Illinois Divorce Records: Certified Judgments and IDPH Verifications
Illinois family law · Last reviewed October 8, 2026
Illinois keeps two kinds of divorce record:
- the judgment for dissolution of marriage, kept by the circuit clerk in the county where the divorce was granted; and
- an index of divorces at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which can confirm that a divorce happened but doesn't issue copies.
The Department is direct about it: IDPH "does not issue certified copies of dissolution of marriage records. Certified copies are available from the circuit court clerk in the county where the dissolution of marriage was granted."
A certified copy of the judgment
Ask the circuit clerk of the county where the divorce was granted. Have the case number if you can, or both spouses' names and the approximate year. Fees are set by each clerk:
| County | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Cook | Certified copy of a judgment after the first, $10; certification with seal, $6; plus copy charges |
| Will | Certified copy of a judgment after the first, $10; seal, $6 |
| Kane | Certified judgment, $10 |
| DuPage | Certification, $6 per seal, plus copy charges |
| Winnebago | Certification, $6 per seal; the first judgment order certified free on the day it's entered |
| Lake | Certification, $6, plus copies at $0.25 a page |
| Champaign | Certified copies after the first, $5 |
In Cook County, older files may need a records search: the archives charge "$6.00 for each year a search is performed in the indices." In a joint simplified dissolution, the clerk furnishes each spouse a certified copy of the judgment (750 ILCS 5/455).
The IDPH verification
For proof that a divorce took place, without the terms, IDPH's Division of Vital Records "can verify the facts of a dissolution of marriage that has taken place from 1962 through the current index date available." The facts are the names, dates of birth, and the date and county of the divorce.
- Cost: $5, non-refundable.
- How: by mail, by fax or in person, using IDPH's application form.
- ID: a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID is required.
- Mail: IDPH, Division of Vital Records, 110 W. Lawrence Ave., Springfield, IL 62704. Mail requests take about 4 to 6 weeks, not counting delivery.
Records of civil union dissolutions start January 1, 2012.
What's public
Illinois divorce files are generally public court records. Two important exceptions:
- The financial affidavits and supporting documents spouses exchange "shall not be made part of the public record of the proceedings" unless the court directs otherwise (750 ILCS 5/501(a)(1)).
- Personal identity information, such as Social Security and financial account numbers, must be kept out of public filings under Supreme Court Rule 138.
In parenting cases, the court "may make an appropriate order sealing the records of any interview, report, investigation, or testimony" (750 ILCS 5/606.5(e)).
Taking back a former name
You don't need a separate name-change case. Under 750 ILCS 5/413(c), unless you ask otherwise, the judgment "shall contain a provision authorizing the person to resume the use of his or her former or maiden name, should he or she choose to do so, at any time he or she chooses to do so." Keep a certified copy of the judgment to show when you update your records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my divorce decree in Illinois?
From the circuit clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary; in Cook County a certified copy of a judgment after the first costs $10.
Does Illinois issue divorce certificates?
No. The Department of Public Health doesn't issue certified copies of divorce records. It can provide a $5 verification for divorces since 1962; the certified judgment comes from the county circuit clerk.
Are divorce records public in Illinois?
Generally yes, as court records, but financial affidavits are kept out of the public record and personal identifiers must be redacted. In parenting cases, the court can seal interviews, reports and testimony.
How do I change my name back after a divorce in Illinois?
Your judgment includes a provision letting you resume a former or maiden name at any time. No separate name-change case is needed.