Macon County Public Records
Macon County public records are kept by three main offices in Decatur. The county seat has about 101,000 residents and sits in central Illinois. You can find court case files, land deeds dating back to the early 1800s, and vital records through these offices. The county clerk handles birth, death, and marriage records. The Register of Deeds stores all real estate documents. The circuit clerk keeps court files for civil, criminal, and family cases in Macon County.
Macon County Quick Facts
Macon County Clerk Office
The Macon County Clerk handles vital records and elections. The office is in the Macon County Office Building at 141 S. Main St. in Decatur. Call 217-424-1305 for questions about records. Birth certificates cost $10 for a certified copy. Non-certified copies are just $0.25 each.
Birth records in Macon County are not public. Only the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on it, or a legal representative can get a certified copy. Death records need proof of personal or property interest. Marriage records are open to the public. These rules come from the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535).
| Office | Macon County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 141 S. Main St. Decatur, IL 62523 |
| Phone | 217-424-1305 |
Macon County Land Records
The Macon County Register of Deeds maintains all real estate records. These go back to the early 1800s. The office is at 5 West Main St., Courthouse Room 230, in Decatur. Phone is 217-424-1359. Regular hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with recording hours from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
You can search Macon County land records online through the Search Deeds feature on the recorder's website. Online indexing starts from January 7, 1987. Non-indexed images go back to May 18, 1917, starting with Book A-4. For records older than that, you need to visit the office in person.
The recorder handles deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other recorded documents in Macon County. Search results online show index data and document images. For certified copies, contact the office directly.
Note: When searching online, records indexed before January 1987 will not appear in name searches.
Court Records in Macon County
The Macon County Circuit Clerk, Sherry Doty, keeps all court case files. The office is at the Macon County Courthouse, 253 E. Wood Street in Decatur. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 217-624-4442 for questions about court records.
The circuit clerk is a state constitutional officer elected by the citizens of Macon County. The office serves the public by maintaining and preserving all records of the circuit court. You can find case files for civil suits, criminal charges, family law matters, probate cases, and traffic tickets. Visit the clerk office in person or file a FOIA request to get copies of court records in Macon County.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) applies to all Macon County offices. You can request records in writing. The office has 5 business days to respond.
Macon County Vital Records
Birth records in Macon County are not public. Only the person named on the record (if 18 or older), a parent listed on it, or a legal representative can get a certified copy. These rules come from the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535). Death records require proof of personal or property interest. Marriage records are open to the public in Macon County.
Genealogy copies are available for older records at a lower cost. Birth records over 75 years old, death records over 25 years old, and marriage records over 50 years old qualify as genealogy records. These are useful for family history research. Call the county clerk at 217-424-1305 for questions about vital records in Macon County.
Note: Bring valid photo identification when requesting any vital records from the Macon County Clerk office.
How to Get Macon County Public Records
There are several ways to access public records in Macon County. The method depends on what you need.
- Visit the county clerk for birth, death, and marriage certificates
- Search land records online at macondeeds.com
- Go to the circuit clerk for court case files
- File a FOIA request for government documents
- Use the Illinois State Archives for older historical records
In-person visits work best when you need certified copies. Online tools are good for basic searches and viewing document images. For large requests or hard-to-find records, a FOIA request gives you a formal process with a required response time in Macon County. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) requires all public bodies to respond within 5 business days.
Cities in Macon County
Decatur is the county seat and the largest city in Macon County. All court filings and vital records go through the Macon County offices in Decatur.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Macon County. Check the right county for your address before searching for records.