Adams County Court Records

Adams County court records provide detailed information about court proceedings, such as civil and criminal cases, that were filed with or adjudicated by the county's local court. These records allow for judicial transparency, as they can be reviewed to deduce how different aspects of a court case are handled. Court records also establish precedent for future adjudication and can be used to bolster arguments in similar cases. Adams County Court court records typically feature the following information:

• case details (case number and category)
• litigant(s) details (full name, date of birth, and role),
• hearing details (type, date, time, judge, and location),
• Disposition
• docket information.

Are Court Records Public in Adams County?

The general public is allowed access to court records in Adams County under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the 705 ILCS, 105 Clerks of Courts Act. As a result, anyone can obtain most Adam County court records through their respective custodians.

However, certain court records and information types are exempt from the aforementioned laws. As a result, they are confidential and redacted from public court records. These include but are not limited to, court records subject to the Judiciary Privacy Act, records exempt by court order or law, and court records of juvenile court cases.

Adams County Court Records Search

Interested persons can search for Adams County Court Records through any of the following:

• Adams County Circuit Clerk's office
• Online resources provided by the Circuit Clerk
• Third-party aggregate websites

Adams County Courts

Adams County has only one court, The Eighth Judicial Circuit Court, also known as Adams County Circuit Court. It is a trial court of general jurisdiction that can handle all cases (civil and criminal) that do not fall under the original jurisdiction of the Illinois Supreme Court. The courthouse address and contact information of Adams County Circuit Court is as follows:

Adams County Courthouse
521 Vermont Street,
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 277-2100
Fax: (217) 277-2116

Adams County Criminal Records

Adams County criminal records provide information about specific interactions, such as arrests and convictions, that an individual has had with the local criminal justice system. They are essentially formal recordings of a person's criminal history. Local law enforcement agencies and courts are responsible for generating and maintaining Adams County criminal records.

For instance, the Adams County Sheriff's Department generates and maintains Adams County arrest records. The County Sheriff's Department also preserves warrant records. With few exceptions, these criminal records are considered part of Adams County public records and, as such, are accessible to the general public. Fortunately, the County Sheriff's Department provides online resources record seekers can use to access these records. Record seekers can also request criminal records by contacting the Records Division of the Sheriff's Department at:

535 Vermont St
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 277-2200

At the state level, criminal records are collected and maintained by the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Identification per the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA). Furthermore, the UCIA permits the dissemination of conviction records preserved by the Bureau of Identification to the public. Hence, interested persons can obtain criminal records, specifically conviction records, from the Bureau by requesting Background Checks from the ISP Bureau of Identification. Two types of background checks can be conducted: name-based and fingerprint-based background check.

Name-based background checks can be conducted through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) website. New users must enroll with the State of Illinois and get a digital ID to use CHIRP. Meanwhile, fingerprint-based background checks must be electronically submitted to the ISP through a licensed live-scan fingerprint vendor. Interested persons can find licensed vendors through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Licensed Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor List. Note that there are specific fees associated with making background check requests. These fees are detailed on the ISP Fee Schedule page. They include a maximum fee of $20 and $16 for fingerprint-based and name-based background checks, respectively.

Get Adams County Civil Court Records

Individuals can get Adams County civil court records through the County Circuit Clerk. Record seekers can contact or visit the Circuit Clerk's Office to inspect or request copies of civil court records via phone or mail. Note that record seekers need to supply information about the desired civil court record, such as a party name or case number, to the Circuit Clerk to aid the record's identification. Requests are also subject to fees outlined in the Circuit Clerk's Miscellaneous Fees Schedule. For instance, document copies cost $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for the next 19 pages, and $0.25 for each additional page. Adams County Circuit Clerk's Office can be reached at:

521 Vermont St
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 277-2100
Email: circuitclerk@adamscountyil.gov

It is worth noting that the Circuit Clerk's homepage provides a link to a third-party website where record seekers can access Adams County civil court records online.

Adams County Marriage Records

Adams County Clerk's Office is the official custodian of records of vital events, including marriages, births, and deaths, that occur in Adams County. Therefore all requests for Adams County vital records should be directed to the Clerk's Office.

Adams County Clerk's Office maintains marriage records from 1825 to the present. Marriage records are considered to be highly private records. As a result, certified copies of Adams County marriage certificates can only be obtained by the bride, groom, or their respective parents listed on the certificate.

Record seekers must also provide a Government-issued picture ID (Driver's license, state ID card) when requesting a certified marriage certificate. Furthermore, a certified marriage certificate costs $25.00 for the first copy and $15.00 for any additional copies at the time of request. Record seekers must also provide the following information to facilitate a search for the desired marriage:

• The groom's name (legal name used before the marriage)
• The bride's name (legal or maiden used before the marriage)
• The city and date of marriage.

The Adams County Clerk's Office accepts in-person and mail-in requests for marriage records. In-person requests can be made by visiting the Clerk's Office during regular working hours (Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm). Requesters must bring their photo ID and payment of required fees when visiting the office. Accepted forms of payment include cash, check, or credit card.

For mail-in requests, appropriately complete the Marriage Certificate Request Form. Afterward, Send the completed request form along with required payment (via check made payable to Adams County Clerk), a copy of the requester's photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

507 Vermont St,
Quincy, IL

It is worth noting that Adams County marriage records can also be ordered online through certain third-party websites. The Adams County Circuit Clerk's marriage certificate page links to one such website. Interested persons can also conduct Genealogy searches for marriage records (50 years or older) through the County Circuit Clerk's Office.

Adams County Divorce Records

Adams County Circuit Clerk's office is responsible for preserving divorce records in Adams County. Hence, individuals looking for Adams County divorce records should start their search at the circuit clerk's office. Record seekers can contact or visit the Circuit Clerk's office in person to request divorce records. Note that information about the divorce, such as the names of the divorcees and the date of the divorce, is usually required to assist the Clerk's office staff in identifying the desired record.

Adams County Birth and Death Records

As previously mentioned, the Adams County Clerk's Office preserves most vital records, including birth and death records, in the county. The County Clerk maintains birth and death certificates dating back to 1878. These records are considered confidential and only accessible by certain eligible persons. For instance, only individuals (or their legal representative) with a genealogical, personal, or proper interest in the record—such as the decedent's kin or individuals who can demonstrate a financial interest—can receive death records. Meanwhile, the following people are eligible to receive Adams County birth certificates:

• The registrant, provided they are 18 years of age or older
• A parent(s) named on the certificate
• A legal guardian (a court order stating guardianship is required)
• A legal representative of the person or their parent named on the birth certificate.

The record seeker must provide the following items and information when requesting Adams County birth records or death records from the County Clerk's Office.

• The requester's government-issued photo ID (Driver's License, State ID Card)

• Fees;

  • Birth certificates: $22.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for an additional copy.
  • Death certificates: $25.00 for the first copy and $16.00 for an additional copy.

• The certificate's information (used in identifying the requested record):

  • Birth certificates: the parent(s) full name, the child's full name, and the date and city of birth
  • Death certificates: decedent's name, date of death, and city of death.

Adams County Clerk's Office accepts in-person and mail-in requests for birth and death records. Record seekers can stop by the County Clerk's office from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, to request either record in person. Requesters should come along with the aforementioned required items (i.e., fees, ID, and certificate information). Mail-in requesters should utilize the County Clerk's Birth Certificate Request Form and Death Certificate Request Form. The appropriate request form should be completed and mailed with other required items (i.e., the requester's ID and fee payment via check made payable to the Adams County Clerk) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

507 Vermont St,
Quincy, IL

Interested persons can also conduct genealogy searches for birth records (70 years or older) and death records (20 years or older) through the County Clerk's office. Adam County birth and death records can also be ordered online on third-party websites. Illinois Department of Public Health also processes requests for Adam County birth records and death records.

Adams County Probate Court Records

In Adams County, probate cases are handled by the County Circuit Court. These include cases involving wills, decedent's estates, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. The circuit clerk is the record custodian of the County Circuit Court, so interested persons can query the circuit clerk for probate court records. Queries can be made over the phone at (217) 277-2100 or in person at the Circuit Clerk's office. Note that record seekers are usually required to supply details about the probate case, such as the party's name or case number, to aid in identifying the desired probate court record.

Adams County Property Records

The County Register of Deeds Office holds Most Adams County property records. Some examples of property records maintained by the county register include but are not limited to deeds, plat maps, mortgages, liens, and other encumbrances.

Fortunately, the County Register of Deeds Office offers different avenues for requesting property records, which the office preserves. Public terminals are available at the Register Office that record seekers can use to access property records electronically. Interested persons can visit the County Register of Deeds Office during regular working hours to use these public terminals. The office is located at:

507 Vermont St
Quincy, IL 62301
Phone: (217) 277-2126

Alternatively, netizens can use online resources provided on the Register of Deeds Office's Land Records Search page to search for property records online.

Adams County Court Records Online

Adams County court records are easily accessible online through Third-party online resources like illinoiscourtrecords.us. This website offers a user-friendly interface individuals can use to search for court records specific to Adams County and the entire state of Illinois. The only criteria needed to search this website is a party's name or case number. Due to their extensive search capabilities, these third-party websites can be a convenient one-stop option for any court records request. Note that third-party websites operated independently from government agencies. Hence, their court records may be incomplete or contain inaccurate information.