Here's some information of interest regarding vital records: WEST'S SMITH-HURD ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES ANNOTATED CHAPTER 410. PUBLIC HEALTH HEALTH INFORMATION ACT 535. VITAL RECORDS ACT Current through P.A. 91-111, apv. 7/14/1999 535/24. Access to vital records § 24. (1) To protect the integrity of vital records, to insure their proper use, and to insure the efficient and proper administration of the vital records system, access to vital records, and indexes thereof, including vital records in the custody of local registrars and county clerks originating prior to January 1, 1916, is limited to the custodian and his employees, and then only for administrative purposes, except that the indexes of those records in the custody of local registrars and county clerks, originating prior to January 1, 1916, shall be made available to persons for the purpose of genealogical research. Original, photographic or microphotographic reproductions of original records of births 100 years old and older and deaths 50 years old and older, and marriage records 75 years old and older on file in the State Office of Vital Records and in the custody of the county clerks may be made available for inspection in the Illinois State Archives reference area, Illinois Regional Archives Depositories, and other libraries approved by the Illinois State Registrar and the Director of the Illinois State Archives, provided that the photographic or microphotographic copies are made at no cost to the county or to the State of Illinois. It is unlawful for any custodian to permit inspection of, or to disclose information contained in, vital records, or to copy or permit to be copied, all or part of any such record except as authorized by this Act or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. WEST'S SMITH-HURD ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES ANNOTATED CHAPTER 410. PUBLIC HEALTH HEALTH INFORMATION ACT 535. VITAL RECORDS ACT Current through P.A. 91-111, apv. 7/14/1999 535/25. Search of files; certification of records; fee; conditions § 25. In accordance with Section 24 of this Act, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto: (1) The State Registrar of Vital Records shall search the files of birth, death, and fetal death records, upon receipt of a written request and a fee of $10 from any applicant entitled to such search. A search fee shall not be required for commemorative birth certificates issued by the State Registrar. If, upon search, the record requested is found, the State Registrar shall furnish the applicant one certification of such record, under the seal of such office. If the request is for a certified copy of the record an additional fee of $5 shall be required. A further fee of $2 shall be required for each additional certification or certified copy requested. If the requested record is not found, the State Registrar shall furnish the applicant a certification attesting to that fact, if so requested by the applicant. A further fee of $2 shall be required for each additional certification that no record has been found. Any local registrar or county clerk shall search the files of birth, death and fetal death records, upon receipt of a written request from any applicant entitled to such search. If upon search the record requested is found, such local registrar or county clerk shall furnish the applicant one certification or certified copy of such record, under the seal of such office. If the requested record is not found, the local registrar or county clerk shall furnish the applicant a certification attesting to that fact, if so requested by the applicant. The local registrar or county clerk may charge fees for providing services for which the State Registrar may charge fees under this Section, except that such fees may not exceed the fees charged by the State Registrar. A request to any custodian of vital records for a search of the death record indexes for genealogical research shall require a fee of $10 per name for a 5 year search. An additional fee of $1 for each additional year searched shall be required. If the requested record is found, one uncertified copy shall be issued without additional charge. Any fee received by the State Registrar pursuant to this Section which is of an insufficient amount may be returned by the State Registrar upon his recording the receipt of such fee and the reason for its return. The State Registrar is authorized to maintain a 2 signature, revolving checking account with a suitable commercial bank for the purpose of depositing and withdrawing-for-return cash received and determined insufficient for the service requested. (2) The certification of birth may contain only the name, sex, date of birth, and place of birth, of the person to whom it relates, the name, age and birthplace of the parents, and the file number; and none of the other data on the certificate of birth except as authorized under subsection (5) of this Section. (3) The certification of death shall contain only the name, Social Security Number, sex, date of death, and place of death of the person to whom it relates, and file number; and none of the other data on the certificate of death except as authorized under subsection (5) of this Section. (4) Certification or a certified copy of a certificate shall be issued: (a) Upon the order of a court of competent jurisdiction; or (b) In case of a birth certificate, upon the specific written request for a certification or certified copy by the person, if of legal age, by a parent or other legal representative of the person to whom the record of birth relates, or by a person having a genealogical interest; or (c) Upon the specific written request for a certification or certified copy by a department of the state or a municipal corporation or the federal government; or (d) In case of a death or fetal death certificate, upon specific written request for a certified copy by a person, or his duly authorized agent, having a genealogical, personal or property right interest in the record. A genealogical interest shall be a proper purpose with respect to births which occurred not less than 75 years and deaths which occurred not less than 20 years prior to the date of written request. Where the purpose of the request is a genealogical interest, the custodian shall stamp the certification or copy with the words, FOR GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES ONLY. Cheryl Rothwell LoganCty@mindspring.com