Office of the City Clerk

Birth certificates are confidential records. No information will be provided over the telephone regarding birth certificates. Pursuant to the Illinois Vital Records Act, only certain individuals have legal access to birth certificates. The Springfield City Clerk's Office will only issue certificates to authorized individuals. Vital Records are not considered public information and, as such, are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Our office only has birth records from 1985-current. If the birth occurred after January 1, 1985 in the City of Springfield, that record can be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk. The application for a birth record must indicate the requestor's relationship to the person and the intended use of the document. If the birth occurred prior to January 1, 1985 in the City of Springfield you may contact the Sangamon County Clerk’s Office 217.753.6700 or the Illinois Department of Vital Records 217.782.6554. You may also order a birth record online via the Illinois Department of Vital Records if that birth occurred in another county in Illinois.

WHO MAY OBTAIN BIRTH RECORDS:

• The record can be released to the person named on the record, if they are 18 years of age or over.
• The parent, if their name appears on the birth certificate as the mother or father.
• A legal guardian who possesses guardianship papers that are signed by a judge.
• A legal representative who is representing the person named on the birth certificate or is represented by his/her parents.
• A court order.

WHAT IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED:

• The applicant must show a picture I.D. Acceptable forms of identification are a valid Driver's License, valid State Issued Identification Card, valid U.S. Passport or valid Military Identification Card; or
• Three forms of I.D. that contain your current name and address, such as mail, checkbook or bill. Other acceptable forms of identification are a voter registration card, a W-2 Form (most recent), bank statement (most recent), utility bills or other mail with your name & address printed on it (no handwritten envelopes or documents will be accepted), or vehicle registration card.

Death records are not public records and are only available to those who have a personal or property right interest with the decedent. If you are not a relative of the deceased person, a letter or document from the office or agency that needs the death certificate must accompany your request. The Springfield City Clerk's Office will only issue certificates to authorized individuals. Vital Records are not considered public information and, as such, are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Death records can also be obtained from the Illinois Department of Vital RecordsIllinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records, from the Sangamon County Clerk’s Office, or from the county clerk's office in the county where the death occurred. No information will be provided over the telephone regarding death certificates. Pursuant to the Illinois Vital Records Act, only certain individuals have legal access to death certificates.

WHO MAY OBTAIN DEATH RECORDS:

• The records can be released to a family member. A Valid Driver's License or State Identification card must be presented at the time the record is requested.
• A legal representative.
• A court order.

WHAT IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED:

• The applicant must show a picture I.D. Acceptable forms of identification are a valid Driver's License, valid State Issued Identification Card, valid U.S.Passport or valid Military Identification Card; or
• Three forms of I.D. that contain your current name and address, such as mail, checkbook or bill. Other acceptable forms of identification are a voter registration card, a W-2 Form (most recent), bank statement (most recent), utility bills or other mail with your name & address printed on it (no handwritten envelopes or documents will be accepted), or vehicle registration card.