Cass County Genealogy Search
Cass County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Virginia, Illinois, a small county seat in the central part of the state not far from Springfield. The clerk at 100 E. Springfield St manages marriage licenses, birth and death registers, land records, and other vital documents. Cass County has about 12,000 residents and sits along the Illinois River, which played a big role in how families settled this area. The IRAD depository at the University of Illinois Springfield preserves older Cass County government documents. Researchers looking for family records in this part of Illinois will find useful resources at both the local courthouse and through the state archives system.
Cass County Genealogy Quick Facts
Cass County Clerk Genealogy Records
The Cass County Clerk is at 100 E. Springfield St in Virginia, IL 62691. Call (217) 452-7217 for questions about records. This office holds marriage licenses, birth and death records, and land documents for the county. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) designates the county clerk as the legal custodian of these records. Cass County was formed in 1837, so the earliest files may go back close to 190 years.
Marriage records are the strongest early documents for Cass County genealogy. They were kept consistently from the county's formation and list names, dates, and often ages and places of residence. Birth and death records from the late 1870s may exist in the clerk's files, but coverage before 1916 was not consistent across Illinois. After 1916, statewide registration made birth and death recording much more reliable in Cass County and everywhere else in the state.
Walk-in visits to the Virginia courthouse are the fastest way to get Cass County records. Staff can search the indexes while you wait. Mail requests also work. Send the full name, date range, record type you need, your payment, and a photo ID copy. Make checks payable to the Cass County Clerk.
| Office | Cass County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 E. Springfield St Virginia, IL 62691 |
| Phone | (217) 452-7217 |
Cass County Birth and Death Records
The Illinois Department of Public Health holds statewide birth and death records from 1916 forward. IDPH handles genealogy requests by mail only. The cost is $10 per genealogy copy, and processing takes about 12 weeks. For Cass County records before 1916, the county clerk in Virginia or IRAD at UIS are your primary sources since the state did not keep centralized files that far back.
The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) sets the access windows for all Illinois vital records. Birth records open for genealogy after 75 years. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records open after 50 years. For Cass County, that means every record from the 1800s and most from the early 1900s are fully available for research purposes.
The birth certificate ordering page below shows how the state handles vital record requests that include Cass County births.
Genealogy copies carry a stamp marking them for research only. They are not valid for legal identification purposes. If you need a certified copy for court or government use, different rules and fees apply through the Cass County Clerk or IDPH.
Note: IDPH genealogy requests take about 12 weeks and cost $10 per copy for Cass County records.
Cass County Records at IRAD
The IRAD depository for Cass County is at the University of Illinois Springfield. Call (217) 206-6520 to ask about Cass County holdings. IRAD preserves older county government records that have been transferred from the courthouse in Virginia. These can include historical vital records, court case files, probate records, naturalization papers, and early voter lists. Research at IRAD is free. You can photograph documents at no cost. Staff accept phone and mail requests but limit each to two names per inquiry.
The IRAD holdings database lets you check what Cass County records exist at UIS before making the trip to Springfield. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) created the IRAD system to make sure county records with lasting historical value get preserved rather than discarded. For Cass County, IRAD at UIS may hold records the Virginia courthouse no longer has space to store, including old naturalization files from immigrants who settled along the Illinois River in the 1800s.
Searching Cass County Genealogy Online
The Illinois State Archives in Springfield has free online databases covering Cass County. The statewide marriage index runs from 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover the pre-1916 period and 1916 to 1950. Use these to find names and dates, then contact the Cass County Clerk or IRAD for the original documents.
Cass County court records offer another path for genealogy. Divorce files, estate cases, guardianship records, and land disputes all list family members and show how people were related. The circuit clerk in Virginia handles court records separately from the county clerk. Some older Cass County court files may have been sent to IRAD at UIS. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) applies to public records in Cass County, but vital records follow their own access rules under the Vital Records Act.
The Vital Records Act shown above sets the time limits for when Cass County birth, death, and marriage records become available for genealogy research. Recent records remain restricted to eligible applicants only.
- State Archives marriage index: 1763 to 1900
- State Archives death index: pre-1916 and 1916-1950
- IRAD at UIS: free research, two-name limit by mail
- IDPH genealogy copy: $10 by mail, about 12 weeks
- Cass County Clerk: walk-in or mail requests in Virginia
Nearby Counties
Cass County is in central Illinois along the Illinois River. Families in this area moved between neighboring counties frequently. If your Cass County genealogy search stalls, check these surrounding counties.