🇺🇸 United States·1961 Hague Convention·Code: IL · Seat: Springfield
Illinois Document Apostilles for Mexico
If your document was issued or signed in Illinois, the apostille comes from Illinois Secretary of State. We prepare the submission, follow it up and arrange the translation by a perito so you can file it in Mexico without leaving the country.
This is the office’s own timeline; international shipping and translation are on top of it.
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What to know about Illinois
Details about this authority that prevent rejections and wasted trips:
Point 1
Chicago has one of the largest Mexican communities outside Mexico, in neighborhoods such as Pilsen and Little Village, with roots in Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Guerrero.
Point 2
Cook County records (Chicago and its suburbs) come from the Cook County Clerk; records from the rest of the state, from the Department of Public Health (IDPH) or the county registrar.
Point 3
The state fee is $2 per document, one of the lowest in the country, and there is a counter in downtown Chicago (17 N State St) as well as Springfield.
Point 4
The Mexican Consulate General in Chicago registers births and executes powers of attorney with no apostille needed. The Illinois apostille is needed when the procedure takes place in Mexico itself.
Point 5
Cook County divorce judgments are certified by the Clerk of the Circuit Court; that certified copy is what gets apostilled to remarry in Mexico.
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Vital records (IL)
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) & Cook County Clerk Vital Records
Location: IDPH: 925 E Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702; Cook County Clerk: 118 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60602
Note: For births in Chicago, the Cook County Clerk is usually the most direct route. Ask for the certified copy, not a proof or notice of registration.
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Notaries public (IL)
Requirements for powers of attorney, affidavits and certified copies signed in Illinois:
The notary must hold a current Illinois commission; the Secretary of State checks the signature against its records before apostilling.
An Illinois notary is no substitute for the Clerk: certified copies of records come from the Cook County Clerk, IDPH or the relevant county.
For a power of attorney bound for Mexico you can use an Illinois notary (with apostille) or the Mexican Consulate in Chicago (no apostille); ask the Mexican notario which they prefer.
Documents
Illinois documents often apostilled for Mexico
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Birth certificate from the Cook County Clerk or IDPH
Apostille: Illinois Secretary of State
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Marriage certificate from the County Clerk
Apostille: Illinois Secretary of State
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Divorce judgment from the Clerk of the Circuit Court
Apostille: Illinois Secretary of State
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Powers of attorney signed before an Illinois notary
Apostille: Illinois Secretary of State
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Diplomas and transcripts from Illinois schools and universities
Apostille: Illinois Secretary of State
How we do it
Your Illinois paperwork, step by step
You do not have to queue or ship documents to another country on your own. We tell you which copy you need, send it to the authority, receive the apostille and arrange the translation for the Mexican office.
1
Decide where you will file
If you will use the Mexican Consulate in Chicago, you may not need an apostille; if you will file in Mexico, follow the next steps.
2
Get the certified copy
Cook County Clerk for Chicago and suburbs; IDPH or the county for the rest of Illinois; Clerk of the Circuit Court for divorces.
3
Apostille in Chicago or Springfield
The Illinois Secretary of State issues it the same day at the counter or by mail in 4–7 business days.
4
Translation and filing
A perito traductor translates the record with its apostille; then you file it with the Registro Civil, notaría or education authority.
Shall we start with your document?
We handle shipping to Illinois Secretary of State, the government fees and the translation by a perito.
🔒 Orders are placed securely on our main booking site: fbibackgroundcheck.co.uk
🏛️ Offices in Mexico where Illinois documents are filed
With the apostille and a translation by a perito, Illinois documents are usually filed with:
Registro Civil in Michoacán, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Guerrero and other states: entering births and marriagesNotarios públicos: powers of attorney for land, houses, ejido matters and inheritances in MexicoSEP or the state education authority: recognition of studies for young people returning to MexicoRegistro Civil: marriage in Mexico after a divorce in IllinoisFamily courts: custody and child support
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Illinois apostilles
What people ask us about documents from Illinois:
Where do I order the birth certificate of a child born in Chicago?
From the Cook County Clerk (Vital Records), downtown or at its suburban offices, or from IDPH in Springfield. For Mexico, ask for the certified copy.
Can I get my child’s dual nationality without an apostille?
Yes, if you register at the Mexican Consulate in Chicago. If you would rather register at the Registro Civil in your hometown in Mexico, they will ask for the Illinois certificate apostilled and translated.
How much does an Illinois apostille cost and how long does it take?
The state fee is $2 per document. At the Chicago or Springfield counter it is ready the same day; by mail, 4–7 business days.
I divorced in Chicago. What do I need to marry in Michoacán?
The divorce judgment certified by the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court, apostilled and translated, plus your birth certificate. Check with the Registro Civil whether any further recognition of the judgment is required.
Is your document from a state or province that is not listed? We handle it too. Write to us →
Working to a deadline?
Free review of your Illinois document
We check that your document is the right version, tell you if a prior step is needed (such as county certification) and send you the timeline and a quote before you pay.