LaSalle County Public Records
Public records in LaSalle County are spread across a few key offices in Ottawa, the county seat. With a population of about 108,714 residents, the county covers a wide stretch of north-central Illinois along the Illinois River valley. The county clerk, recorder of deeds, and circuit court clerk each hold different sets of records that are open to the public. Land records here date back to the early 1830s, though a courthouse fire in 1880 destroyed some of the oldest documents. Most records can be accessed in person at the courthouse, and several online search tools are also available for remote lookups.
LaSalle County Quick Facts
LaSalle County Clerk Office
The LaSalle County Clerk handles vital records, elections, and several other public functions. This office issues all birth, death, and marriage certificates for events that took place in LaSalle County. It also deals with assumed name filings, public notices, and delinquent tax matters. The clerk's office sits inside the LaSalle County Courthouse at 119 W. Madison Street in Ottawa. You can call 815-434-8202 for questions about vital records or other county clerk services.
The LaSalle County Clerk website has basic information about the services this office provides. You can find details about how to request certified copies of birth, death, or marriage certificates.
The clerk is also in charge of running elections for the county, its townships, schools, fire departments, and other local bodies. If you need a record tied to any of those functions, this office is where to start.
| Office | LaSalle County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 119 W. Madison Street Ottawa, IL 61350 |
| Phone | 815-434-8202 |
| Website | lasallecountyil.gov/County-Clerk |
LaSalle County Land Records
The Recorder of Deeds office is where all land records get recorded and made part of the official public record in LaSalle County. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other real estate documents are filed here. The office is at the LaSalle County Courthouse in Ottawa, and you can reach them at 815-434-8177. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Available records date back to the early 1830s, which makes this one of the longer-running land record collections in the state.
A courthouse fire in 1880 did destroy some of the oldest records. That means certain documents from the earliest years of LaSalle County may not be on file. Still, the bulk of the collection survived and all current records are backed up on microfilm with offsite storage. The LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds page lists the main services and contact information for the office.
Books in the recorder's office are indexed through 1983. Computerized records start from the early 1970s. Keep in mind that staff in the recorder's office are not attorneys and cannot answer legal questions about your documents. They can help you find and copy records, but for legal advice you would need to talk with a lawyer.
Note: The recorder's office cannot provide legal interpretations of any documents on file, so plan to consult an attorney for questions about the content of deeds or liens.
LaSalle County Records Online
LaSalle County offers a few ways to search land records from a computer. The county provides three search tools for online access: Laredo, Tapestry, and Titleflex. Each one works a bit differently. Laredo is a subscription service used by title companies and frequent searchers. Tapestry is a pay-per-search option. Titleflex is another tool that some users may find more suited to their needs.
You can visit the LaSalle County Records Online page to see links to each of these tools and instructions for getting started. This page also shows which record types are available for remote searches and what date ranges the online systems cover.
The official LaSalle County website is another good starting point for finding departments and services across the county.
For records that are too old or not available online, you can always visit the recorder's office in person or send a request by mail. Some of the earliest documents may only exist on microfilm at the courthouse.
Court Records in LaSalle County
The Circuit Clerk's office manages all court case files in LaSalle County. Greg Vaccaro serves as the current circuit clerk. The civil division is at 119 W. Madison Street in Ottawa. Traffic and criminal matters are handled at 707 Etna Road. LaSalle County is part of a judicial circuit that hears civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic cases.
The circuit clerk offers an online court records search where you can look up cases by name or case number. This is a free tool. It gives you basic case information, though the full case file is only available at the courthouse. The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk website has more details about court services and how to access records.
If you cannot find what you need through the online search, you can visit either courthouse location during business hours. Staff can pull case files for you to review. Some older cases may take longer to locate if they have been archived.
FOIA Requests in LaSalle County
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act gives anyone the right to request public records from LaSalle County offices. You do not have to be a resident of the county or state to file a request. Each department has its own FOIA officer, so you should direct your request to the office that holds the records you want.
The county has a dedicated FOIA information page that explains the process and provides contact details. Under the law, public bodies must respond within 5 business days. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office.
Common FOIA requests in LaSalle County include police reports, county board meeting minutes, budget documents, and inspection records. Some records may be exempt from disclosure under the law, but the office must tell you which exemption applies if they deny part or all of your request.
Note: FOIA requests should be specific enough that staff can identify the records you want without having to guess what you are looking for.
Cities in LaSalle County
LaSalle County has several towns and cities across its wide footprint. Ottawa is the county seat and the largest city. Peru, Streator, Oglesby, and Marseilles are among the other communities in the county. None of the cities in LaSalle County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page, but all residents use the same county offices in Ottawa for public records.
Nearby Counties
Several counties border LaSalle County. If your property or records cross county lines, you may need to check one of these neighboring offices as well.