Access Adams County Genealogy

Adams County genealogy records include marriage files dating back to 1825, making them some of the oldest county records in Illinois. The county seat is Quincy, where the clerk holds vital records and the circuit court keeps probate and case files. Birth records start in 1878 and death records are also on file. A fire on December 9, 1835 destroyed some early records, so there are gaps in certain collections from the earliest years. You can search Adams County records at the clerk office in person or by mail. Older files sit at the IRAD at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Adams County is in the western part of the state along the Mississippi River, and its long record history makes it a valuable stop for genealogy researchers.

Adams County Clerk Vital Records

The Adams County Clerk is at 507 Vermont St, Quincy, IL 62301. Call 217-277-2158 for record inquiries or email vitalrecords@adamscountyil.gov. Birth records go back to 1878. Marriage records start in 1825. Those early marriage files are among the oldest in any Illinois county. The clerk handles birth, death, and marriage records for all of Adams County.

Adams County has a fee structure that sets it apart from many other counties. The search fee is $4 for the first record, which covers a five-year search window. Each additional year beyond that five-year span costs $1 more. Birth certificates cost $22 for the first copy and $10 for extras. Death records are $25 for the first and $16 for each additional. Marriage records run $25 for the first copy and $15 for each one after that. These fees apply to mail and in-person requests.

But here is the key detail for genealogy researchers: if you visit the Adams County Clerk in person and do your own research, the search fees are waived. That means you can walk in, look through the indexes yourself, and only pay for the copies you need. This is a real advantage if you are searching for several names or are not sure of exact dates. Mail requests still carry the full search fee. So if you can make the trip to Quincy, it will save you money.

Note: The December 9, 1835 fire at the Adams County courthouse destroyed some of the earliest records on file.

Adams County Genealogy Record Fees

Adams County uses a tiered fee structure. The costs break down as follows:

• Search fee: $4 for the first record (5-year search), $1 per additional year
• Birth certificate: $22 first copy, $10 each additional
• Death certificate: $25 first copy, $16 each additional
• Marriage record: $25 first copy, $15 each additional
• In-person self-research: search fees waived

The in-person waiver is the standout feature of Adams County's fee schedule. Most Illinois counties charge the same fees whether you visit in person or mail in a request. Adams County rewards you for doing the legwork. If you plan to search multiple names or you are not sure what year a record was filed, going in person saves real money. For a mail request, send a check or money order to 507 Vermont St, Quincy, IL 62301. Make it payable to the Adams County Clerk.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), genealogy copies of birth records are available when the birth date is 75 or more years ago. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records become available after 50 years. Copies pulled for genealogy get stamped as uncertified.

Adams County 1835 Fire and Record Gaps

The fire of December 9, 1835 is an important fact for anyone doing genealogy in Adams County. The fire destroyed the courthouse and some of the records inside. The full extent of the loss depends on the record type. Marriage records from the 1825 to 1835 period may have gaps. Other court records and land files from those early years may also be missing or incomplete.

If you are looking for Adams County records from the 1825 to 1835 period, be prepared for the possibility that they do not exist. In some cases, copies or duplicates survived because they were stored somewhere else. Church records from Quincy and surrounding communities can sometimes fill in what the county lost. Census records from 1830 also help piece together family information from that era. The Illinois State Archives may hold fragments or related documents that survived the fire. It is worth checking their free online databases for any Adams County data from that time.

Adams County Records at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Adams County is at Western Illinois University in Macomb. WIU covers Adams County along with several neighboring counties in western Illinois including Hancock, Pike, Brown, and Schuyler. Research at IRAD is free. Call (309) 298-2716 to check hours or ask about Adams County holdings before you visit.

IRAD holds older Adams County government records that have been moved out of the courthouse for long-term storage. These include early vital records, court files, probate cases, and other local government documents. The IRAD holdings database lets you search what Adams County records are at WIU. Mail and phone requests are accepted but limited to two names per request. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) created the IRAD system and requires records with long-term research value to be preserved.

The IDPH death certificate ordering page at dph.illinois.gov shows how to request statewide records from 1916 forward.

For state-level records, the Illinois Department of Public Health has birth and death files from 1916 to the present. Genealogy copies cost $10 by mail and take about 12 weeks. You cannot order genealogy copies online. For Adams County records before 1916, the county clerk or IRAD is where you need to look.

Searching Adams County Genealogy Records

The Illinois State Archives in Springfield has statewide indexes with Adams County data. Their free online databases include the statewide marriage index from 1763 to 1900 and death indexes for several periods. Public domain land sale records are also in the database. If your ancestor bought land from the federal government in Adams County, the land sale search will show that entry. All of these searches are free.

For in-person research, the Adams County offices are at the courthouse in Quincy. The clerk handles vital records. The circuit court handles probate, divorce, and other case files. Probate records are strong genealogy tools for Adams County. A will names heirs and describes property. An estate file can include debts, inventories, and the names of all beneficiaries. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) defines the clerk's duties as custodian of vital records. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) covers general public records access, but vital records follow the Vital Records Act instead.

Nearby Counties

Adams County is in western Illinois along the Mississippi River. These counties border Adams County. If your ancestor lived near a county line, their records may have been filed next door. Check the neighboring counties if you cannot find what you need in Adams County.