Apostille Services in Illinois
Illinois apostilles come from the Index Department of the Secretary of State, with offices in Springfield and Chicago. The Illinois complication is not the authority — it is where the underlying document has to come from, because Illinois vital records are county-issued rather than state-issued.
We handle the chain at $195 per document, about five business days, with certified translation available alongside.
Filing details for Illinois
- Apostille authority
- Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department
- State court system
- Illinois Circuit Courts
We serve Illinois remotely from our office in Edgewater, New Jersey.
County clerks issue, the state authenticates
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index but does not issue the certified copies that an apostille attaches to. Those come from the county clerk in the county where the birth, death or marriage occurred — Cook County Clerk for most of the Chicago metro.
People who assume the state health department is the issuing office lose a cycle here. Request from the county, then send to the Index Department.
Notarized documents need an Illinois notary; the Index Department authenticates from there without a separate county step for the notarization itself.
Poland, Ukraine and Mexico from Chicago
Chicago's apostille traffic runs heavily to Poland, Ukraine, Mexico and India — all parties to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is the correct instrument.
Polish authorities generally require a sworn translation by a tłumacz przysięgły registered with the Polish Ministry of Justice for documents used in Poland. That is a Polish-side requirement a US certified translation does not satisfy, and we will say so rather than take the order.
Turnaround
Apostille processing 5 business days
Price
$195 per document, about 5 business days. Details
Languages
100+ languages. See all
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get the Illinois certificate to apostille?
From the county clerk in the county where the event occurred, not from the Department of Public Health, which holds an index rather than issuing certificates.
Who issues the apostille itself?
The Index Department of the Illinois Secretary of State, in Springfield and Chicago.
Will a US certified translation be accepted in Poland?
For official use in Poland, generally not — Polish authorities usually require a sworn translator registered with their Ministry of Justice. The apostille on the US document is a separate and valid step.
How much does it cost?
$195 per document, about five business days.
Document translation for Illinois
Language pages
Other services for Illinois
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