Marion County Court Records

Court cases begin when people file civil disputes or law enforcement files criminal charges against offenders. When a case is filed, the Marion County Circuit Clerk creates a court record that will serve as official documentation of the case, detailing every current and future event and action that shall take place.

Marion County court records typically include various documents, such as exhibits, petitions, orders, judgments, subpoenas, and writs. The preservation of these records is mandated by law, as they serve vital judicial and public purposes.

Are Court Records Public in Marion County?

Yes. Marion County court records are subject to the provisions of The Local Records Act (5 ILCS 105/16 Ch. 25, par. 16). Under this law, these records are deemed public records, implying that they can be inspected, examined, or copied by interested members of the public for free. This law permits circuit clerks to charge certain statutory fees to cover any costs involved in retrieving or reproducing any requested record.

However, the clerk may restrict access to certain court records for privacy or security reasons or when their disclosure violates the provisions of other state laws. Some exemptions include:

• Sensitive information about case participants or witnesses, e.g., social security numbers
• Identifying information about juveniles or confidential information
• Confidential attorney-client communications
• Case information about mental health proceedings
• Sealed or expunged court, arrest, or criminal history records.

Marion County Court Records Search

People looking to find records on a particular court case must have the case number and names of case participants. With these details, proceed to search for the records using any of the following methods:

• In person at the circuit clerk’s office
• Online via the circuit clerk’s record search tool
• Third-party websites.

Marion County Courts

Marion County has a single courthouse—the Marion County Circuit Court. This court has general jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases and can be contacted at:

100 East Main Street
Salem, IL 62881
Phone: (618) 548-3855 (Civil)
Phone: (618) 548-3856 (Criminal)
Fax: (618) 548-8506 (Civil)
Fax: (618) 740-0118 (Criminal).

Marion County Criminal and Civil Records

Marion County criminal court records are created when a person is arraigned for misdemeanor or felony charges. On the other hand, civil records are those related to civil disputes, such as probate, family, and personal injury cases.

The Marion County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of court records for the county. This office is equally responsible for public searches for both civil and criminal cases filed in the Marion County Courthouse. To retrieve records about a particular case, a person needs to have the case number, party names, and order information that may aid the identification of the sought record.

Records maintained by this office are available online and physically at the office location. Interested parties should channel their record inquiry to:

Marion County Courthouse
100 East Main Street
Salem, IL 62881
Phone: (618) 548-3856
Fax: (618) 740-0118

Marion County Marriage Records

Marriage records are the responsibility of the Marion County Circuit Clerk, who keeps them and makes them available for inspection by interested eligible parties. However, Marion County marriage records are not entirely public. People looking to verify a marriage occurred can do so at the vital records division of the state’s public health department.

This service costs $5 and can be done by fax, mail, or in person. Information obtainable through this service includes the names of the marriage participants, their dates of birth, the date of the marriage, and the city/county where the marriage happened.

Marion County Divorce Records

Divorce records contain important information about divorces and other kinds of marriage dissolutions in Marion County. The circuit clerk maintains these records, which interested persons can obtain through any of the methods offered by this office.

Marion County Birth Records

The Division of Vital Records, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), maintains Marion County birth records. Birth records in Illinois are closed to the public and may only be released to an adult person named on the record, the registrant’s parents as shown on the record, or the legal representative of the registrant. Records maintained by the IDPH can be ordered online or requested from:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue 2737
Springfield, IL 62702.

Each Marion County birth certificate obtained from this office costs between $10 to $15, while additional copies cost $2 each (plus handling and UPS fees for online orders). Alternatively, one may query the Marion County Clerk for these records or information on how to obtain them.

Marion County Death Records

The Vital Records Division of the Illinois Department of Public Health maintains Marion County death records. Death records are not public and can only be released to persons with a property or personal right interest in the deceased person. Eligible parties can request records or death certificate copies by completing the Application for Search of Death Record Files and sending it alongside a valid photo identification by mail to the IDPH.

Record seekers can order records from this office online using the VitalChek Network. To search for death records created between 1916 and 1972, visit the Illinois Secretary of State’s website. To perform a search, one must know the first and last name of the decedent. This office also maintains a database of death records created before 1916.

Marion County Probate Court Records

Probate cases are heard in the Marion County Circuit Court, as the county does not have a dedicated probate court. They are civil proceedings related to estate administration, guardianship, will contests, name changes, conservatorship, mental health commitment, and adoption.

While probate court cases are generally considered public, many probate case files are confidential, especially those related to mental health proceedings and adoption. The Circuit Clerk handles all case record requests and can be contacted at its office location. Record seekers can also peruse the clerk’s online search system.

Marion County Property Records

Property records contain information about real property located in Marion County. They consist of various documents and are managed by different agencies—mainly the County Clerk and Recorder and the Marion County Supervisor of Assessments—each specializing in distinct functions and record types.

For instance, the Marion County Supervisor of Assessments office handles records related to property sales, transfer of ownership, and property assessment. Additionally, people can view aerial maps of properties at this office. For inquiries, contact the supervisor’s office at:

100 East Main Street, Room 101
Salem, IL 62881
Phone: (618) 548-3853
Fax: (618) 548-6509
Email: saoffice@marionco.illinois.gov.

Marion County Court Records Online

Many public records, including court records, are available online. People prefer this option due to the ease and speed at which they can access information about multiple cases in several jurisdictions. While most court clerks maintain online repositories, third-party websites like illinoiscourtrecords.us also exist to complete record access.

Online researchers do not necessarily need to know the courthouse that heard a particular court case, provided they know the names of case participants and the case number, which are the required search parameters on most sites. In any case, online resources are provided for informational purposes and may contain incomplete records. As such, records required for official use should only be obtained from the court clerk.