Tazewell County Genealogy

Tazewell County genealogy records reach back to the 1820s, with marriage records from 1827 and deed records from 1824. The county clerk and recorder office in Pekin is the central source for vital records, land documents, and other files that help trace family history in this part of central Illinois. Researchers can search land records online through the Tapestry system and look up court cases through a Tyler Technologies portal. For older records, the IRAD depository at Illinois State University in Normal holds historical Tazewell County government documents. Whether you search online or visit the clerk office in person, Tazewell County has deep records for genealogy work.

Tazewell County Clerk Genealogy Office

The Tazewell County Clerk and Recorder office is in the McKenzie Building at 11 S. 4th Street, Suite 203, Pekin, IL 61554. You can call them at (309) 477-2264. This office holds marriage records from 1827 and deed records from 1824. Those are among the earliest records in central Illinois. Birth and death records follow the standard Illinois pattern, with most starting around 1877 when the state began requiring registration. The clerk handles both vital records and land recording for Tazewell County, so one office covers a wide range of genealogy needs.

Tazewell County is part of the group of Illinois counties that use standard processes for vital records. Marriage licenses, birth certificates, and death records all go through the county clerk. For genealogy purposes, you can request copies by mail or in person. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get results, but the clerk staff can also process mail requests if you include the right forms and payment. Call ahead to confirm what they need for your specific request.

Tazewell County Online Record Search

Tazewell County offers two main online tools for searching records. The Tapestry system, run by Fidlar Technologies, handles land records. You can search deeds, mortgages, and other recorded documents going back through the county's history. Deed records start from 1824, which gives you more than 200 years of land transaction data. If your ancestor owned property in Tazewell County, the Tapestry system is where you look. Land records are useful for genealogy because they show when a family bought or sold property, and they list the names of both the buyer and the seller.

The Tyler Technologies court portal covers court case records for Tazewell County. You can search by name or case number to find probate files, divorce records, civil cases, and other court documents. Probate records are especially helpful for genealogy because they often list heirs, property, and family connections that vital records do not include. A probate case from the 1800s might name children, in-laws, and even distant relatives who had a claim on the estate.

The Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) sets the state rules for Tazewell County and all other Illinois counties. This law controls how the state handles vital records for genealogy.

The Vital Records Act defines the time periods after which records become available for genealogy research in Tazewell County and across the state.

Tazewell County Genealogy Access Rules

Illinois law sets clear rules for when vital records open up for genealogy use. Birth records become available when the date of birth is 75 or more years in the past. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records are available for genealogy after 50 years. These thresholds apply to all Tazewell County vital records held by the clerk. When you get a genealogy copy, it comes stamped as uncertified and is marked for genealogical purposes only.

Tazewell County follows the same fee structure as most Illinois counties, though exact amounts can vary. Check with the clerk office at (309) 477-2264 for the current fees before you send a payment. The state charges $10 for a genealogical copy from IDPH, but county fees may be higher or lower depending on the record type. Keep in mind that genealogy copies from the state must be ordered by mail. You cannot get them through VitalChek or online ordering.

• Birth genealogy copies: available if birth was 75+ years ago
• Death genealogy copies: available if death was 20+ years ago
• Marriage genealogy copies: available if marriage was 50+ years ago
• Deed records: public and available without time restrictions
• Court records: generally public under FOIA

Note: Contact the Tazewell County Clerk at (309) 477-2264 to confirm current fees and processing times before sending a request.

Tazewell County Records at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Tazewell County is at Illinois State University in Normal. Call (309) 452-6027 to ask what Tazewell County records they hold and to check their hours. IRAD stores older government records that the county no longer keeps at the courthouse. For Tazewell County, that can include early vital records, naturalization papers, probate files, court case files, coroner's inquest records, and voter registers. Research at IRAD is free and open to the public. They accept mail and phone requests, with a limit of two names per request.

The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) is the Illinois law that protects county records from being thrown out without proper review. Under this law, records must go through the IRAD preservation system before they can be discarded. This is what keeps older Tazewell County records safe at Illinois State University rather than lost to time. The IRAD holdings database on the Illinois State Archives website lets you search what is available before you make the trip to Normal.

State Resources for Tazewell County

The Illinois State Archives maintains free databases that include Tazewell County entries. The statewide marriage index covers 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover 1916 to 1972. Public domain land sale records reach back to the earliest land transactions in Illinois. These are all free to search online, and they can help you find Tazewell County ancestors who might not show up in the county clerk's own files.

The Illinois Department of Public Health holds statewide birth and death records from 1916 to the present. If the Tazewell County Clerk does not have the record you need, IDPH might. Genealogical requests to IDPH must be sent by mail and take about 12 weeks to process. The state fee for a genealogy copy is $10. You need a valid photo ID with every request and payment by check or money order made out to IDPH. For records before 1916, the county clerk or IRAD are your best bet.

In-person research at the Illinois State Archives in Springfield is free for Illinois residents. The Archives holds census records, military records, and county-specific indexes. Out-of-state researchers pay a $10 prepaid fee. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs public access to government records, though vital records have their own rules under the Vital Records Act that take priority over general FOIA access.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tazewell County. Families who lived near a county border may have filed records in a neighboring county. If you do not find a record in Tazewell County, try these.