Randolph County Public Records Search

Randolph County public records are stored at the courthouse in Chester, the county seat. The county clerk, recorder, and circuit clerk each hold different types of records that the public can access. Court case files, land deeds, vital certificates, and government documents are all available through the proper office. Randolph County sits along the Mississippi River in southwestern Illinois and is one of the oldest counties in the state. With about 31,500 residents, the county maintains a full set of public records across several departments at the courthouse on Taylor Street.

Randolph County Clerk and Recorder

The Randolph County Clerk and Recorder office is at 1 Taylor Street, Chester, IL 62233. Call (618) 826-5000 ext. 191 for vital records and land recording questions. The office handles birth, death, and marriage certificates as well as all land document recordings for Randolph County.

Birth and death records in Randolph County are not public under Illinois law. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) limits who can get certified copies. Only the named person, a parent, or a legal representative qualifies for birth records. Death certificates need a personal or property interest. Marriage records, however, are public. Anyone can request a Randolph County marriage certificate. The Randolph County Clerk website has information about forms and services.

The recorder handles deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents. Each filing gets indexed by grantor and grantee name. Property changes in Randolph County must be recorded here to become part of the public chain of title. Walk-in visits are the standard way to search these records at the courthouse in Chester.

Note: Randolph County was established in 1795, making it one of the oldest counties in Illinois with records that may stretch back more than two centuries for some document types.

Court Records in Randolph County

Julie A. Carnahan is the Randolph County Circuit Clerk. Her office is in Room 302 at 1 Taylor Street, Chester, IL 62233. Call (618) 826-5000 ext. 194 for court record questions. The fax is (618) 826-3761.

Randolph County is part of the 24th Judicial Circuit, along with Monroe, Perry, and Washington counties. The circuit court hears civil, criminal, traffic, family, and probate cases. If you need to look up a case, have the case number or the names of the parties. The circuit clerk can pull the file and let you know what copies cost.

The Randolph County Courthouse listing on the Illinois courts website has contact information and basic court schedules. For the official record, paper files at the courthouse in Chester are what count. Online case data from any source may lag behind actual filings by days or weeks.

FOIA Requests for Randolph County

Anyone can request public records from Randolph County government offices under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). You do not need to live in the county or give a reason for your request. Write to the FOIA officer at the office that holds the records. Be clear about what documents you need and the dates they cover.

Randolph County must respond within five business days. They may grant the request, deny it with a written reason, or ask for more time if the request is large. The first 50 pages of copies are usually free. Fees apply after that. If denied, appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor at 877-299-3642.

The Illinois vital records page below covers the state-level agencies that also hold records for Randolph County residents.

FOIA covers most Randolph County government records. Meeting minutes, budgets, police reports, contracts, and inspection reports are all fair game. Some records are exempt. Ongoing investigations, medical files, and certain personnel records may be withheld under state law.

Vital Records in Randolph County

Randolph County vital records cover birth, death, and marriage certificates. The clerk in Chester issues copies for events that took place in the county. Local records go back to 1916 for most types. Older records may exist given the county's long history, but gaps are common before that year.

Genealogy researchers benefit from Illinois rules that open older records. Birth records become available after 75 years. Death records after 25 years. Marriage records after 50 years. These copies cost less and work well for family history. The Illinois State Archives has free online databases with marriage records (1763-1900) and death indexes (pre-1916) that likely include Randolph County entries since the county is so old.

The Illinois Department of Public Health also issues vital record copies by mail from their Springfield office. Processing takes about 12 weeks. This is useful if you cannot get to Chester in person.

Randolph County Property Records

Property records in Randolph County come from the recorder, assessor, and treasurer. The recorder stores deeds and mortgages. The assessor values each parcel. The treasurer collects tax payments. These offices each have different pieces of the property puzzle, and all of their records are public.

To find ownership information, start with the recorder's files at the courthouse. For tax values and bills, talk to the assessor. The treasurer can tell you if taxes are up to date. You can handle all of these searches at the courthouse in Chester. Call (618) 826-5000 to reach the right extension for the office you need.

Note: The Illinois State Archives Randolph County page lists historical records held at the state level, which may include very old land patents and property files.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Randolph County. If you live near the edge of the county, your records might be filed in one of these neighboring offices.