Search Henry County Public Records

Henry County public records are managed by offices in Cambridge, the county seat in western Illinois. About 48,600 people live in Henry County. Barbara M. Link serves as both clerk and recorder, handling vital records and land documents from one office. Court records go through the circuit clerk. Henry County offers 24-hour access to land records online. Vital records date back to the mid-1800s. You can get most public records in person, by mail, or through web-based search tools.

Henry County Clerk and Recorder

Barbara M. Link is the Henry County Clerk and Recorder. The office is at 307 W. Center Street in Cambridge, IL 61238. This combined office handles vital records, land document recording, elections, and other county filings. Having both roles under one person means vital records and land records are in the same office.

The Henry County homepage shows all departments and services available to the public through the county government.

The clerk's office handles birth, death, and marriage certificates for events in Henry County. Vital records go back to the mid-1800s. The office also manages elections, property tax extensions, and business name registrations.

The Henry County Clerk website provides detailed information about all clerk services and contact details.

The office accepts credit and debit cards for most services. There is one exception. Delinquent tax payments cannot be made by card. For everything else, card payments are fine in Henry County.

Vital Records in Henry County

The Henry County Vital Records division is part of the clerk's office. Marriage and birth certificates cost $15 for the first copy and $7 for each extra. Death certificates have a slightly different fee. The death certificate fee includes an additional $2 for the Cemetery Oversight Fund, which is a state surcharge.

The Henry County vital records page lists all fees, forms, and requirements for getting certificates from the office.

Birth records are not public in Illinois. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal representative can get a certified copy from Henry County. Death records need proof of a personal or property interest. Marriage certificates are open to anyone. Genealogy copies of older records are available at lower fees for birth records 75 years or older and death records 20 years or older.

You need a valid photo ID to pick up any vital record. Mail requests require a copy of your ID and the correct fee. The office in Cambridge handles all vital record requests for Henry County.

Note: Death certificates in Henry County include an extra $2 surcharge for the Cemetery Oversight Fund.

Henry County Land Records

The Henry County Recorder division stores all land documents. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other property filings are on file. The recorder's office is in the same building as the clerk's office in Cambridge.

Henry County provides 24-hour access to land records through its recorded document search tool. This online system lets you search recorded documents at any time, from anywhere. It covers records dating back many years. Title companies, attorneys, and the general public all use this tool for Henry County land research.

The Henry County Recorder website shows all recording services and provides access to the online search tools.

The Henry County document search interface lets you look up recorded documents by name, date, or document type.

Recording fees follow the state schedule. Standard documents, non-standard documents, and plats each have different costs. The recorder also files military discharge records (DD-214 forms) at no charge. E-recording may be available for some document types.

Court Records in Henry County

The Henry County Circuit Clerk manages all court case files. The circuit court office phone number is 309-937-3572. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Henry County is part of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in Illinois.

Civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases are all filed through the circuit clerk. Most court records are public in Illinois. Sealed cases, juvenile files, and certain family law matters are restricted. You can visit the office in person to search for case records. Bring a case number or party name to help the staff find your files. E-filing is mandatory for most civil case types in Henry County.

FOIA Requests in Henry County

Any person can file a FOIA request for Henry County public records. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) requires all public bodies to respond within 5 business days. Write your request and send it to the FOIA officer at the Henry County department that holds the records.

No special form is needed. If your request is denied, the office must give a reason. You can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office by calling 877-299-3642. Fees for copies under FOIA cannot be more than the actual cost of making them.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Henry County. If your property or event is near a county line, the records may be filed in a neighboring county.