, confirm whether your task belongs at 69 W. Washington, 118 N. Clark, Chicago Vital Records, Markham, Maywood, or Skokie.
  4. Open the Google Map button from this guide for directions, but verify the service counter address on the official Clerk page first.

Real Estate Tax Services, Tax Maps, Redemption, and Property Tax Records

The Cook County Clerk plays a specific role in the Cook County property tax system. The office issues property tax rates, permanent real estate numbers, new tax codes, maintains real estate maps, and processes redemptions of delinquent property taxes.

This does not mean the Clerk handles every property tax task. The Cook County Assessor handles assessments and exemptions, the Treasurer handles tax bills and payments, and the Board of Review handles many appeals. For sold taxes, forfeited taxes, open items, and redemption estimates, the Clerk’s Real Estate & Tax Services division may be the correct place to start.

PIN and tax codes The Clerk is connected to permanent real estate numbers, tax codes, and tax rate information.
Tax maps Use Clerk tax map resources when researching taxing districts, parcel boundaries, or tax-code areas.
Sold taxes If taxes were sold, an estimate of the cost of redemption can help determine what must be paid to redeem the sale.
Open or forfeited taxes Property owners may request calculations for open or forfeited taxes through the proper process.

Official tax portalCook County Property Tax Portal FAQ

After opening this link:

  1. Use the FAQ to identify which elected office handles your property tax question.
  2. For tax bills, payments, refunds, and many payment-history questions, follow the Treasurer link.
  3. For assessments, exemptions, and certificate-of-error questions, follow the Assessor link.
  4. For sold taxes, redemption estimates, tax maps, tax codes, and certain proof-of-payment services, follow the Cook County Clerk instructions.
  5. Keep your Property Index Number, also called PIN, ready before contacting any office.
If taxes have been sold: do not wait. Redemption penalties and fees can increase. Use the official Clerk/Treasurer instructions and request the correct redemption calculation for your PIN before the deadline.

Assumed Business Name, DBA, Notary, Veterans, and Genealogy Services

The Cook County Clerk also handles several non-court public record services. One common service is registering an assumed business name, often called a DBA. The Clerk’s Vital Records division also supports genealogy requests, while county-level materials include notary-related and veteran-related publications.

Assumed business name Use when a business operates under a name different from the owner’s legal name or entity name, depending on Illinois requirements.
DBA amendments Use amendment forms when a registered assumed business name needs certain updates.
Genealogy records Older birth, death, and marriage records may be available in genealogy form when they meet age and access rules.
Veterans services Check official Clerk publications for veteran-specific records, forms, or service information.

Official Clerk siteCook County Clerk Official Website

After opening this link:

  1. Use the website search or service menu for “Assumed Business Name,” “DBA,” “Genealogy,” “Veterans,” or “Notary.”
  2. Download the correct application or amendment form only from the official Clerk domain.
  3. Check filing fees, publication requirements, signature requirements, and mailing address before submitting.
  4. Keep a copy of the completed form, receipt, and any registration number for future amendments or renewals.

Suburban Cook County Elections, Voter Services, and Election Maps

The Cook County Clerk administers elections for suburban Cook County. The office supports voter registration, polling place identification, election judge recruitment, election results, ballot information, election maps, and election-related publications.

Chicago election services are generally handled separately by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, while the Cook County Clerk handles suburban Cook County election administration.

Voter registration Check registration status, deadlines, and registration options for suburban Cook County voters.
Polling place lookup Use the official Clerk election tools to confirm your polling place before Election Day.
Election results Review official suburban Cook County results and election publications from the Clerk.
Election maps Use Clerk maps for precincts, districts, townships, municipalities, and election boundaries.

Official electionsCook County Clerk Elections

After opening this link:

  1. Choose the election task you need: voter registration, polling place, mail voting, early voting, election results, or election judge information.
  2. Enter your address or voter information only on the official Clerk election pages.
  3. Check whether the page applies to suburban Cook County rather than the City of Chicago.
  4. Before Election Day, confirm polling place and hours because locations can change between elections.

Need Cook County Court Records? Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court Instead

The title “Cook County Clerk” is often confused with the “Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.” They are separate offices. If you need a court case, civil lawsuit, criminal case, traffic case, divorce case file, probate filing, court docket, court fee, court e-filing, or expungement/sealing court file, start with the Circuit Court Clerk.

Use Cook County Clerk for

  • Birth, death, marriage, and civil union certificates.
  • Marriage licenses.
  • Assumed business name / DBA filings.
  • Suburban Cook County elections.
  • Real estate tax extension, tax maps, and redemption support.
  • Ethics, lobbyist, and County Board records.

Use Circuit Court Clerk for

  • Civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and domestic relations court cases.
  • Online court case information.
  • Court records and archives.
  • Court e-filing support.
  • Expungement and sealing court documents.
  • Certified court case copies and court dockets.

Official court recordsClerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County

After opening this link:

  1. Use this separate office for court case records, court dockets, civil cases, criminal cases, probate cases, domestic relations, and traffic matters.
  2. Choose online case information, court records, archives, divisions, or e-filing based on the type of case.
  3. For divorce records, open Domestic Relations or Court Records guidance instead of the County Clerk’s marriage certificate page.
  4. For birth, death, marriage certificate, marriage license, elections, or DBA records, return to the Cook County Clerk website.
Simple rule: a marriage certificate belongs with the County Clerk. A divorce case record belongs with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Common Cook County Clerk Fees to Check Before Ordering

Fees may change, and some services include processing or vendor charges. The amounts below are useful planning notes from official Cook County materials, but you should confirm the current fee on the matching official page before ordering.

$15 Common first-copy birth certificate fee shown in Clerk materials.
$17 Common first-copy death certificate fee shown in Clerk materials.
$60 Marriage license fee listed by Cook County service information.
$50 Assumed Business Name application fee shown in Clerk DBA materials.
Vendor fee Phone, online, or third-party ordering may include additional processing charges.
Varies Tax redemption, tax maps, certificates, copies, and recording-related services may require service-specific calculation.
Payment warning: never mail cash. For mail-in vital records, use the official form and follow the exact payment instructions, including payee name, ID copy, and envelope requirements.

Related County Clerk Guides on This Site

These internal guides help readers compare Cook County Clerk services with nearby Illinois counties and general county clerk topics. Use them when your record or service belongs in another county or when you need a broader explanation before ordering.

County Clerk Guide: Records, Services, Offices & Contact Info County Clerk Near Me: Find Offices, Hours, Records & Services County Clerk Marriage License: Requirements, Fees & Application DuPage County Clerk (IL): Records, Forms, Fees & Office Details Lake County Clerk (IL): Records, Services & Office Information Will County Clerk: Office Services, Records & Contact Information McHenry County Clerk (IL): Records, Locations & Clerk Services Champaign County Clerk (IL): Records, Locations & Clerk Services

Official Cook County Links Used in This Guide

Use these official links for the most current forms, fees, locations, eligibility rules, service notices, and record-request instructions.

Cook County Clerk Official Website Cook County Government County Clerk Page Cook County Vital Records Birth Certificate Service Death Certificate Service Marriage License Service Marriage Certificate Service Cook County Property Tax Portal FAQ Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Cook County Clerk Main Office Google Map

Privacy, Eligibility, and Accuracy Notice

Vital records and government records may have eligibility rules. A birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, civil union record, or genealogy record may require identification, proof of relationship, proof of entitlement, or proof of financial interest.

This page is an independent informational guide and is not the official Cook County Clerk website. It is not a consumer reporting agency and should not be used for employment screening, tenant screening, credit decisions, insurance eligibility, or any Fair Credit Reporting Act purpose.

Verify before acting: confirm all records, fees, deadlines, license requirements, election dates, tax redemption details, and office hours directly with the official Cook County Clerk or the correct Cook County agency.

Cook County Clerk FAQs

1. What does the Cook County Clerk do?

The Cook County Clerk maintains vital records, issues marriage licenses, supports suburban Cook County elections, handles assumed business name filings, manages parts of the real estate tax process, receives ethics and lobbyist filings, and serves as Clerk to the County Board.

2. Where is the Cook County Clerk located?

The main Cook County Clerk office is listed at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60602. Vital Records and tax-service counters may use different downtown or suburban locations, so check the correct service page before visiting.

3. What is the Cook County Clerk phone number?

The main Cook County Clerk phone number is 312-603-5656. The Vital Records phone number commonly listed in Clerk materials is 312-603-7788.

4. Can I order a Cook County birth certificate from the Clerk?

Yes. The Cook County Clerk keeps official records of births that occur in Chicago and suburban Cook County. You may need valid identification and proof that you are legally entitled to the record.

5. Who can request a Cook County death certificate?

Under Illinois rules described by Cook County, a death certificate may generally be obtained by a relative or someone who can prove a financial interest in the individual’s death.

6. How do I get a marriage license in Cook County?

Both applicants must appear together at a Cook County Clerk location, fill out and sign the marriage license application, present valid identification with proof of age, and pay the listed marriage license fee.

7. Does the Cook County Clerk send marriage certificates automatically?

No. After the officiant completes and returns the marriage license and it is recorded, the Clerk can issue a certified marriage certificate upon request. Certificates are not automatically sent to couples.

8. Is the Cook County Clerk the same as the Clerk of the Circuit Court?

No. The Cook County Clerk handles vital records, elections, marriage licenses, tax-service functions, DBA filings, ethics filings, and board records. The Clerk of the Circuit Court handles court case records, court dockets, and court filings.

9. Does the Cook County Clerk handle property tax payments?

The Clerk handles certain real estate tax services such as tax rates, tax codes, tax maps, and delinquent tax redemption processes. The Cook County Treasurer generally handles tax bills, tax payments, refunds, and payment history.

10. Is this the official Cook County Clerk website?

No. This is an independent guide. Use the official Cook County Clerk website, Cook County Government pages, and linked official services for current fees, forms, records, locations, and instructions.

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