Marion County Genealogy Records

Marion County genealogy records are kept at the county clerk's office in Salem, the county seat in south-central Illinois. The clerk holds birth, death, marriage, and land records for the county. You can search Marion County genealogy records in person at the East Main Street courthouse, by phone at 618-548-3400, or by mailing a written request. Most birth and death records begin around 1877, which is when Illinois counties started recording vital events. Marriage and land records may go back further depending on when they were first filed in Marion County.

Marion County Clerk Vital Records

The Marion County Clerk and Recorder at 100 East Main, Salem, IL 62881 is the main office for genealogy records in the county. Call 618-548-3400 to ask about a record or start a request. The office holds marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, and land files. Like most Illinois counties, Marion County birth and death records begin around 1877. Marriage records may go back to the 1820s when the county was first organized.

If you plan to visit Salem in person, staff can help you look through the old index volumes. Bring the full name of the person you need and any dates you have. Even a rough year range helps narrow the search. The clerk's office is small compared to the big urban counties, which can work in your favor. Wait times tend to be shorter, and staff are often familiar with the local records because the volume of requests is lower. That said, call ahead to make sure the office is open since hours can vary.

For mail requests, send a letter to 100 East Main, Salem, IL 62881. Include the name and dates you are searching for, a check for the search fee payable to the Marion County Clerk, and a copy of your photo ID. The clerk will search the files and mail copies back if they find a match. Make sure you include a return address and phone number in case the office needs to reach you for more details.

Marion County Land and Property Records

Land records are an important genealogy source in Marion County. Deeds, mortgages, and property transfer documents can place your ancestor in a specific location at a specific time. This is especially useful for the period before 1877 when birth and death records did not exist at the county level. If your family owned or rented farmland in Marion County during the 1830s or 1840s, the deed books may be the only written proof of their presence.

The recorder's office in Salem keeps all property files. You can search them in person during business hours. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) protects these documents from disposal. County records with long-term research value must be preserved. The Illinois State Archives also holds public domain land sale records covering original purchases from the federal government. Those records are free to search in the State Archives online databases.

Note: Marion County land records at the recorder's office require an in-person visit or mail request for detailed searches.

Marion County Genealogy at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Marion County is at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. IRAD holds older Marion County government records that have been transferred from the Salem courthouse. This can include historical vital records, court case files, probate documents, naturalization papers, and other county records. Research at IRAD is free. Call (217) 581-6093 to ask what Marion County files they have and to check their current hours.

IRAD staff accept mail and phone requests. Each request is limited to two names. If you have more ancestors to search for in Marion County, plan a visit to the Charleston campus. You can photograph documents at no charge. Use the IRAD holdings database to look up what Marion County records are stored there before making the trip. The database is searchable by county name and record type.

The IDPH genealogy page covers state-level vital record requests. The Illinois Department of Public Health has birth and death records from January 1916 forward. Genealogy requests must go by mail only. Processing takes about 12 weeks. For Marion County records before 1916, the Salem clerk's office or IRAD at Eastern Illinois University are your best options since they hold the originals.

The Illinois State Archives in Springfield has free online databases that cover Marion County. You can search the statewide marriage index from 1763 to 1900 and death indexes covering the pre-1916 era and from 1916 to 1950. The Archives genealogy research guide explains how to use these tools step by step.

Marion County Vital Records Access

Marion County does not have its own online genealogy search tool. Record requests go through the clerk's office in Salem by phone, mail, or in person. For state-level access, the IDPH Division of Vital Records handles birth and death records from 1916 forward. You can visit the IDPH vital records main page for details on ordering copies.

The IDPH page lists fees, mailing addresses, and forms needed for each type of record. Genealogy copies of birth records cost $10 and must be requested by mail. The person's date of birth must be 75 or more years before the current date. Death records for genealogy are available when the death occurred 20 or more years ago. These rules come from the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535).

Marion County Genealogy Fees

Marion County vital record fees follow state guidelines. Contact the clerk at 618-548-3400 for the current fee schedule. In general, Illinois counties charge between $10 and $25 for a first copy of a birth or death certificate. Additional copies cost less. Genealogy copies are stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and cannot be used for legal purposes like getting a passport or proving identity.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs public records access in Illinois. Vital records, though, have their own rules under the Vital Records Act that take priority over general FOIA. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) names the county clerk as the legal keeper of marriage, birth, and death records. That makes the Salem office the authority for all Marion County vital record requests.

• IDPH genealogy birth copy: $10 by mail only
• IDPH death research copy: $10 by mail only
• Illinois State Archives in-person research: free
• IRAD at Eastern Illinois University: free research
• Contact Marion County Clerk for local fee amounts

Nearby Counties

These counties border Marion County in southern Illinois. Families often moved between counties, and records may have been filed in a neighboring county if your ancestor lived near a border. Check these counties if a Marion County search does not produce results.