Find Fayette County Public Records

Fayette County public records are managed by county offices in Vandalia, the county seat. Vandalia served as the state capital of Illinois from 1819 to 1839, and local records here go back a long way. About 20,500 people live in Fayette County. The county clerk and recorder handles vital records and land documents. The circuit clerk keeps court files. Both offices work out of the Fayette County Courthouse on South 7th Street in Vandalia. You can visit in person, call, or mail a request to get the records you need.

Fayette County Clerk and Recorder

The Fayette County Clerk and Recorder office is in Room 106 at the courthouse. Vicky L. Conder serves as clerk. The address is 221 S. 7th St., Room 106, Vandalia, IL 62471. Call (618) 283-5000 for questions. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

This office issues birth, death, and marriage certificates for events that happened in Fayette County. The clerk also records land documents like deeds, mortgages, and liens. Birth records are restricted under Illinois law. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal guardian can get a certified copy. Death certificates need a personal or property interest. Marriage records are public. Anyone can request a copy of a marriage certificate from Fayette County.

The clerk also handles elections and business name filings for Fayette County. If you want to register a business name or check if one is taken, this is the office to call.

Note: Fayette County vital record fees vary by type, so call ahead to confirm the current cost before visiting.

Court Records in Fayette County

The Fayette County Circuit Clerk, Kathy Emerick, keeps all court case files. The office is in the Fayette County Courthouse at 221 S. 7th Street, Vandalia, IL 62471. Call (618) 283-5009 for questions about court records. Fax is (618) 283-4490. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Fayette County is part of the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Court records here include civil cases, criminal cases, family law matters, traffic violations, probate, and small claims. The circuit clerk files and maintains these records. You can search in person at the courthouse. Bring a case number or party name if you have one. Staff can pull the case and make copies for a fee.

The Illinois Courts directory has more details on the Fayette County Courthouse, including the judges who serve this circuit. If you are not sure which division handles your case, the directory is a good place to start looking.

Fayette County Land Records

Land records in Fayette County are kept by the county clerk and recorder. The office stores deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other property documents. To search for a land record, you can visit the office in person or call to ask about online search options.

Some Fayette County land records may be available through online platforms. The Tapestry system is used by many Illinois county recorders for remote document search. Check with the recorder's office to see if Fayette County records are on this platform. The Illinois State Archives also has historical Fayette County records available through their IRAD page for older documents and genealogy research.

Recording a new document in Fayette County means bringing the original to the recorder's office. Staff will stamp and index it. Fees depend on the document type and page count.

Vital Records in Fayette County

Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available from the Fayette County Clerk. The Illinois Department of Public Health also keeps copies of vital records at the state level. But getting them from the county office is often faster.

Genealogy copies are available for older Fayette County records at a lower cost. Birth certificates 75 years or older, death certificates 25 years or older, and marriage records 50 years or older fall into this category. The state archives has a statewide marriage index from 1763 to 1900 and death indexes going back before 1916. These cover Fayette County and are free to search online through the Illinois State Archives databases.

FOIA Requests for Fayette County

Any person can file a Freedom of Information Act request for Fayette County public records. The Illinois FOIA statute (5 ILCS 140) covers all public bodies. Send your written request to the FOIA officer at the Fayette County department that holds the records. No special form is needed.

The office must respond within 5 business days. A denial has to include the specific legal reason. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office at 877-299-3642. Copy fees under FOIA cannot exceed the actual cost of reproduction.

Note: FOIA applies to all Fayette County government bodies, including townships, school districts, and special districts.

Fayette County Records Online

The Illinois state court system provides a directory of all county courthouses. This page shows how to find contact details and directions for the Fayette County Courthouse.

Use the state directory to look up court locations, phone numbers, and the judges assigned to Fayette County cases. The site covers all 102 Illinois counties.

The state also maintains a FOIA contacts page that lists officers for each state department. If you need records from an Illinois state agency that operates in Fayette County, this is a helpful starting point.

This is the actual FOIA statute page on the Illinois General Assembly site. It shows the full text of the law that governs access to Fayette County public records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fayette County. Records for addresses near the county line may be filed in a neighboring county instead.