Birth records can be ordered online or by mail [PDF].
Ordering a Certified Certificate
Birth records are not public records and only the following are entitled to receive a certified certificate:
- The person named on the record if 18 years or older.
- The parent(s) shown on the record.
- A legal guardian or legal representative of the child. Written evidence of guardianship or legal representation is required.
Birth records for births occurring in McHenry County after January 1, 2010, can be obtained from the Health Department.
Births records for births occurring in McHenry County prior to January 1, 2010, must be obtained from the McHenry County Clerk’s Office or can be ordered from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records.
When ordering a birth record, you will need to provide the following information:
- The child's full name at birth
- Date of birth
- The city and county where the birth occurred (including hospital, if known);
- The name of the parent(s) shown on the record, including the mother's maiden name
- A legible/readable copy of your valid government-issued photo ID (i.e. Driver's License, State ID, etc.). If not provided, unreadable or expired, the request will be returned unprocessed.
Uncertified copies may be available for genealogical researchers and others on a restricted basis; please visit the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Genealogical Research section for more information.
The fee for certified records is $12 for the first copy and $4 for each additional certificate of the same record requested at the same time. The fee for genealogical (uncertified) records is $10 for the first copy and $2 for each additional certificate of the same record at the same time.
