Research Services Available

Cook County Divorce or Probate Index Search: $10 for an index search at the Circuit Court Archives. If I find a match, I will order in the file from the warehouse so that the file can be viewed/copied.

Color scans from Divorce and Probate Files: $10 + $.50 per image. Unless a file is unusually large and most cases turn out to be between $20 and $30.

Certified Cook County Divorce Decree: $12 + the cost of the certified decree. If you can't make the trip downtown, I will visit the Circuit Court Archives, obtain a certified copy of your decree, and send it to you by Priority mail.

Chicago Death Certificates, 1923-1947, $6.00 per record, less than half of the price you might otherwise pay. (Before 1923 the records are online for free at Familysearch; after 1947 the records are only available through the county or state and I can't save you time or money.)

Chicago Research Notes

Mother Reunited with Daughter: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Follow-up

A blog reader noticed an entry in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin image I included in a previous post that referred to "People ex rel v Superior of House of the Good Shepherd" and wondered about the details of the case. I decided to follow up and obtained a copy of the file.

It seems a writ of habeas corpus was filed by a man named Miles Martin on behalf of a child named Sylvia Lear who was living at House of the Good Shepherd as Minnie Bell Pursell. According to the document, "Sylvia was some years ago stolen from her mother and the parties who took her have since died and the child falling into other hands, at last was placed in said House of the Good Shepherd to avoid the care and Expense of providing for such child."

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Chicago and Cook County Family History Research Made Simple

Need to find someone who can get vital records, probate files, divorce cases, cemetery photos, naturalization records or obituaries for your research? Visit my Research Available from Providers on Genlighten.com page.

Want to learn how to find genealogical records in Chicago? Check out the Research Tutorial.

Ready to explore other sites for Chicago and Cook County research? Helpful Websites is the place to go.

Want to read about the things I've learned researching Chicago records? Read My Blog.

Have a quick question about genealogy research in Chicago? Join the Chicago Genealogy Facebook Group and post it there.