Montgomery County Genealogy Search

Montgomery County genealogy records go back to 1822, when the first land files were recorded in this part of central Illinois. The county clerk in Hillsboro holds birth, death, marriage, and land records that cover nearly two hundred years of local history. You can search Montgomery County genealogy records in person at the courthouse, by phone at 217-532-9530, or through a mail request. Land records are the oldest files here, starting in 1822. Birth and death records begin around 1877, matching the statewide requirement. Researchers who need older documents can also check IRAD at the University of Illinois Springfield.

Montgomery County Clerk Vital Records

The Montgomery County Clerk and Recorder at #1 Courthouse Square, Rm 102, Hillsboro, IL 62049 is the office for genealogy records. Call 217-532-9530 to ask about a record or start a request. The office keeps marriage licenses, birth certificates, death certificates, and land documents. Birth and death records begin around 1877. Marriage records likely go back to the county's early years in the 1820s.

Hillsboro is a small county seat. That works in your favor when it comes to genealogy research. The clerk's staff handle a lower volume of requests than the big urban counties, so they can often spend more time on each search. Walk-in visitors can look through the old index volumes with staff help. If you know the full name and an approximate year, that is usually enough to find a record in the books. Call before you visit to make sure the office is open during regular hours.

Montgomery County vital records cost $19 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy. These are the certified copy fees. Genealogy copies, which are marked as being for research only, may cost less. Send mail requests to #1 Courthouse Square, Rm 102, Hillsboro, IL 62049 with a check payable to the Montgomery County Clerk. Include your photo ID and a note explaining what you need.

Montgomery County Land Records

Montgomery County land records start in 1822. These are the oldest files in the county, predating birth and death records by more than 50 years. Deeds, mortgages, and plat maps show who owned land, when they got it, and where it was. For genealogy, these files are critical if you need to prove your ancestor lived in Montgomery County before 1877.

The recorder's office in Hillsboro keeps all property records. You can search them in person at the courthouse. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) requires counties to preserve records with lasting research value. That law is the reason deed books from the 1820s still sit on the shelves at the Hillsboro courthouse instead of being thrown away. The Illinois State Archives also holds public domain land sale records from the federal government. Those are free to search in the State Archives online databases and can help trace early Montgomery County land owners.

Note: Montgomery County land records from 1822 are among the oldest county-level files in this part of Illinois.

Montgomery County Genealogy at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Montgomery County is at the University of Illinois Springfield. IRAD holds older county government records that have been transferred from the Hillsboro courthouse over the years. This includes historical vital records, court files, probate cases, naturalization papers, and other county documents. Research at IRAD is free. Call (217) 206-6520 to find out what Montgomery County records are on file and what hours the reading room keeps.

IRAD staff accept phone and mail requests. Each request is capped at two names. If you have a longer list of Montgomery County ancestors to track down, a trip to Springfield is the better option. You can photograph documents at no charge. The IRAD holdings database is searchable online by county name and record type, so check it before making the drive.

The Illinois State Archives genealogy research guide covers how to use the free online databases in Springfield. The statewide marriage index goes from 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover the pre-1916 period and 1916 to 1950. These tools are useful for finding Montgomery County records from home without visiting Hillsboro or Springfield.

Montgomery County Vital Records Access

Montgomery County does not offer an online genealogy search tool. Record requests go through the Hillsboro clerk's office by phone, mail, or walk-in. At the state level, the IDPH Division of Vital Records handles birth and death records from 1916 forward. The birth certificate ordering page shows the steps for requesting copies.

The IDPH process for genealogy copies is mail-only. You cannot order genealogy copies online, by fax, or through VitalChek. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), a genealogy birth copy is available when the birth date is 75 or more years ago. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records are available after 50 years. IDPH processing takes about 12 weeks. For Montgomery County records before 1916, the Hillsboro clerk has the originals and is typically much faster.

Montgomery County Genealogy Fees

Montgomery County charges $19 for the first copy of a vital record and $6 for each additional copy. These are the standard certified copy rates. Genealogy copies may carry a different fee, so call 217-532-9530 for the latest amounts. In general, genealogy copies cost less than certified copies because they are for research purposes only.

At the state level, IDPH charges $10 for a genealogy birth copy and $10 for a death research copy. Both must be sent by mail to Springfield. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) covers public records access across Illinois. But vital records follow their own rules under the Vital Records Act, which takes priority over general FOIA requests. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) designates the county clerk as the legal custodian of birth, death, and marriage records. For Montgomery County, the Hillsboro office is the authority on all local vital record requests.

• Montgomery County vital record: $19 first copy, $6 additional
• 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 U of IL Springfield: free research

Nearby Counties

These counties surround Montgomery County. Families in this region moved across county lines often. If you can't locate a record in Montgomery County, try the neighboring counties. Your ancestor may have filed a marriage or deed just over the border.