Divorce certificates, like many vital documents, are considered as a matter of public domain. This means that, with the proper requirements and credentials, any member of the public can have access to any vital information they seek, including divorce decrees and other pertinent data. In the state of Illinois, public documents fall under the jurisdiction of the state's Department of Public Health. Its Division of Vital Records keeps Illinois divorce records that date back to January 1962. Unfortunately, the state office does not release certified copies of such reports.
The Illinois Department of Public Health can only verify marriage and divorce documents. Applicants will only get verifications for divorce and marital reports they requested. The state's Department of Public Health is only authorized to disseminate certified copies of birth and death reports. But even if you will only get a verification letter for the divorce certificate you want, you will still be charged a five dollar fee for every name searched. Fees should be made payable to the state office, in the form of a certified check, personal check, or money order.
If you are after a certified copy of a divorce certificate, then you should visit or call the Clerk of Circuit Court or the county clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted. Try to find someone in the office to help you with the proper procedures in requesting a certified copy of the document. Figure out the requirements and the current fees, especially since each county has different procedures, requirements and application charges. And always remember to comply with the policies put forth by the county office to avoid any complications later on.
For older divorce certificates, you can visit the Illinois State Archives. Divorce indexes much older than those housed at the state office are stored at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository, or IRAD. If you are doing genealogy or simply researching your ancestors, this is the office where you might find the information you need. For more recent information about how you can obtain data from the state archives office, you can contact them by phone or visit the office personally.
For background research purposes, on the other hand, an online information resource is a much more convenient and practical option. There are quite a few online record retrieval services available that is capable of disseminating comprehensive vital record data. Reputable online record providers can offer unrestricted and unlimited access to an extensive database of birth certificates, death reports, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees. All you will need is a working computer and an Internet connection.
If you decide to go with a record retrieval website, you will need to register an account and pay the one-time fee. In return, you will have unlimited searches and unrestricted access to the provider's database of public information. Once the registration process is complete, you can start running searches from your own home or office. If you are interested in someone's divorce records, all you have to do is enter the name and the state. It doesn't get more complicated than that. Quick and comprehensive results are what you can expect from such service.
The Illinois Department of Public Health can only verify marriage and divorce documents. Applicants will only get verifications for divorce and marital reports they requested. The state's Department of Public Health is only authorized to disseminate certified copies of birth and death reports. But even if you will only get a verification letter for the divorce certificate you want, you will still be charged a five dollar fee for every name searched. Fees should be made payable to the state office, in the form of a certified check, personal check, or money order.
If you are after a certified copy of a divorce certificate, then you should visit or call the Clerk of Circuit Court or the county clerk's office in the county where the divorce was granted. Try to find someone in the office to help you with the proper procedures in requesting a certified copy of the document. Figure out the requirements and the current fees, especially since each county has different procedures, requirements and application charges. And always remember to comply with the policies put forth by the county office to avoid any complications later on.
For older divorce certificates, you can visit the Illinois State Archives. Divorce indexes much older than those housed at the state office are stored at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository, or IRAD. If you are doing genealogy or simply researching your ancestors, this is the office where you might find the information you need. For more recent information about how you can obtain data from the state archives office, you can contact them by phone or visit the office personally.
For background research purposes, on the other hand, an online information resource is a much more convenient and practical option. There are quite a few online record retrieval services available that is capable of disseminating comprehensive vital record data. Reputable online record providers can offer unrestricted and unlimited access to an extensive database of birth certificates, death reports, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees. All you will need is a working computer and an Internet connection.
If you decide to go with a record retrieval website, you will need to register an account and pay the one-time fee. In return, you will have unlimited searches and unrestricted access to the provider's database of public information. Once the registration process is complete, you can start running searches from your own home or office. If you are interested in someone's divorce records, all you have to do is enter the name and the state. It doesn't get more complicated than that. Quick and comprehensive results are what you can expect from such service.
About the Author:
Finding Free Divorce Records Online can be tricky and potentially demoralizing but we know the smart way. Come and share our insights and tips at Public Divorce Records.
Posts
