St. Clair County Genealogy Records

St. Clair County genealogy records go back further than most places in Illinois. The county clerk in Belleville holds birth records from 1830, marriage records from 1807, and probate files from as far back as 1772. That gives researchers a deep well of data to pull from if your family tree runs through the Metro East region. You can search for vital records, court files, and land documents through the county clerk office or through state archives. The IRAD depository at Southern Illinois University also holds older St. Clair County government records that are free to look at in person.

St. Clair County Clerk Genealogy Office

The St. Clair County Clerk in Belleville is the main source for vital records and genealogy research in this county. Birth records here start in 1830. That is almost 50 years before most Illinois counties began keeping birth records. Marriage records date from 1807. Probate records reach all the way back to 1772, which is before Illinois was even a state. These early records make St. Clair County one of the best places for deep genealogy research in the whole state.

The clerk office sits at 10 Public Square in Belleville, IL 62220. Call them at (618) 277-6600 ext. 2380 for questions about record searches. One thing to know is that the St. Clair County Clerk does not take credit cards for record orders placed with the office. If you want to pay by card, you need to go through VitalChek, which is the state's approved online vendor. VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of the base record cost. For mail orders sent to the clerk, you will need a check or money order.

The county clerk handles certified and genealogical copies of vital records. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), birth records are open for genealogy use when the birth date is 75 or more years ago. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records become available for genealogy after 50 years. These rules apply to all St. Clair County genealogy records held by the clerk.

You can see the St. Clair County Clerk's main page below for details on how to reach them and what services they offer.

The clerk website shows contact details and links to vital record services for St. Clair County residents and researchers.

Note: St. Clair County does not accept credit card payments directly at the clerk office for vital record orders.

St. Clair County Historical Genealogy Records

St. Clair County was formed in 1790, making it one of the oldest counties in Illinois. Because of that long history, the genealogy records here cover a time span that few other Illinois counties can match. Probate records from 1772 are among the oldest local government records in the state. These files can include wills, estate inventories, guardianship papers, and court orders. For genealogy research, probate records often fill in gaps that vital records miss. A will might name children, in-laws, or property that helps you trace a family line further back.

Marriage records from 1807 are also a strong resource. Early marriage records in St. Clair County may show the names of both parties, their ages, and sometimes where they came from. If you are tracing ancestors who settled in the Illinois Territory before statehood, these records are some of the only documents that survive from that period. The county seat of Belleville has been the records hub since the early days, so most filings were done there.

St. Clair County Genealogy at IRAD

The Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) for St. Clair County is at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. This is the branch that serves 22 counties in southern Illinois, including St. Clair. IRAD holds older local government records that are no longer at the courthouse. You might find early birth and death records, old court files, naturalization papers, and more. Research at IRAD is free. You can call them at (618) 453-3040 to ask about their holdings before you visit.

The Illinois State Archives also has tools for St. Clair County genealogy. Their free online databases include the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index covering 1763 to 1900 and pre-1916 death indexes. You can search these from home. The State Archives building in Springfield is open for in-person research at no charge. Out-of-state researchers who want staff to do a look-up pay a $10 prepaid fee.

The IDPH genealogy page is another option if the birth or death you need falls after 1916. IDPH handles statewide vital records from that year forward. Genealogy copies from IDPH must be ordered by mail only and take about 12 weeks to process. Birth copies for genealogy cost $10. Death copies cost $10 as well.

Note: IRAD mail and phone requests are limited to two names per request for St. Clair County lookups.

Searching St. Clair County Genealogy Records

There are a few ways to search for genealogy records in St. Clair County. The most direct route is contacting the county clerk in Belleville. You can call, write, or visit in person. Give them the full name of the person and the approximate date of the event. The more details you have, the faster the search goes. For birth records before 1877, St. Clair County is one of the few places where those early files might still exist.

Online options are more limited for St. Clair County than for some larger counties. The county does not run its own searchable genealogy database. You will need to rely on VitalChek for ordering, or use the state-level databases at the Illinois State Archives. The IRAD holdings database lets you search what records have been transferred to Southern Illinois University for this county. That search is free and can save you a trip if the records you need are in Carbondale rather than Belleville.

Land records can also help your St. Clair County genealogy search. Deeds, mortgages, and plat records show where families lived and when they bought or sold property. The county recorder keeps these files. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) covers most government records, though vital records follow their own access rules under the Vital Records Act.

St. Clair County Record Fees

St. Clair County charges standard Illinois fees for vital record copies. County fees vary slightly across Illinois, but most follow a similar range. Genealogy copies of birth records are stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and are not certified. If you order through VitalChek, expect a processing fee of around $13 to $15 on top of the county charge.

For those ordering from the state, IDPH charges $10 for a genealogical birth record and $10 for a genealogical death record. Payment goes by check or money order made out to "IDPH." Under the Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205), county records must be preserved and cannot be destroyed without proper authorization. This law is why so many old St. Clair County records still exist today.

Cities in St. Clair County

St. Clair County includes Belleville, East St. Louis, O'Fallon, and several smaller communities. All rely on the St. Clair County Clerk for vital records. No cities in St. Clair County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated page, but the county clerk office in Belleville serves all of them.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Clair County. If your ancestor lived near a county line, their records may be filed in a neighboring county. Check these areas if you cannot find what you need in St. Clair.