Department · County Clerk & Recorder
County Clerk & Recorder
Vital records, deeds, marriage licenses, elections.
The Hamilton County Clerk & Recorder’s Office provides birth, death, and marriage certificates; issues marriage and civil-union licenses; records deeds, mortgages, releases, and military discharges; and maintains the county’s official land records. The office administers all elections — consolidated, primary, and general — and handles voter registration, vote-by-mail, early voting, and military and overseas voting. Delinquent property taxes are also handled here.
Marriage & civil-union licenses: applicants must arrive by 3:30 p.m., as the process takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Recordings: documents received after 3:30 p.m. are recorded on the next business day.
Who’s who in the office
Birth certificates
$20.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy. Bring a photo ID and complete an application in the office, or request remotely through Official Records Online. Copies can be issued to the person named (if 18 or older), a listed parent, a legal guardian, the person’s legal representative, an authorized agent with notarized permission, a state or federal agency, by court order, or for genealogical purposes once on file at least 75 years.
Death certificates
$26.00 for the first copy and $14.00 for each additional copy. Photo ID and an application are required, or request remotely through Official Records Online. Copies are issued to anyone with a genealogical, personal, or property-right interest (genealogical requests require the death on file at least 20 years), a state or federal agency, the estate’s administrator or executor, by court order, or to an accredited veterans’ organization (no charge).
Marriage certificates
$20.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy. Photo ID and an application are required, or request remotely through Official Records Online. Copies may be given to any individual providing pertinent information; genealogical requests require the marriage on file at least 50 years.
Marriage & civil-union licenses
$75.00, cash or check. Start the application online or in the office — both applicants must appear together at the Clerk’s office with a photo ID and a copy of their birth certificates. There is a one-day waiting period (unless waived by a judge); the license is valid for 60 days and must be used in Hamilton County. The signed license must be returned to the Clerk’s office within 10 days of the ceremony. Applicants under 18 require parental consent signed in the office.
Voter registration & elections
Check your voter registration status or request a vote-by-mail ballot electronically. Military and overseas voters can apply through the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Statewide forms and information are at the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Genealogy searches
Uncertified genealogical copies are $8.00 ($6.00 search fee for up to five searches, plus $2.00 per copy). Birth and death records begin in 1878 and marriage records date back to 1821. Records may be released for genealogy only once on file the required number of years — births 75+ years, deaths 20+ years, marriages 50+ years.
Online land-record search
Search recorded land records online, anytime, through Laredo Anywhere (subscription) or Tapestry (pay per search). Manage Laredo billing through the Laredo Connect portal. See the Links tab for the full list of portals.
Start a marriage, civil-union, or assumed-name application online, then finish at the Clerk's office.
Request certified vital-record copies remotely through Official Records Online.
Subscription land-record search for frequent users (deeds, mortgages, plats).
Manage your Laredo Anywhere subscription and billing.
On-demand, pay-per-search land-record access for occasional users.
Free alerts when a document is recorded against your name or property in Hamilton County.
Confirm your Illinois voter registration online.
Request a Hamilton County vote-by-mail ballot electronically.
Statewide election information and forms.
Federal voting application for military and overseas voters.
Illinois Department of Public Health — statewide birth, death, and other records.
Statewide public, land, and county records for research and genealogy.
Look up commissioned Illinois notaries public.
State tax forms, transfer declarations, and revenue information.
Who can get a copy of a birth certificate?
The person named (if 18 or older), a listed parent, a legal guardian, the person’s legal representative, an authorized agent with notarized permission, a state or federal agency, or anyone with a court order. Records on file 75+ years are available for genealogy.
How do I apply for a marriage license?
Both applicants must appear together at the Clerk’s office with a photo ID and a copy of their birth certificates. Arrive by 3:30 p.m. (the process takes about 30 minutes). There is a one-day waiting period; the $75 license is valid 60 days and must be used in Hamilton County.
How soon is my document recorded?
Documents received by 3:30 p.m. are recorded the same business day. Anything received after 3:30 p.m. is recorded the next business day.
How do I check my voter registration?
Use the “Check voter registration status” link in the Links tab, or contact the Clerk’s office. You can also request a vote-by-mail ballot through the Illinois State Board of Elections.
How far back do your genealogy records go?
Birth and death records begin in 1878; marriage records date to 1821 (1869–1872 are very limited). Genealogical copies require records on file 75+ years (births), 20+ years (deaths), or 50+ years (marriages).