Find Edgar County Genealogy

Edgar County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Paris, a small town on the eastern edge of Illinois near the Indiana border. The clerk keeps vital records going back to the 1820s, which puts Edgar County among the older record collections in the state. Birth and death files start around 1877, and marriage records reach all the way back to 1823 when the county was first formed. If you have family roots in the Paris area or the small farming towns throughout Edgar County, this is where to begin your search. The IRAD depository at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston also holds older government files from the county.

Edgar County Clerk Vital Records

The Edgar County Clerk is at 115 W. Court St, Paris, IL 61944. Call (217) 466-7433 for record questions. This is the main office for birth, death, marriage, and land records in Edgar County. The clerk staff can search their indexes by name and pull the record you need. Walk-in visits tend to be the quickest way to get copies.

Birth and death records at the Edgar County Clerk go back to about 1877. That lines up with the standard start date for most Illinois counties. Marriage records are much older. They start from 1823, the year Edgar County was created. Those early marriage files are a real asset for genealogy. In many cases, marriage records are the only county-level documents that exist for families living in Edgar County before the Civil War. Land records and court files from the same era may also survive, and the clerk holds those as well. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) names the clerk as custodian of these files.

For mail requests, send the full name, approximate dates, record type, your check, and a photo ID to the clerk's office. Edgar County is not a big county. About 17,000 people live here. The office handles fewer requests than the urban counties, so turnaround times are often shorter.

Note: Edgar County marriage records from 1823 are among the oldest in Illinois and a key resource for early genealogy research.

Edgar County Records at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Edgar County is at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Call (217) 581-6093 to reach the archives staff. IRAD holds historical Edgar County government records that were sent from the Paris courthouse for preservation. This includes older vital records, probate files, court records, and other local government documents that have lasting research value.

Research at IRAD is free. You can walk in, browse the records, and photograph what you find at no cost. Staff handle mail and phone requests as well, but they limit each request to two names. For larger research projects, a trip to the Charleston campus is the way to go. Check the IRAD holdings database before you visit so you know what Edgar County records are on site. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) is the law that created the IRAD system and keeps counties from throwing out records that still have value.

Probate records at IRAD are worth checking for Edgar County genealogy. A will or estate file can name every heir, describe property in detail, and list family relationships that vital records never mention. Court records and naturalization papers may also be in the collection.

Searching Edgar County Genealogy

The Illinois State Archives in Springfield has free online databases with Edgar County data. The statewide marriage index covers 1763 to 1900. Death indexes span pre-1916 records and a separate set runs from 1916 to 1950. You can search from home without spending a dime. If you get a hit, note the details and order the full record from the clerk in Paris or from IRAD.

For state-level records from 1916 forward, the Illinois Department of Public Health holds statewide birth and death files. IDPH requests go by mail and take about 12 weeks to come back. The state fee for a genealogy copy is $10. For Edgar County records before 1916, you need the local clerk or the IRAD at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

The Illinois State Archives databases page lets you search free statewide indexes from home.

The state death certificate ordering page covers records from 1916 onward. Edgar County records that predate 1916 must be pulled from the local clerk or the IRAD depository in Charleston.

Edgar County Genealogy Access Rules

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), Illinois sets firm time limits on when records open for genealogy. Birth records become available 75 years after the date of birth. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records are available after 50 years. These rules apply to all Edgar County vital records held by the clerk in Paris. Genealogy copies are stamped as uncertified and cannot be used for legal purposes.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) covers general public records access in the state. However, vital records follow their own rules under the Vital Records Act instead. If a record has not passed the time limit, only someone with a direct legal interest can get a copy. Once the time limit passes, anyone can request it for family research.

• Birth records: open after 75 years
• Death records: open after 20 years
• Marriage records: open after 50 years
• Genealogy copies: stamped uncertified
• Pre-1916 records: available only at county level

Nearby Counties

Edgar County sits on the eastern edge of Illinois along the Indiana state line. These counties border Edgar County. If your ancestor lived near a county line, their records could be in one of these areas instead.