This Is Not a Government Office or Records Custodian. Chicago Residents Directory is privately operated. We do not retrieve records, issue certified copies, verify who occupies an address, or change a government roll or database. Contact the custodian responsible for the record instead. For an emergency, call 911. Contact local police if you believe someone is stalking or harassing you.
Where to Request Chicago Records
Use the route that matches the Chicago or Cook County record you need:
- Property and street records: use the Chicago street directory to identify the Cook County parcel and record system
- Historical volumes and former residents: consult the Chicago city directory collection notes
- A search for one person: follow the Chicago resident lookup process and verify the result with its custodian
- Public offices behind each roll: see the Chicago resident records offices overview
- Material that is not online: send a focused request to the named custodian under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140
Cook County historical records contact:
Illinois Regional Archives Depository at Northeastern Illinois University
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: 773-442-4506
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays
IRAD handles Cook County local-government collections with record-specific date ranges, including probate, naturalization, vital, coroner, assessment, and historical Chicago materials. Inquiries should include the full name, record type, approximate year, and Cook County. The repository accepts requests by mail or phone, limits a request to two names, performs research without charge, and bills for copies.