How to Search Cook County Records (Start Here)
Cook County covers Chicago and most of its suburbs — 5.2 million people, the second-largest county in the U.S. The court, assessor, and clerk are all separate operations with separate search systems.
- Clerk of the Circuit Court at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org — "Online Case Information" provides electronic docket summaries for criminal and civil cases. The CCC Portal also offers case lookups.
- E-filing: Illinois uses eFileIL (efileil.tylertech.cloud) statewide. I2File (efileil.i2file.net) is one of the approved e-filing service providers for Cook County courts.
- Property assessments: Cook County Assessor at cookcountyassessor.com. Search by 14-digit PIN or address. Detailed property info at assessorpropertydetails.cookcountyil.gov.
- The Recorder of Deeds was absorbed by the Cook County Clerk's Office. Search recordings at cookcountyclerkil.gov — documents from 1985 forward are online.
- Property tax portal: cookcountypropertyinfo.com combines data from the Assessor, Clerk, and Treasurer into one search.
Each source below is verified and links to an official portal.
Criminal & Court Records
Court Case Dockets
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Official Free
Search Cook County, Illinois Clerk of Circuit Court Civil, Law, Chancery, and Domestic Relations records for full case dockets.
Court Black Line Trial Call Pool
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Official Free
Cook County Clerk of Court Black Line Pool cases. Search by case number, plaintiff or defendant name, or by attorney code.
Court - Probate Dockets
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Official Free
Search the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court probate dockets.
Court - Probate Wills
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Search the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court probate wills dockets.
Jail & Inmate Records
Inmates
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Find Sheriff's Office inmate records by jail number or name.
Property & Tax Records
Property | Assessor
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Official Free
Cook County Assessor residential and non-residential property records, appeals, exemption, and neighborhood search.
Deeds, Mortgages, Recorded Documents
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Official Free
Recorder of Deeds index of mortgages, deeds, affidavits, etc. by grantor/grantee, document number, legal description, PIN number, trust number, or subdivision.
Permits
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Cook County Building and Zoning Department status check of your building permit and online payment.
Vital Records
Marriages 1763-1900
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Official Free
Select Cook in the county field to search the Illinois Marriage Index for Cook County Marriages for the period 1763-1900 by groom name and/or bride name.
Births, Deaths, Marriages - Archives
Visit →Vital Records
Official Free
Use this site to search for Cook County birth certificates 75 years or older, marriage licenses 50 years or older, and death certificates 20 years or older. Search by name, year or file number.
Birth Certificates 1878-1922
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Official Free
Search over 1.4 million images of Cook County birth certificates recorded between 1878 and 1922 and view or download images.
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Deaths | 1878-1922
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Over 1.4 million images Cook County deaths recorded between 1878 and 1922 and view or download images of death certificates.
Marriages | 1871-1920
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Cook County marriage records filed between 1871 and 1920.
Business, Voter & Other
Coroner Inquest Records 1872-1911
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Cook County coroner inquest records by name of deceased. Gives date of death, date filed, and book/page number. Site also includes information on ordering a copy of the record.
Voters
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Official Free
Check your voter registration status in Suburban Cook County by last name, house number, street name, city, and zip.
Unclaimed Child Support Checks
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Official Free
Use this Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court service to search for unclaimed child support checks that were returned by the US Postal Service.
Cook County Home Page
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Official Free
Cook County, Illinois government home page and official website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles court records in Cook County? ▼
Go to the Circuit Clerk for court records in Cook County. Start at the Circuit Clerk's office for case lookups — Illinois has no statewide court search portal.
Who handles property records in Cook County? ▼
For deeds, mortgages, and liens, go to the County Recorder. For property values and assessment data, go to the County Assessor (Township Assessor in some counties). For tax bills and payments, go to the County Treasurer.
How do I get birth, death, or marriage records in Cook County? ▼
Marriage licenses in Cook County are issued by the County Clerk. Birth and death certificates are available from County Clerk (local) / IDPH (state). Divorce records come from the court that granted the decree.
Are Cook County records available online? ▼
Yes — Cook County has good online coverage. This page lists 14 searchable databases covering court records, jail and inmate records, property records, vital records, and business filings. Each links directly to an official government portal.
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