null

How to Find Public Records in Randolph County in 2026

RandolphRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Randolph County, Illinois. Members of the public seeking official documentation may find records pertaining to court proceedings, property ownership, vital statistics, tax assessments, and other government-generated documents through the county's official offices and online portals. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the document, and applicable state law.

Records in Randolph County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.

Online Access:

The Randolph County, Illinois official website provides access to departmental information, public filings, and links to online databases maintained by county offices.
The County Clerk & Recorder's office maintains land records, tax extensions, and public filings accessible through the county portal.
The Illinois Department of Corrections provides an individual in custody search tool for locating persons currently held in state correctional facilities.
The Illinois State Police Offender Registry allows members of the public to search for registered sex offenders and violent offenders against youth statewide, including those residing in Randolph County.
No registration is required to access most publicly available online databases maintained by county or state agencies.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Randolph County Courthouse at 1 W. Taylor Street, Chester, IL 62233, to inspect records in person. The Circuit Clerk's office and the County Clerk & Recorder's office are both located within the courthouse. Public counter hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Requesters should identify the specific record type sought and the relevant time period when presenting a request at the counter.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate office at 1 W. Taylor Street, Chester, IL 62233. Requests should include the requester's full name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the relevant party names or dates. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, public bodies are required to respond to written requests within five business days of receipt.

Phone/Email:

Randolph County Courthouse main line: (618) 826-5000
Specific departmental contact information is available through the Randolph County official website.

The FOIA Request Form is available on the county website and may be submitted directly to the relevant public body.

What Are Public Records in Randolph County?

Public records in Randolph County are defined under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS § 140/2) as all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body.

The following categories of records are maintained by Randolph County government offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records	Circuit Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens	County Clerk & Recorder
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce)	County Clerk & Recorder / IDPH
Tax assessment and extension records	County Clerk & Recorder
Voting and election records	County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Clerk
Budget and financial documents	County offices
Land use and zoning records	County offices
Inmate and offender records	IDOC / Illinois State Police

Birth certificates for events occurring in Randolph County may be obtained through the Illinois Department of Public Health, which maintains statewide vital records. The Randolph County Courthouse serves the 24th Judicial Circuit within the 5th Circuit District of Illinois.

Is Randolph County an Open Records County?

Randolph County fully complies with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at 5 ILCS § 140/1 et seq., which governs public access to government records throughout the state. Under this statute, all public bodies in Illinois — including county offices, boards, and agencies — are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request, subject to enumerated exemptions.

The Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor has stated that "the people of Illinois have a fundamental right to know how their government operates," reflecting the legislative intent underlying the state's open records framework. The Act establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that any record not specifically exempted by statute is subject to disclosure.

Randolph County maintains a dedicated FOIA portal through which members of the public may submit formal requests to any county department. Each public body within the county designates a FOIA officer responsible for processing requests and issuing timely responses. The county's FOIA policy directs requesters to retain a copy of any submitted request for their own records.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Randolph County?

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act establishes the fee structure applicable to public records requests submitted to Randolph County offices. Under 5 ILCS § 140/6, public bodies may charge fees for reproducing records but may not charge for the first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-sized copies.

Fee Category	Standard Amount
First 50 pages (black & white, letter/legal)	No charge
Pages beyond the first 50	$0.15 per page (statutory maximum)
Color copies or non-standard sizes	Actual cost of reproduction
Certification of records	Varies by office
Electronic format	No charge if already maintained electronically
Search fees	Not permitted under state law

Accepted payment methods at Randolph County offices include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office. Fee waivers are available when the requester demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest and that the primary purpose of the request is not commercial. The Forms & Publications page maintained by the Circuit Clerk provides additional guidance on fees associated with court record copies.

Does Randolph County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to any member of the public at Randolph County offices during regular business hours. Under state law, public bodies are required to permit inspection of non-exempt records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to public records:

The Randolph County official website provides free access to departmental information, public meeting schedules, and certain government documents.
The Illinois State Police Offender Registry is freely accessible online and includes the Sex Offender Registry, the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry, and the Missing Sex Offenders List.
The individual in custody search tool maintained by the Illinois Department of Corrections is available at no cost.
Court expungement and sealing forms are available at no charge through the Illinois Courts standardized forms portal.
Inspection of land records, tax records, and public filings at the County Clerk & Recorder's office is available without charge during public counter hours.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may review records in person at no cost, while requests for physical or electronic copies may be subject to the fee schedule described above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Randolph County?

Any person may request public records from Randolph County government offices under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The Act does not restrict access to Illinois residents; non-residents retain the same right of access as county or state residents. Requesters are not required to state the purpose of their request as a condition of access, and public bodies may not deny a request solely because the requester declines to provide a reason.

Requesters are not required to provide identification to inspect most public records, though identification may be required for certain restricted record categories, such as vital records, where the requester must demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the subject of the record. The Illinois Department of Public Health specifies that birth certificate requests require the requester to complete the Application for Search of Birth Record Files and provide documentation of eligibility.

Individuals requesting their own records — such as personal court records or criminal history — follow the same general process as third-party requesters, though additional verification of identity may be required. Persons seeking to expunge or seal their own criminal records may access standardized petition forms through the Illinois Courts expungement and sealing portal.

What Records Are Confidential in Randolph County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Randolph County offices are exempt from public disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and related statutes. The Act, at 5 ILCS § 140/7, enumerates specific exemptions that public bodies may invoke to withhold records or portions of records from disclosure.

Records that are currently exempt from public disclosure include:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public; the Circuit Clerk's office administers access restrictions on sealed files.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse proceedings are confidential under the Juvenile Court Act.
Ongoing law enforcement investigation records — Records that would interfere with a pending or reasonably contemplated investigation are exempt.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical and health records — Records protected under HIPAA and state health privacy laws are not subject to public disclosure.
Adoption records — Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are confidential.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies in confidence is protected.
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Documents describing vulnerabilities in public facilities or security systems are withheld.

The Illinois Attorney General has noted that "the exemptions in FOIA are to be read narrowly," meaning that public bodies bear the burden of demonstrating that a specific exemption applies before withholding any record. When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to redact the exempt portions and disclose the remainder.

Randolph County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Randolph County Clerk and Recorder

Physical Address: 1 W. Taylor Street Chester, IL 62233

Phone: (618) 826-5000 Website: Randolph County Clerk & Recorder

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Closed on courthouse holidays; holiday schedule is posted on the county website.

Additional Offices:

Randolph County Circuit Clerk 1 W. Taylor Street Chester, IL 62233 (618) 826-5000 Circuit Clerk – Randolph County

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The Circuit Clerk maintains all court records for the 24th Judicial Circuit, including civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files. Members of the public may access court forms and publications through the Circuit Clerk's online portal. The Randolph County Courthouse is part of Circuit District 5 of the Illinois court system.

Illinois Department of Public Health – Division of Vital Records 925 E. Ridgely Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 (217) 782-6553 Obtain a Birth Certificate – IDPH