Macon County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Macon County?

Public records in Macon County, Illinois, are defined under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act 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 currently maintained and accessible through various Macon County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Macon County Courthouse
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments are held by the Macon County Recorder's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage certificates are available through the Macon County Clerk's Office
Business records — assumed name filings, business licenses, and permits are processed through the County Clerk
Tax records — property tax assessments and parcel data are searchable through the county's online portal
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results are maintained by the County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of county board proceedings and committee meetings are publicly available
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are accessible through the county administration
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, may be requested through the Macon County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, permits, and variance decisions are maintained by the county's planning and zoning department

Is Macon County an Open Records County?

Macon County fully operates in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at 5 ILCS 140, which governs public access to government records throughout the state. Under § 140/1 of the Act, it is declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees. Each public body within Macon County, including the County Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff, and Circuit Court, is obligated to designate a FOIA officer responsible for receiving and responding to public records requests. The Macon County County Clerk currently publishes FOIA contact information and accepts written requests for records under its jurisdiction. Requests must be responded to within five business days of receipt, with a possible extension of five additional business days under qualifying circumstances, as provided by the Act.

How to Find Public Records in Macon County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Macon County records through several official channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office — Determine which county department maintains the record. Court records are held at the Macon County Courthouse; property and land records are with the Recorder's Office; vital records and election documents are with the County Clerk.
Submit a written FOIA request — Requests for records under the Illinois FOIA must be submitted in writing to the appropriate public body's designated FOIA officer. Written requests may be delivered in person, by mail, or by email where accepted.
Use online search tools — Property tax and parcel assessment data are currently searchable through the Macon County property tax parcel search portal without a formal request.
Visit the office in person — Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the relevant county office.
Request certified copies — For vital records such as birth and death certificates, certified copies may be requested in person at the County Clerk's Office or by mail with appropriate identification and applicable fees.

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

Current fees for public records in Macon County vary by record type and the office maintaining the documents. Under § 140/6 of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, public bodies may charge fees for copies of records but may not charge for the first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-sized copies. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Document copies — No charge for the first 50 pages of standard paper copies; a reasonable fee applies for pages beyond that threshold
Certified copies of vital records — Fees are set by the County Clerk's Office; birth and death certificates typically carry a per-copy fee established under state statute
Recorded document copies — The Recorder's Office charges per-page fees for copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments
Property tax records — Basic parcel searches are available at no cost through the online portal; certified or printed records may carry a nominal fee
Court record copies — The Circuit Clerk's Office assesses per-page copy fees consistent with Illinois Supreme Court Rules

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waiver provisions exist under the Illinois FOIA for requests made by news media or where disclosure is in the public interest and not primarily for commercial benefit.

Does Macon County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, which guarantees the right to inspect records without charge. The following government resources currently provide no-cost access to Macon County records:

Online property tax and parcel data — The Macon County property assessment and tax records portal allows searches by parcel number, owner name, address, or property use at no cost
In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect records at the Recorder's Office, County Clerk's Office, and Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours without paying a fee, provided no copies are requested
Recorded document index — The Recorder's Office maintains a publicly accessible index of all recorded instruments, which may be reviewed in person at no charge
Vital records information — General information regarding vital records availability is accessible through the county's official website

Who Can Request Public Records in Macon County?

Any person may request public records from Macon County offices under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Act does not require requestors to:

Be a resident of Illinois or Macon County
Provide government-issued identification for most standard requests
State the reason or purpose for the records request

Certain record types carry additional eligibility requirements. Certified copies of vital records, such as birth and death certificates, are restricted to individuals with a direct and tangible interest, including the subject of the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized government agencies. Requestors seeking their own records are generally subject to fewer restrictions than those seeking records pertaining to other individuals. Commercial requestors are subject to specific provisions under the Illinois FOIA that may affect response timelines and applicable fees.

What Records Are Confidential in Macon County?

Not all government records in Macon County are subject to public disclosure. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, at § 140/7, enumerates categories of information that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. The following record types are currently withheld from public access, in whole or in part:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse proceedings are confidential under Illinois law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Information that would interfere with active law enforcement proceedings is exempt
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to disclosure
Medical and health records — Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Maintained as confidential by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Personnel records — Employee performance evaluations and disciplinary records are exempt, with limited exceptions for final disciplinary actions
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government bodies under confidentiality agreements
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Withheld to protect public safety

When a public body determines that a record is partially exempt, it is required to redact only the exempt portions and release the remainder of the document.

Macon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Macon County Recorder's Office serves as the official repository for all recorded land documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related instruments. As noted on the Macon County Recorder's official page, all documents on file are considered public record, with the exception of military discharge records. Documents are indexed by document number upon recording and are available for public inspection during regular office hours.

Macon County Recorder's Office 141 South Main Street, Decatur, IL 62523 (217) 424-1364 Macon County Recorder

Macon County Clerk's Office 141 South Main Street, Room 104, Decatur, IL 62523 (217) 424-1366 Macon County County Clerk

Macon County Courthouse (Circuit Court) 253 E. Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523 (217) 425-7098 Public counter hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Macon County Courthouse