Madison County Public Records

Public records in Madison County are managed by several offices in Edwardsville, the county seat. With a population over 264,000, Madison County is one of the larger counties in the Metro East region of Illinois. The county clerk, circuit clerk, and recorder of deeds each handle different types of records. Most can be accessed online, in person, or by mail. Court files, vital records, land deeds, and property data are all open to the public through the right Madison County office.

Madison County Clerk Records

The Madison County Clerk is the main office for vital records, elections, and public filings. Linda Andreas serves as the current clerk. The office keeps birth, death, and marriage records for events that took place in the county. It also handles tax and real estate services, plus it records all County Board proceedings.

You can visit the clerk at the Administration Building, 157 N. Main St., Suite 211, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 618-296-4775 for questions about vital records or other public filings in Madison County.

The Madison County Clerk website gives you a full list of services and contact details.

The clerk also manages business name registrations and notary services for the county.

Madison County Vital Records

The county clerk issues birth, death, and marriage certificates for events in Madison County. You need a completed vital records form and a copy of your photo ID. Payment can be made by check or money order payable to the Madison County Clerk. Credit and debit cards are also accepted, but there is a $3.99 processing fee on card payments.

Birth records are restricted in Illinois. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal representative can get a certified copy. Death records also have access limits. Marriage certificates are more open to the public. For genealogy research, older records may be available at a reduced cost. Birth records 75 years or older, death records 25 years or older, and marriage records 50 years or older qualify for genealogy copies at $2.00 each.

Note: You can also request vital records by mail. Send your form, ID copy, and payment to the clerk's mailing address at P.O. Box 308, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

Land Records in Madison County

The Madison County Recorder of Deeds stores all land records for the county. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats. The office is in Edwardsville and can be reached at (618) 296-4475. You can also email recorder@madisoncountyil.gov with questions about land records.

Online record search is available through the recorder's website. There is also a subscription access option for people who need to search records on a regular basis. The Laredo information line is (618) 296-4467 if you need help with the online system.

The Madison County homepage gives you quick links to all county departments and services.

E-Recording is available for attorneys and title companies that need to file documents electronically in Madison County.

Court Records in Madison County

The Madison County Circuit Clerk keeps all court case files. Madison County is part of the Third Judicial Circuit in Illinois. The main courthouse is at 155 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025. There is also a Criminal Justice Center at 509 Ramey Street in Edwardsville.

You can search court records online through the circuit clerk's website. The system lets you look up cases by name or case number. Court date reminders are available by text or email. Administrative orders are also posted online for public review. Dockets for the Third Judicial Circuit are updated on Tuesdays and Fridays. Asbestos dockets update once a week, on Tuesdays only.

The Madison County Circuit Clerk website has court case search tools, schedules, and payment options.

Note: Online case data is not the official court record. The actual files are kept at the courthouse. For the most recent filings, visit the courthouse in person or submit a copy request to the circuit clerk.

Madison County FOIA Records

Anyone can file a FOIA request for Madison County public records. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) requires all public bodies to respond within 5 business days. You do not need a special form. Write to the FOIA officer at the specific department that has the records you want.

For court records, go through the circuit clerk. For vital records, contact the county clerk. For land records, the recorder of deeds handles those requests. If your FOIA request is denied, you can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office.

Madison County Property Records

Property tax and assessment data is separate from land records in Madison County. The county assessor handles property values and tax bills. You can look up properties by address or parcel number. The recorder of deeds stores the actual deeds, mortgages, and liens. Both offices are in Edwardsville.

Tax and real estate services are also part of the county clerk's duties in Madison County. The clerk's office handles property tax extensions and distributions to local taxing bodies. If you need a property tax bill or want to check assessed values, start with the county's main website for the right department.

Note: Property fraud monitoring services may be available. Contact the recorder's office to ask about fraud protection programs in Madison County.

Cities in Madison County

Madison County has several municipalities across the Metro East area. All of them use the Madison County circuit court system and county clerk for vital records and land records. There are no qualifying cities over 100,000 population within Madison County, but residents can access records through the county offices in Edwardsville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Madison County. If you live near the edge of the county, your records may be filed in a neighboring county depending on your exact address.