Divorce certificates, like many vital documents, are considered as a matter of public domain. This means that, with the proper requirements and credentials, any member of the public can have access to any vital information they seek, including divorce decrees and other pertinent data. In the state of Illinois, public documents fall under the jurisdiction of the state’s Department of Public Health. Its Division of Vital Records keeps Illinois divorce records that date back to January 1962. Unfortunately, the state office does not release certified copies of such reports.