Welcome to the Cook County Clerk's Office

Pursuant to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Clerk's office will be closed to the public until further notice.

Please visit each of our department pages below for more information. We thank you for your patience as we do our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The latest election-related information can be found on our Election Updates page. Updates on other Departments will be posted on this website when available.

Cook County Clerk Departments

Vital Records
Elections
Real Estate & Tax Services
Board Proceedings
Media Room

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WHAT'S NEW @COOKCOUNTYCLERK?

Couple who get Cook County’s 15,000th marriage license to same-sex couple surprised, happy to be ‘part of history’

Kevin Godwin and Sai He planned to meet late Friday morning at the Cook County Clerk’s Vital Records Bureau during Kevin’s lunch break, to get a marriage license. They would then get married Saturday at a courthouse.

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Candidate Order for March 17, 2020 Presidential Primary Decided in Ballot Position Lottery

Clerk Yarbrough held ballot lotteries today to determine the candidate ballot positions in the March 17, 2020 Presidential Primary Election.

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Meet The Clerk

Karen A. Yarbrough, Cook County's first African American and female Clerk, has a B.A. in Business Management from Chicago State University, an M.A. in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University, and advanced leadership studies at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Karen has served on numerous boards, enhancing the quality of life for citizens and has received many prestigious awards highlighting her advocacy, community service and legislative work. Click here to view her entire biography.