Union County Public Records

Union County public records are stored across several local offices in Jonesboro, the county seat. Whether you need court case files, property deeds, or vital record certificates, the county clerk and circuit clerk handle most requests. Union County sits in the southern tip of Illinois, often called the "Little Egypt" region. Residents and outside parties can search for land records, marriage licenses, and court filings through county offices or the 1st Judicial Circuit system. Some records go back more than a century, and knowing which office to contact can save you a good deal of time when looking for specific Union County public records.

Union County Clerk and Recorder

Lance Meisenheimer serves as the Union County Clerk and Recorder. The office is at 309 W. Market Street in Jonesboro, IL 62952. You can call (618) 833-5711 or email lmeisenheimer@unioncountyil.gov for help. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The clerk handles vital records, land recordings, and election duties for Union County.

Birth and death records date back to 1916, though some are limited to 1861 for older entries. Marriage records also start from 1916. If you need a certified copy of a birth or death certificate, you must show a valid reason. Marriage records in Union County are open to the public. Fees vary by document type, so it helps to call ahead and check what you owe before you visit the office in Jonesboro.

The clerk also records deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents for all property in Union County. Each document gets filed and indexed so that the public can look it up later. Walk-in visits are the most common way to search older records, since Union County does not maintain a full online land records portal at this time.

Note: Birth and death records before 1916 may have gaps, so check with the Illinois Department of Public Health for statewide copies if needed.

Court Records in Union County

The Union County Circuit Clerk is Keri Clark. Her office is in Room 241 of the courthouse in Jonesboro. Call (618) 833-8114 for questions about court files. Union County is part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, which also covers several other southern Illinois counties.

The 1st Judicial Circuit website has some basic info on court schedules and local rules. You can see the court calendar and learn about filing procedures there.

Court cases in Union County include civil, criminal, traffic, and family matters. To get copies of a case file, contact the circuit clerk directly. You may need the case number or the names of the parties involved. The clerk can tell you the cost for copies and what forms you need. Some older case files may take longer to pull since they are stored in paper format at the courthouse.

Civil cases often involve small claims, contract disputes, and property matters. Criminal cases range from misdemeanors to felonies heard in the circuit court. If you want to search for a specific case, call the circuit clerk with as much detail as you have. That speeds things up.

Union County FOIA Requests

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, found at 5 ILCS 140, gives you the right to ask for public records from any government body in the state. Union County has its own FOIA request form you can use. Download the Union County FOIA form and fill it out with details about the records you want.

Once you submit your request, the county has five business days to respond. They can grant your request, deny it with a reason, or ask for more time if the request is large. The first 50 pages of black-and-white copies are typically free. After that, you may pay a small per-page fee. Color copies cost more. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor at 877-299-3642.

FOIA covers most Union County government records. Police reports, budget documents, meeting minutes, and contracts are all fair game. Some records are exempt, like ongoing investigation files or personal health data. The law tries to balance public access with privacy. When in doubt, file the request and let the county decide.

Vital Records in Union County

Union County vital records include birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses. The county clerk in Jonesboro handles all of these. Birth and death records from 1916 forward are on file, with some older records going back to 1861. Marriage records also start in 1916.

To get a certified copy of a birth certificate, you need to be the person named, a parent, or a legal representative. Death certificates require a demonstrated interest. Marriage records are public in Illinois. Fees for certified copies are set by state law, and you pay at the clerk's office. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The office can also help with genealogy searches if you are looking for older Union County records. Just keep in mind that the further back you go, the more likely you are to find gaps in the files.

You can also get vital record copies from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state keeps copies of all Illinois vital records. Their process takes longer, but it works if you cannot get to Jonesboro in person.

Note: Marriage license applications must be filed in person at the Union County Clerk's office, and both parties need to appear with valid identification.

Union County Property Records

The recorder side of the clerk's office handles all land documents in Union County. Deeds, mortgages, easements, and liens all get recorded here. When a property changes hands in Union County, the new deed must be filed at the clerk's office in Jonesboro. This creates the public chain of title that anyone can look up.

Searching Union County property records usually means a trip to the courthouse. The staff can help you find documents by grantor name, grantee name, or property description. If you know the exact book and page number, that makes the search even faster. Recording fees in Illinois follow a standard schedule, but some local fees may apply. Call (618) 833-5711 to ask about current Union County recording costs before you file anything.

Property tax records for Union County are kept by the county treasurer and assessor. The assessor sets the value of each parcel, and the treasurer collects the tax payments. These are separate from the deed records at the clerk's office, but together they give a full picture of any property in Union County.

Other Union County Public Records

Beyond the clerk and circuit clerk, other offices in Union County hold public records too. The sheriff's office keeps arrest logs, incident reports, and warrants. The county board has meeting minutes and budget documents. The health department may have inspection records and permits.

If you are not sure which office has what you need, start with a FOIA request. Name the record you want, and the county will route it to the right place. You can also call the main county line and ask who handles that type of document. Most staff in Union County are willing to point you in the right direction, even if the record is held by a different department.

The county is small enough that most things can be handled with a phone call or a short visit. That is one advantage of working with a rural Illinois county. The process tends to be more personal and less bureaucratic than in larger jurisdictions.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. If you live near the county line, your records could be filed in one of these neighboring offices instead.