Viewing Tip

If you see a large "X" at the top right of Ask Olive Tree Genealogy blog, click on the "X" to close it. Closing the "X" will give you the best viewing experience and allow you to leave a comment on a blog post



Sunday, February 7, 2010

Obtaining a Recent Birth Certificate

Carole asked:
Is there a way to get a birth record on a more "recent" ancestor who was born in Illinois? I am helping my granddaughter prepare paperwork to join the D.A.R. Records from the 1700's are fairly easy to find, compared to a more recent inquiry!

My former husband was born in Illinois in 1941. I need some sort of documentation (not necessarily a birth certificate) to prove his birth date and parents' names. However, state authorities there tell us that only he or his parents can make such a request. His parents are both deceased and I haven't seen him for nearly ten years and have no idea how to get in touch with him. Authorities tell me that I, as a former spouse) cannot request them, and my granddaughter cannot request them either.

Is there some source we are overlooking for this record? Does Illinois have some source of documentation of birth records other than an actual birth certificate?

OLIVE TREE ANSWER: Dear Carole, Do you have your marriage certificate? Can you send for a copy? A Marriage Certificate almost always gives parents names and the groom's age

Have you looked for a newspaper announcement of your ex-husband's's birth?

Did you check to see if one of your children can make the request? You may want to check Ancestor Birth Record Finder for other ideas of alternate places to find a person's birth information

A quick look at the Illinois Vital Records website states that Uncertified copies of birth records for genealogical purposes are available to individuals who may not otherwise be entitled to receive a certified copy if the person's date of birth precedes the current date by 75 years or more. You may request this special application, only for birth records after 1916, form at vitalrecords@idph.state.il.us or by writing to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
605 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62702-5097

I would try requesting his birth information under those special conditions.

No comments:

Post a Comment