Cook County, Illinois Genealogy

Cook County, Illinois genealogy and family history research page. Uncover links to record collections, history, and genealogy sources to aid you find your Cook Co., ancestors. Start now by building a Free Family Tree.

Cook County Quick Facts

Cook County
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Cook County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources

A list of Cook County Historical  and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Illinois Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.

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Cook County Courthouse and Government Records

Genealogist frequently fail to notice the significance of Cook County court, probate, and land records data as a resource of family history and genealogy details. Buried away in Illinois courthouses and archives everywhere are the dreams and worries of the many Illinois people.

The chances are very good that your forefathers have left a detailed record of at least quite a few facets of their lives in the Cook County court records. Even if your forefathers is not referred to in a Court case, take into account all of the other procedures which may have lead to her or him showing up in court records.

Remember to contact the clerk's office to determine hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics in advance of visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records and documents are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. Most staff will help people in finding the materials, but it's up to the person to perform the researching.

The following indicates what vital, land, probate, and court records are in Cook county. The dates indicated below are the first known records for this county which may include records of land, estates, taxes, vital records, divorces, naturalizations, court records, and so forth. Most of the major records for the county (Cook) were destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871, total record loss (1831–1871) due to a Fire on October 9, 1871.

  • Cook County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
    • Address: County Building, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60602
  • Cook County Clerk maintains records and issues certificates of vital statistics (birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates) for the entire County.
    • Phone: 312-603-5656
    • Marriage Records: 1856
    • Birth & Death Records: 1871
  • Cook County Recorder of Deeds serves the people of County by receiving, filing and maintaining all records related to real property in our county. These documents range from all types of conveyance deeds, mortgages, releases and assignments, property liens, as well as, assorted federal, state and local liens. The Recorder’s office is responsible for the recordation and storage of plats of subdivision, land surveys and monument records. Many other types of miscellaneous documents are recorded, such as; foreign birth certificates, foreign marriage licenses, and military discharge paperwork to name a few. The Cook County Recorder’s Office has land records from 1871 onward. Prior to 1871, the Chicago Title Insurance Company has pre-fire tract and copy books as abstracted from the original documents filed in the Cook County Recorder’s Office and from the issuance of the first government land patents. The Illinois State Archives has the original documents related to the government land patents. Federal land sale began from the various land offices in Illinois in 1814…”
    • Phone: 312-603-5050
    • Land Records:1871 see above
  • Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, commonly known as the Circuit Clerk, is the keeper of the files and records of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk's Office retains documents some of which include criminal law, chancery, support, probate, adoption, ect.... A will index survives that begins in the year 1850. The Illinois Historical Records Survey lists a record series titled “Documented Record of Wills,” which begins in 1851 and a series titled “Abstract of Probate Proceedings” beginning in 1861. All other probate records begin in 1871.
    • Address: Archives Department, Rm. 1113, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago, IL 60602
    • Phone: 312-603-6601 or 312-603-6628
    • Probate Records: 1871 see above
    • Court Records: 1871
  • Cook County Treasurer's Office is responsible for the statutory duties required as County Treasurer and as Ex-Officio County Collector of Real Estate Property Taxes and Drainage District Taxes for the entire county.
  • Illinois Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records reported from January 1, 1916 and Marriage & Divorces since January 1 1962. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Illinois for current fees and application process.
Illinois Historical Records - Databases include Illinois Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Illinois Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Illinois Voter Lists & Census Records; Illinois Immigration & Emigration Records; Illinois Obituary Records; Illinois Military Records; Illinois Family Tree Records; Illinois Pictures; Illinois Stories, Memories & Histories; Illinois Directories & Member Lists and much more....
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Cook County Genealogy Links

Publications  •  Census Records  •  Court, Probate, Land and Tax Records  •   Cemeteries & Graveyards
Church & Bible Records  •  County History  •  Military Records  •  Schools & Directories  •  Vital Records

The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources associated to Cook County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a cost. This is simply a collection that has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another. Feel free to provide your own preferred Cook County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.

Cook Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers

Cook Co. IL Books, Newspapers & Publications

Cook Co. IL Birth, Marriage & Death Records

Cook Co. IL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records

Cook Co. IL Census Records

Cook Co. IL Cemeteries & Graveyards

Cook Co. IL Church & Bible Records

Cook Co. IL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories

Cook Co. IL General and History Websites

Cook Co. IL Military Records

Cook Co. IL Schools & Directories

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