The Cook County Clerk serves as the chief election authority for the entire county, one of the largest election jurisdictions in the nation. Along with administering elections in suburban Cook County, the Clerk's office maintains birth, marriage and death records, assists property owners in redeeming delinquent taxes, and records the activity of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The Cook County Clerk's office is the official record keeper for births, marriages, civil unions and deaths that occur in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
The Cook County Clerk's office is the chief election authority for more than 120 towns and villages in suburban Cook County.
The Cook County Clerk's office maintains delinquent tax records, tax maps & information regarding TIF districts.
The Cook County Clerk's Ethics Filings Division accepts and records documents detailing the financial activities of public officials, candidates, certain government officials and lobbyists.
The Clerk of the Board records the activity of the Cook County Board by preparing board agendas and post-meeting reports as well as maintaining County Board records.
Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough commemorated two significant milestones – the sixth anniversary of the signing of marriage equality into law in Illinois, and the imminent issuing of the 15,000th marriage license to a same-sex couple by the Clerk’s Office.
Sweetest weekend wedding is new Clerk’s office tradition.
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.
