Fayette County Genealogy Lookup
Fayette County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Vandalia, a town in south-central Illinois that once served as the state capital. The clerk keeps marriage records from 1821, making Fayette County home to some of the earliest county-level records in the whole state. Birth and death files go back to 1877. Researchers tracing family lines through the Vandalia area will find a deep collection of vital records, land files, and court documents. If you are looking for Fayette County ancestors, the clerk's office and the IRAD depository at the University of Illinois Springfield are the two places to start.
Fayette County Genealogy Quick Facts
Fayette County Clerk Records Office
The Fayette County Clerk is at 221 S. 7th St, Rm 106, Vandalia, IL 62471. Call (618) 283-5000 for questions about vital records or genealogy research. This office is the primary source for birth, death, and marriage records in Fayette County. Birth and death records start from 1877. Marriage records go all the way back to 1821. That is one of the earliest marriage record collections in Illinois.
Fayette County has a clear fee schedule for genealogy work. A genealogy search costs $10 per name. Copies of records are $6 each. Death certificates run $35 for the first copy and $13 for each additional copy. Birth certificates cost $29 for the first and $9 for extras. These fees apply to both mail and in-person requests. For mail orders, send your check or money order along with the full name, dates, record type, and a copy of your photo ID. Make the check payable to the Fayette County Clerk.
The marriage records from 1821 are a standout feature of the Fayette County collection. Vandalia was the Illinois state capital from 1819 to 1839. During that era, many families passed through or settled in the area. A marriage record from the 1820s or 1830s can place an ancestor in Fayette County at a time when few other records exist. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) gives the clerk custody of all these vital files.
| Office | Fayette County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 221 S. 7th St, Rm 106 Vandalia, IL 62471 |
| Phone | (618) 283-5000 |
Fayette County Genealogy Fees
Fayette County posts its genealogy fees up front. Here is what you can expect to pay:
- Genealogy search: $10 per name
- Record copies: $6 each
- Death certificate: $35 first copy, $13 additional
- Birth certificate: $29 first copy, $9 additional
The search fee covers the staff time to look through the indexes for the name you provide. If the clerk finds a match, you then pay the copy fee on top of the search charge. For a mail request, it helps to be as specific as you can about dates. The more detail you give, the less time the staff spends searching, and the faster you get your result. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), genealogy copies are stamped as uncertified. They cannot be used for legal purposes. Birth records open after 75 years, death records after 20 years, and marriage records after 50 years.
Note: Fees may change, so call (618) 283-5000 to confirm current rates before you send payment.
Fayette County Records at IRAD
The IRAD depository that serves Fayette County is at the University of Illinois Springfield. Call (217) 206-6520 to reach the archives staff. IRAD holds older Fayette County government records that were moved out of the Vandalia courthouse for long-term preservation. These may include historical vital records, probate files, court records, naturalization papers, and other local government documents.
Research at IRAD is free. Walk-in visits let you browse the records and take photos at no charge. Staff also take mail and phone requests, but each one is limited to two names. The IRAD holdings database lets you search what Fayette County records are stored at the Springfield campus before you visit. Given that Fayette County has records from 1821, the IRAD collection could hold some very early documents that are no longer at the courthouse.
The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) created the IRAD system. It requires counties to send records with lasting value to the regional depository instead of destroying them. For Fayette County genealogy, that means early probate files, land records, and court documents may all be sitting at the Springfield campus waiting to be searched.
How to Search Fayette County Genealogy
Start at the clerk's office if you know the record is in Fayette County. The staff in Vandalia can search by name and approximate date. For records from 1916 forward, the Illinois Department of Public Health also holds statewide birth and death files. IDPH requests go by mail and take about 12 weeks. For Fayette County records before 1916, the local clerk or IRAD at UIS are where you need to look.
The IDPH vital records page explains how to request state-level birth and death records by mail.
The Vital Records Act sets the legal framework for all vital records access in Illinois, including Fayette County. It defines the time limits for genealogy copies and the rules that clerks must follow when handling requests.
The Illinois State Archives has free online databases that include Fayette County entries. The statewide marriage index covers 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover pre-1916 records. These tools let you search for Fayette County ancestors from home at no cost. Find a match, note the reference details, then order the full record from the clerk or IRAD.
Fayette County Record Access
The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) covers general public records in Illinois. But vital records follow the Vital Records Act, which takes priority over FOIA for birth, death, and marriage files. Recent records are limited to people with a direct legal interest. Once the time limits pass, anyone can get a genealogy copy for family research purposes.
Fayette County's early records give researchers a rare look at Illinois life before statehood was even a generation old. The 1821 marriage records capture the earliest days of organized settlement in this part of the state. Combined with the land records and court files from the same era, Fayette County is a strong source for anyone tracing ancestors in south-central Illinois.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Fayette County in south-central Illinois. Families often moved across county lines in this region. If you cannot find a record in Fayette County, one of these neighbors may have it.