McLean County Public Records

Public records in McLean County are held by the county clerk, the circuit clerk, and a few other local offices in Bloomington. With more than 171,000 residents, McLean County is one of the larger counties in central Illinois. The county clerk also took over all recorder duties back in 2013, so land records and vital records now go through the same office. Court case files are kept by the circuit clerk at the Law and Justice Center. Most of these records can be searched online or picked up in person at the courthouse.

McLean County Clerk Office

The McLean County Clerk handles vital records, elections, tax extension, business filings, and recording services. Kathy Michael is the current clerk. A voter referendum passed on November 6, 2012 moved all recorder duties into this office. That change took effect December 31, 2013. So the clerk now handles deeds, mortgages, and other land documents too.

The McLean County Clerk's office website provides details on available services and contact information.

You can reach the clerk at 115 E. Washington St., Room 102, Bloomington, IL 61702. Call (309) 888-5190 with questions. The office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Note: McLean County has two election authorities. The clerk's office handles all areas except the City of Bloomington, which runs its own elections.

McLean County Land Records

The Recording Division stores all land records for McLean County. This includes deeds, mortgages, plats, legal documents, and military discharge papers. Mark Bounds manages this division and can be reached at (309) 888-5169.

The McLean County Recording Division website lists services and recording requirements.

Before the 2013 merger, these records were kept in a separate recorder's office. Now they are all under the county clerk. Both offices still provide service at their same locations. Phone numbers and email addresses stayed the same after the change.

Land record types you can find here include warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, trust deeds, releases, assignments, and liens. UCC filings and assumed business name certificates are also on file. The office records plats, surveys, and monument records for the county.

Court Records in McLean County

The circuit clerk keeps all court case files for McLean County. The main office is at the Law and Justice Center, 104 W. Front St., Bloomington, IL. Call 309-888-5301 for questions about court records.

The McLean County court records search page provides free online access to case data.

You can search by name, case number, or name and date of birth. Full circuit clerk data is available from 1991 to the present. The online system covers civil, criminal, family, traffic, and other case types heard in the McLean County circuit court. E-filing is now the standard method for many case types.

Note: Online data may not reflect the most recent filings. For up to date case information, check with the circuit clerk at the courthouse.

McLean County Vital Records

Birth, death, marriage, and civil union certificates for McLean County are issued by the county clerk's office. You can request copies in person at the Bloomington office or by mail. Marriage and civil union licenses are also handled here.

Birth records are not open to the public. Only the person named, their parents, or a legal guardian can get a certified copy. Death records need proof of a personal or property interest. Marriage certificates are generally available to anyone who asks.

Fees for vital records in McLean County follow standard rates seen across Illinois. First copies of birth and death certificates typically cost $15 to $20. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost less. You can also order through VitalChek for an added service fee.

FOIA Requests in McLean County

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

For court records, contact the circuit clerk. For county government records like budgets, meeting minutes, or contracts, write to that department's FOIA officer. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office.

The McLean County website has contact details for each department.

FOIA covers a broad range of documents. Emails, reports, policies, and financial data are all subject to disclosure unless a specific exemption applies. Common exemptions include private personal information, law enforcement records tied to open cases, and trade secrets.

McLean County Property Records

Property tax information for McLean County is separate from the land records at the recording division. The county assessor sets property values. The county clerk handles the tax extension process, which sets the rates used to calculate tax bills.

You can look up property values and tax data through the county's online tools. Deeds and mortgages are at the recording division. Tax payment records go through the county treasurer. These are three different offices, so which one you need depends on what you are looking for.

Note: If you need a copy of a recorded deed, contact the recording division at (309) 888-5169. For tax payment history, contact the treasurer's office.

Cities in McLean County

McLean County includes Bloomington and Normal, both of which are qualifying cities with their own public records pages. All municipalities in the county use the McLean County circuit court and county clerk for court filings and vital records.

Nearby Counties

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