VITAL RECORD SEARCHING

The records of Edgar County are as follows: Birth records begin in 1860 and Death records begin in 1877. Marriage records begin in 1823, but will only give the name of the bride, the name of the groom, and the date the couple were married. Not until 1878 do the Marriage records give any additional information such as age and parent names.

The fee for each Birth or Marriage record to be searched is $14.00 and the fee for each Death record to be searched is $16.00. If the record is found, you will be entitled to a certified copy of the record. The fee is for the search. The fee is for each name for a five (5) year search, plus there is a fee of $1.00 for each additional year of the same search. Additional copies of the same record found by the original search can be purchased for a fee of $4.00 for a Birth or Marriage record or for a fee of $6.00 for a Death record. All records will be certified – NO PHOTOCOPIES will be issued. Certain restrictions apply to each type of search.

We have provided an Application for Vital Record Search for your convenience.

• Click here for a Microsoft Word version of the application. 
• Click here for a PDF version of the application. 

Please adhere to the following instructions when making application or your application will be rejected.

TO REQUEST A BIRTH CERTIFICATE BY MAIL strictly observe these instructions:

1. ONLY THE FOLLOWING MAY MAKE REQUEST OF A BIRTH RECORD:
A. SELF (IF AT LEAST 18 YRS OF AGE)
B. PARENT
C. LEGAL GUARDIAN WITH COPY OF GUARDIANSHIP PAPERS
D. LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE
E. SPOUSE
F. GOVERNMENT AGENCY

2. REQUEST MUST CONTAIN:
A. FULL NAME AT BIRTH (i.e. woman’s full maiden name)
B. BIRTH DATE
C. MOTHER’S FULL MAIDEN NAME
D. FATHER’S FULL NAME
E. NUMBER OF CERTIFICATES NEEDED (Refer to above for fees)
F. MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO “EDGAR COUNTY CLERK”
G. CURRENT ADDRESS AND DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER
H. SIGN (DON’T PRINT) & DATE REQUEST
I. ENCLOSE SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE
J. IF BIRTH RECORD SOUGHT IS OF A DECEASED PERSON, A SPECIAL
Application For Birth Record of Deceased Person MUST BE COMPLETED.

• Click here for a word version of the application.
• Click here for a PDF version of the application.

3. MAIL REQUEST TO EDGAR COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS.

TO FAX A REQUEST AUTHORIZING RELEASE OF BIRTH CERTIFICATION the following instructions must be strictly observed:

1. REQUIREMENTS ARE SAME AS ABOVE PLUS THE FOLLOWING:
A. A STATEMENT GIVING PERMISSION AND NAMING PERSON PICKING UP &
PAYING FOR THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND RELATIONSHIP OF THAT
PERSON TO THE INDIVIDUAL (PERSON PICKING UP MUST BE AT
LEAST 18 YRS OLD)
OR
A STATEMENT NAMING THE PERSON WHO WILL APPEAR TO PAY FOR THE
BIRTH CERTIFICATION AND YOUR ADDRESS WHERE WE CAN MAIL
THE CERTIFICATION AFTER PAYMENT IS RECEIVED.
B. INCLUDE PHONE NUMBER OF PERSON PICKING UP CERTIFICATE FOR
CONTACT PURPOSES ONLY
C. NUMBER OF CERTIFICATES NEEDED (Refer to above for fees)
D. SIGN (DON’T PRINT) & DATE REQUEST

2. FAX REQUEST TO EDGAR COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE AT 217-466-7430.

TO REQUEST RECORDS FOR GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES:

BIRTHS:
1. USE THE APPLICATION FORM AVAILABLE WITH THIS SITE. SEARCHES ARE NEVER DONE FROM A PHONE REQUEST.
2. CAN RECEIVE BIRTH RECORDS THAT ARE 75 YEARS OR OLDER.
3. THE CERTIFICATION WILL BE STAMPED “FOR GENEALOGY PURPOSES ONLY”.
4. SUBMIT PROPER FEE (Refer to above for fees). PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT ISSUED.
5. RESEARCHING IN-PERSON: Can view INDEXES ONLY from 1860-1915.

DEATHS:
1. USE THE APPLICATION FORM AVAILABLE WITH THIS SITE. SEARCHES ARE NEVER DONE FROM A PHONE REQUEST.
2. CAN RECEIVE DEATH RECORDS THAT ARE 20 YEARS OR OLDER.
3. THE CERTIFICATION WILL BE STAMPED “FOR GENEALOGY PURPOSES ONLY”.
4. SUBMIT PROPER FEE (Refer to above for fees). PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT ISSUED.
5. RESEARCHING IN-PERSON: Can view INDEXES ONLY from 1877-1915.

MARRIAGES:
1. USE THE APPLICATION FORM AVAILABLE WITH THIS SITE. SEARCHES ARE NEVER DONE FROM A PHONE REQUEST.
2. CAN RECEIVE “FULL” MARRIAGE RECORDS THAT ARE 50 YEARS OR OLDER.
3. CAN RECEIVE ANY RECORD OF ONLY THE NAMES OF THE BRIDE & GROOM, NAME OF OFFICIANT AND THE DATE OF MARRIAGE THROUGH CURRENT DATE.
4. SUBMIT PROPER FEE (Refer to above for fees). PHOTOCOPIES ARE NOT ISSUED.
5. RESEARCHING IN-PERSON: Can view INDEXES ONLY from 1823-1915.