Illinois, Cook County
Where River Forest's records are kept. River Forest has its own village government, fire department and police department; county and state offices keep its other public records.
Start here
The cards below include River Forest's own offices, along with State of Illinois offices; the Cook County offices are on our Cook County page. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.
State records
Holds Illinois state and local government records of lasting value for the Secretary of State, with online indexes and genealogy guides; research in Springfield or at seven regional depositories.
Open official site Illinois State ArchivesCounty court
Northern Illinois federal bankruptcy court with clerk's offices in Chicago and Rockford, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the site links PACER, electronic filing, unclaimed funds, online payments and a volunteer attorney panel.
Open official site U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of IllinoisCounty court
Official site of the Illinois Judicial Branch, with Supreme and Appellate Court news and opinions, a Find Your Court guide to each county, e-FileIL information and Re:SearchIL for documents filed through eFileIL.
Open official site Illinois CourtsVital records
Handles mailed requests for Illinois birth and death records, which take about 12 weeks; death records go only to people with a personal or property interest, and marriage copies come from county clerks.
Open official site Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital RecordsPolice & jail
Illinois' state prison agency, with links to the Individual in Custody Search, victim notification, wanted fugitives, sex offender information and Freedom of Information Act requests.
Open official site Illinois Department of CorrectionsState records
Keeps Illinois criminal history records tied to more than five million fingerprint files; people review or challenge their own record through a Live Scan Access and Review request, and the Joliet office requires appointments.
Open official site Illinois State Police Bureau of IdentificationPolice & jail
Names people wanted on fugitive warrants issued at the request of the Illinois Department of Corrections; tips about where they are go to a toll free line, and information from the public stays confidential.
Open official site Illinois Department of Corrections Wanted FugitivesPolice & jail
Illinois State Police offender registration records show each registered sex offender's address on a map that refreshes hourly, along with murderer and violent offender against youth registrants; adjudicated juveniles are excluded.
Open official site Illinois State Police Sex Offender RegistrationVital records
Census Bureau profile of River Forest village, Illinois giving its 2020 Census population of 11,717, with American Community Survey figures on income, education, jobs, housing, health coverage and households.
Open official site Census Bureau ProfileCity records
River Forest village government site: Village Hall at 400 Park Avenue, 708-366-8500, plus agendas and minutes, FOIA and transparency pages, utility bill payment, building permits, contractor licenses, police service requests and property lookups.
Open official site Village of River ForestCity records
Fire suppression and emergency services 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 Phone: 708-366-8500, Ext. 360
Open official site River Forest Fire DepartmentPolice & jail
Law enforcement services 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 Phone: 708-366-8500, Ext. 340
Open official site River Forest Police DepartmentEverything else, organized
9 more River Forest sources not listed above.
Local record guide
Useful local context without burying the official record links above.
Local profile
River Forest, a place of 11,717 people, is in Cook County, whose county seat is Chicago. Court and property records sit with Cook County, and birth and death certificates come from the State of Illinois. River Forest's own offices are in the cards above, and our Cook County page lists each county office.
Straight answers
Open only the answer you need.
Deeds for property in River Forest are recorded by the Cook County office that records deeds, and the county office that assesses property keeps the tax values. Our Cook County page lists the county offices.
Certified birth and death certificates for events in Illinois come from the state vital records office, Illinois Division of Vital Records. Its site lists who may order a copy, the fee and how to order.
Same county
Use the city page when a record was created by a municipal police department or city office; use the county page for courts, deeds, vital records and jail custody.