Search Chicago Divorce Records
Divorce records for Chicago are filed with the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, whose Domestic Relations Division maintains all dissolution of marriage cases for the city. This guide explains how to find, request, and use those records.
Chicago at a Glance
Which County Handles Chicago Divorce Records
Chicago sits entirely within Cook County. The city has no separate court system for divorce. All dissolutions of marriage filed by Chicago residents go through the Cook County Circuit Court. The Domestic Relations Division of that court handles every divorce case, from the initial petition through the final judgment. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains those case files.
The main clerk's office is at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602-1305. You can call them at 312/603-5030, or fax at 312/603-4557. Their website is at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. The Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington is the primary courthouse for Chicago domestic relations cases.
Cook County is large. It has multiple courthouses and many divisions. If you are not sure which courthouse handled a particular case, start with the online case search tool or call the main clerk's number. Staff can direct you to the right location. Most Chicago divorce case files are at the Daley Center or at one of the district courthouses, depending on where the case was assigned.
The City of Chicago directs residents to the Cook County Circuit Court for all divorce filings and record requests.
Chicago residents file for divorce through Cook County, not through the city itself.
How to Get Divorce Records in Chicago
Cook County offers several ways to get divorce records. The easiest starting point is the online case search at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/online-case-information. That tool lets you look up cases by party name or case number. It shows basic docket information at no charge. You can see whether a case exists, its filing date, and its current status.
For copies of actual documents, you need to go further. You can request certified or plain copies in person at the clerk's office at the Daley Center. Bring a photo ID and know the case number if you have it. Staff can search by name if you don't have the number. There is a per-page fee for copies, and certified copies cost more than plain copies. Fees can change, so call ahead to confirm the current rate.
Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the clerk at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602. Include the names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Processing time for mail requests can run several weeks.
Note: The online case search shows docket entries, not the full documents. To get the actual petition, judgment, or decree, you need to request certified or plain copies directly from the clerk.
What Chicago Divorce Files Contain
A Cook County divorce file is a collection of all documents filed in the case. The core document is the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, which one spouse files to start the process. The other spouse then files a response. From there, the file grows to include financial disclosures from both parties, motions, court orders, and any agreements the parties reached on their own.
If the couple had children, the file will also contain a parenting plan or allocation judgment. That document sets out custody, parenting time, and decision-making responsibilities. Child support calculations and any modifications filed later are also in the case file. Property settlement agreements, which spell out how assets and debts are divided, are part of the record too.
The final document is the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage, sometimes called the divorce decree. This is the court order that ends the marriage. It incorporates the terms both parties agreed to, or the judge's rulings if the case went to trial. The decree is the document most people need when they want to prove a divorce happened.
Illinois divorce cases are governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). That statute defines what goes into a divorce case and what the court must decide.
IDPH Statewide Divorce Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide index of divorce records going back to 1962. This is a good option if you need to verify that a divorce happened but don't need the full court file. The IDPH can confirm whether a record exists and provide a certificate of dissolution. It does not give you the full case documents.
The fee is $5 per search. Send requests by mail to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702. You can also call (217) 782-6553 with questions. Processing by mail takes roughly four to six weeks. The IDPH requires a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID with your request. See the list of accepted IDs at dph.illinois.gov.
The full dissolution records page at the IDPH is at dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/birth-death-other-records/dissolution-marriage-records.html. That page explains what the IDPH can and cannot provide. For divorces before 1962, you must go directly to the county clerk where the case was filed.
The Illinois IDPH maintains a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records at their vital records page.
The IDPH covers records from 1962 forward; older records require a direct request to the Cook County clerk.
Illinois Divorce Law Basics
Illinois uses a no-fault divorce standard. The only ground for divorce under state law is irreconcilable differences. The parties do not need to prove fault or wrongdoing. They must show that the marriage has broken down and that reconciliation is not possible. If both spouses agree, the court can presume irreconcilable differences exist without a long hearing.
There is a 90-day residency requirement. At least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing. Chicago residents who have lived in the city for at least three months can file in Cook County without issue. The divorce becomes final when the judge signs the judgment. Illinois does not impose a mandatory waiting period after the judgment is entered.
The core statute is the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). That law covers everything from filing requirements to property division to child custody. For vital records rules, the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) governs how the state collects and stores dissolution records.
Legal Resources in Chicago
Several organizations can help Chicago residents with divorce-related questions. The Illinois State Archives at illinois.gov/ihpa/Archives holds historical court records and can assist with older case research. The Illinois Genealogical Society at ilgensoc.org maintains resources useful for genealogical searches involving divorce records.
Legal aid organizations in the Chicago area include the Legal Aid Chicago (formerly Legal Assistance Foundation), which provides free civil legal help to low-income residents. The Illinois Legal Aid Online site at illinoislegalaid.org is another resource. It offers self-help guides for uncontested divorce, answers to common questions, and links to court forms. The Cook County courthouse also has a self-help law center at the Daley Center for people who are representing themselves.
The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov has a directory of all circuit clerks and courthouses in the state. That is useful if a case was filed in a different county or if you need contact information for another court location. The state courts site also links to approved forms that parties can use in divorce proceedings.
Nearby Illinois Cities
These other Illinois cities also use the county court system to maintain divorce records: