Cook County Vital Records reopens in new location

First customers get marriage license, plan to wed next month

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Barry De Rossett and Gloria Lopez were the first customers this morning when Cook County Vital Records officially opened its new, modernized location in the lower level of the Daley Center. The Alsip couple purchased a marriage license. They plan to wed next month.

"We're very excited to open our doors and welcome customers to our new space," Cook County Clerk David Orr said.

The 7,000-square-foot office is situated in the underground walkway beneath the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza. There are many entrances to the underground walkway, known as the "Pedway," including the County Building (118 N. Clark), the George W. Dunne Administration Building (69 W. Washington) and Daley Plaza itself.

The former location in the basement of the County Building was hampered by floods, bugs and other threats to preserving documents. The newly-renovated space received an extensive overhaul to safeguard against such problems.

All of Cook County's birth, death and marriage certificate services will be housed in the East Concourse Level of the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago. Other functions found at the new office include the Domestic Partnership Registry, Notary Public and Business Registration.

Vital Records serves about 300 customers per day in the downtown office. Many services can also be accessed at five suburban locations, through the mail and online at cookctyclerk.com. For genealogy records, visit www.cookcountygenealogy.com, a site that since its launch this summer has logged more than 1 million page views from genealogists in 60 countries.

Vital Records is open Mondays-Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon. For more information about services offered by Cook County Vital Records, go to Cook County Vital Records or call 312.603.7790.