Madison County People Search Records
Madison County people search records are held at several offices in Edwardsville, the county seat. With more than 260,000 residents, Madison County is one of the larger counties in the Metro East region of Illinois. The County Clerk, Circuit Court Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer all keep public records that can help you find details about a person. Court records, vital records, property files, and tax data are all searchable through these Madison County offices. Many records are free to look up online, and the offices in Edwardsville handle walk-in requests during normal business hours.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Court Records
The 3rd Judicial Circuit Court handles all cases filed in Madison County. This includes civil, criminal, family, and traffic matters. The Circuit Court building is at 155 N. Main St. in Edwardsville, and you can reach the court at (618) 296-6205. Case files are public record unless a judge has sealed them. If you want to look up a person through court records, this is where most of your results will come from in Madison County.
Court records are among the best tools for a Madison County people search. They show who has been involved in lawsuits, criminal cases, family matters, and small claims disputes. Each case file lists the parties by name, the type of case, filing dates, and the outcome. You can search by name to see all cases tied to a person in Madison County. This data goes back many years, and the court keeps both active and closed case files on record.
The Madison County government website is a good place to start looking for court and public records.
From this site you can find links to the circuit court, county offices, and other search tools that are useful for a people search in Madison County.
E-filing is now the standard in Madison County. Attorneys and self-represented parties file through the state portal at eFileIL. This system covers most case types. Paper filings are only accepted in a few situations. If you need to check on a case or get copies, the Circuit Clerk's office in Edwardsville can help. Walk in during business hours or call ahead to ask about a specific case in Madison County.
| Office | Madison County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
155 N. Main St. Edwardsville, IL 62025 |
| Phone | (618) 296-6205 |
| Judicial Circuit | 3rd Judicial Circuit |
Note: Some older case files in Madison County may only be on paper. For those records, you will need to visit the courthouse in person.
Madison County Vital Records
Vital records are a strong tool for a people search. The Madison County Clerk, Kristie Baumgartner, keeps birth, death, and marriage records at the county building. The office is at 157 N. Main St., Room 102, Edwardsville, IL 62025. You can call (618) 296-6218 to ask about records or check hours. These documents can help you confirm a name, date of birth, or marital status for someone in Madison County.
Fees for vital records in Madison County are set by the county. A birth certificate costs $15 for the first copy and $6 for each extra. Death certificates are $21 for the first copy and $11 for extras. A marriage license costs $50. You can get these records in person at the Edwardsville office. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Mail requests need a signed form and a copy of your ID. The County Clerk staff can walk you through the process if you call ahead.
Under the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), certain vital records have access rules. Birth records are only available to the person named, parents, legal guardians, or those with a court order. Death and marriage records are more open. For records older than 75 years for births, or 20 years for deaths and marriages, the rules are less strict. These older files are often available to anyone who asks.
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Southern Illinois University holds historical Madison County records. If you need very old vital records or court files, the IRAD collection may have what you are looking for. This is a free resource for genealogy and historical people searches in Madison County.
Property and Land Records in Madison County
Property records connect people to real addresses. The Madison County Recorder's Office keeps deeds, mortgages, liens, and other land documents. The Recorder is at 157 N. Main St., Room 134, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Call (618) 296-1530 for help with property records. The standard recording fee is $58 for most documents filed in Madison County.
You can search property records by owner name or by address. Deeds show who bought or sold a property. Mortgages show who has a loan on the home. Liens can show if someone owes money that is tied to their property. All of these records are public and available at the Recorder's office. Online access lets you search from home for many document types. If you need a physical copy, the Recorder's office can make one for you during business hours.
The Madison County Treasurer, Chris Slusser, handles property tax records. The Treasurer's office is at 157 N. Main St., Room 103, and you can call (618) 296-6201. Tax records show who pays the taxes on a property, which is a strong indicator of ownership. They also show the amount owed, payment history, and any past-due balances. Between the Recorder and the Treasurer, you can build a solid picture of someone's property ties in Madison County.
The Madison County Treasurer page gives you access to tax payment tools and property data.
Use this page to look up tax bills, check payment status, and find property ownership details in Madison County. The data is public and free to view online.
Madison County Sheriff and Inmate Records
The Madison County Sheriff, Jeff Connor, runs the county jail and keeps records on inmates. The Sheriff's Office is at 405 Randle St. in Edwardsville. You can call (618) 692-6087. Booking records typically include the person's name, date of birth, charges, bond amount, and mugshot. These details are public under Illinois law and can be a useful part of a Madison County people search.
The Madison County Sheriff website is where you can find jail and inmate info.
From this site you can look up current inmates, find contact info, and learn about the Sheriff's programs and services in Madison County.
For a broader search, the Illinois Department of Corrections runs an offender search tool that covers anyone in the state prison system. The VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system lets you track an offender's custody status and get alerts when it changes. The Illinois Sex Offender Registry at sor.isp.illinois.gov is another state tool that works for Madison County searches. These state-level databases add depth to a local people search.
Note: Inmate search results typically only show people currently in custody or recently booked at the Madison County jail.
How to Search Madison County Public Records
Madison County gives you several ways to look up people. Online tools are the fastest. Most county offices have free search portals on their websites. You can search from home at any time of day. In-person visits work best when you need certified copies or want to see a full case file. Some records are only on paper, especially older ones that have not been scanned yet.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives you the right to ask for public records from any government body in the state. Madison County agencies must respond within five business days. You can submit a FOIA request in writing, by email, or through an online form. There is no fee for the request itself. Agencies can charge for copies, but the first 50 pages of black and white copies are free under FOIA. After that, the cost is 15 cents per page.
Here are the main search tools for a Madison County people search:
- Circuit Court for case records and legal filings
- County Clerk for birth, death, and marriage records
- Recorder for deeds, mortgages, and land documents
- Treasurer for property tax payment data
- Sheriff for inmate and booking records
The Judici court search portal is another free tool. Many Illinois counties, including Madison, use Judici for online case lookups. You can search by name and see case details, hearing dates, and dispositions. This works well if you want a quick check before going to the courthouse in person.
Legal Rules for People Search in Madison County
Illinois law sets the rules for which records are public and how you can get them. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) is the main law. It says government records are open unless a specific exemption applies. You have the right to ask for records, and the agency must respond in five business days. Madison County offices follow this law.
Some records have limits. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) restricts who can get certified birth certificates. Court records are generally open, but juvenile cases, sealed records, and some family matters have access limits set by the court. The Sex Offender Registration Act (730 ILCS 150) requires convicted sex offenders to register with local law enforcement. That registry is public and searchable as part of a Madison County people search.
Note: If a FOIA request is denied, you can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor at no cost.
Nearby Counties
These counties sit near Madison County. If the person you are looking for may have lived in a nearby area, check those counties too. Court records and other public files are kept at the county level in Illinois, so you need to search the right county to find what you want.
Other nearby counties include Bond, Macoupin, Montgomery, and Jersey. All of these have their own court and record offices, but they do not have dedicated pages on this site. Their records are handled through the same types of county offices found in every Illinois county.