Lee County Public Records Lookup

Lee County public records are kept by county offices in Dixon, the county seat. This northern Illinois county has about 33,500 residents. The county clerk and recorder manages vital records and land documents from the Lee County Courthouse. The circuit clerk maintains all court files at the Lee County Courts Building. Both offices are open to the public during regular weekday hours. You can search records in person, submit requests by mail, or use available online tools to find what you need.

Lee County Clerk and Recorder

The Lee County Clerk and Recorder is in the Lee County Courthouse at 112 E. Second St., Dixon, IL 61021. The mailing address is P.O. Box 329, Dixon, IL 61021. Call (815) 288-3309 for questions about Lee County public records.

This office issues birth, death, and marriage certificates for events that took place in Lee County. Birth records are restricted under Illinois law. Only the named person, a parent, or a legal representative can get a certified copy. Death records need a personal or property interest. Marriage certificates are public and open to anyone. The clerk charges fees for each record type, so call first to get current amounts.

The recorder side of the office handles all land documents for Lee County. Deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and easements get recorded here. The office also manages elections, tax extensions, and business name registrations. Staff can help you search recorded documents by name, parcel number, or document number during office hours.

Court Records in Lee County

The Lee County Circuit Clerk keeps all court case files. The office is at the Lee County Courts Building, 309 S. Galena Ave., Dixon, IL 61021. Call (815) 284-5234 for court record questions. Lee County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit.

Court records here cover civil, criminal, family law, traffic, probate, and small claims cases. To search for a case, visit the circuit clerk's office with a case number or the name of a party. Staff will pull the file and can make copies for a fee. Note that the circuit clerk is in a different building from the county clerk. The courthouse is on East Second Street, while the courts building is on South Galena Avenue.

The Illinois Courts directory has the full listing for Lee County, including judge assignments and phone numbers. E-filing is available for many case types through the statewide electronic filing system.

Note: The Lee County Circuit Clerk and County Clerk are in separate buildings in Dixon, so check which office you need before visiting.

Lee County Land Records

Land records in Lee County are stored by the county clerk and recorder at the courthouse on East Second Street. These include deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other property documents. You can search in person during regular business hours.

For online access, check with the Lee County recorder about available tools. The Tapestry platform is used by many Illinois county recorders. The Illinois State Archives also has historical Lee County records for genealogy and older property searches. These go back to the 1800s.

When recording a new document in Lee County, bring the original to the recorder's office. The staff will stamp it, assign a recording number, and return the original. Fees depend on the document type and the number of pages.

Vital Records in Lee County

Birth, death, and marriage certificates are available from the Lee County Clerk. You can also get vital records through the Illinois Department of Public Health at the state level. The county is typically faster for events that happened in Lee County.

Genealogy copies are available for older Lee County records at a lower cost. Birth records 75 years or older, death records 25 years or older, and marriage records 50 years or older qualify. The Illinois State Archives maintains searchable marriage indexes (1763 to 1900) and death indexes (pre-1916) that include Lee County. Search them free at the state archives databases.

Note: Bring a valid photo ID when picking up certified vital records from the Lee County Clerk.

FOIA Requests for Lee County

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) lets anyone request Lee County public records. Send a written request to the FOIA officer at the county office that holds the records. No special form is needed. Describe what records you want.

The office must respond within 5 business days. A denial must include the legal reason. You can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at 877-299-3642. Copy fees under FOIA cannot exceed the actual cost of making them. The law applies to all public bodies in Lee County, including school boards, townships, and library districts.

Lee County Records Resources

The Illinois courts website has a central directory covering all county courthouses. Use it to find contact information for the Lee County Courthouse and courts building in Dixon.

This directory lists phone numbers, office hours, judge assignments, and directions. It is a good resource to check before planning a trip to the Lee County offices in Dixon.

The state FOIA contacts page shows officers for each Illinois state department. If you need records from a state agency that works in Lee County, start here.

This page covers all state-level FOIA officers and is a helpful starting point for anyone making records requests from state agencies in Lee County.

Nearby Counties

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