Effingham County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Effingham County?

Public records in Effingham County are defined under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at 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.

Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of the following record types maintained by Effingham County offices:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files maintained by the Effingham County Circuit Clerk
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and recorded instruments maintained by the County Recorder's Office
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage certificates maintained by the Effingham County Clerk; vital records requests are processed through that office
Business records — assumed business name filings, licenses, and permits maintained by the County Clerk
Tax records — property tax bills, assessment records, and payment histories maintained by the County Treasurer and Supervisor of Assessments
Voting and election records — voter registration rolls, election results, and precinct maps maintained by the County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Board meeting minutes, committee agendas, and resolutions maintained by the County Clerk
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, appropriation ordinances, and audit reports maintained by the County Auditor
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, maintained by the Effingham County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and permit records maintained by the County Zoning Office

Is Effingham County an Open Records County?

Effingham County fully complies with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Under 5 ILCS 140/1, the General Assembly declared 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. This statute establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure, placing the burden on the public body to justify any denial of access.

Key provisions of the Act currently in force include:

Public bodies must respond to a written FOIA request within five business days of receipt, with a possible five-business-day extension under specified circumstances.
Denial of a request must be made in writing and must cite the specific statutory exemption relied upon.
Requestors who believe a denial is improper may file a Request for Review with the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor at no cost.

Effingham County public bodies, including the County Board, Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and all other county agencies, are subject to these requirements. The county does not maintain a separate local open records ordinance; state law governs all access requests uniformly.

How to Find Public Records in Effingham County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Effingham County public records through several channels currently available:

Submit a written FOIA request — Prepare a written request identifying the records sought with reasonable specificity. Address the request to the FOIA Officer of the specific county office that maintains the records. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email where an electronic address is published.
Visit the appropriate office in person — Many records are available for immediate inspection during regular business hours without a formal written request. The County Clerk, Recorder, and Circuit Clerk offices maintain public counters for walk-in access.
Search online portals — The Effingham County Courthouse case search provides online access to court case information. The Circuit Clerk's office also maintains electronic dockets accessible through the Illinois Courts portal.
Request certified copies — Certified copies of vital records, court judgments, and recorded instruments require a formal written request accompanied by the applicable fee and, for certain records, proof of eligibility.
Contact the Sheriff's Office — Arrest logs and incident reports may be requested directly from the Effingham County Sheriff's Office, subject to applicable exemptions for ongoing investigations.

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

Current fees for public records in Effingham County are governed by 5 ILCS 140/6, which limits the fees a public body may charge for reproducing records. Standard fees currently applicable include:

Paper copies — Public bodies may charge no more than $0.15 per page for standard black-and-white copies on letter- or legal-size paper.
Certified copies of vital records — The County Clerk charges a standard fee per certified copy of birth, death, or marriage certificates; current fee schedules are posted at the County Clerk's office.
Recorded document copies — The Recorder's Office charges per-page fees for copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments, consistent with the Illinois Recorder's fee schedule under 55 ILCS 5/3-5018.
Court record copies — The Circuit Clerk charges per-page fees for copies of court documents; certified copies carry an additional certification fee.
Electronic records — Fees for electronic records may not exceed the actual cost of reproducing the records in the requested format.

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card. Fee waivers are available under 5 ILCS 140/6 when the requester is a news media organization or when disclosure is in the public interest and the primary purpose is not commercial.

Does Effingham County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Effingham County. Under current Illinois law, public bodies are not permitted to charge a fee solely for inspecting records; fees apply only when copies are requested. Members of the public may inspect the following records at no cost:

Court case information — Civil, criminal, and criminal court records may be inspected in person at the Circuit Clerk's office during public counter hours.
Property and assessment records — The Supervisor of Assessments and Recorder's Office permit in-person inspection of property records without charge.
Voter registration and election records — The County Clerk's office makes voter rolls and election results available for public inspection.
Sex offender registry — The Illinois State Police Offender Registry provides free online access to registered sex offender information statewide, including individuals registered in Effingham County.
County Board minutes and agendas — Meeting minutes and agendas are posted on the county's official website and are available for free inspection.

Who Can Request Public Records in Effingham County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Effingham County. Under 5 ILCS 140/3, the right to inspect and copy public records extends to all persons, and requestors are not required to be Illinois residents or Effingham County residents to exercise this right. Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:

Identification — Public bodies may not require a requestor to identify themselves or state the purpose of the request as a condition of access, except for certain categories of records such as vital records, where proof of eligibility is required by separate statute.
Purpose — Requestors are generally not required to state the reason for their request. However, a public body may ask for the purpose in order to determine whether a fee waiver applies.
Vital records — Access to certified copies of birth, death, and marriage certificates is restricted to eligible individuals, including the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a demonstrated legal interest, pursuant to the Illinois Vital Records Act.
Requesting your own records — Individuals requesting records pertaining to themselves may be entitled to additional access rights and may be required to provide proof of identity.
Non-residents — Non-residents of Illinois retain the same rights as residents to inspect and copy public records under current state law.

What Records Are Confidential in Effingham County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The following records are currently exempt from inspection and copying:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to minors in delinquency or abuse and neglect proceedings are confidential under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
Ongoing investigation records — Records compiled by law enforcement agencies for investigatory purposes are exempt where disclosure would interfere with a pending or reasonably contemplated proceeding.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar personal data are exempt under 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(b).
Medical records — Protected health information is exempt under both the Illinois FOIA and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed by statute and accessible only through specific legal procedures.
Child welfare records — Records maintained by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services are confidential under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
Personnel records — Employee personnel files are exempt with limited exceptions for certain public officials' salary and benefit information.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercial or financial information obtained from a person or business where disclosure would cause competitive harm is exempt.
Security plans — Records relating to the security of public buildings, infrastructure, or emergency response plans are exempt from disclosure.

The balancing test under Illinois law requires that when a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body must redact only the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Effingham County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Effingham County Recorder's Office maintains all recorded land instruments, including deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and related documents. Members of the public may inspect recorded documents in person during regular business hours or submit written requests by mail.

Effingham County Recorder's Office 101 N. Fourth St., Effingham, IL 62401 (217) 342-6535 Effingham County Recorder

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding official county holidays.

Effingham County Clerk's Office 101 N. Fourth St., Effingham, IL 62401 (217) 342-6535 Effingham County Clerk

Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Effingham County Circuit Clerk 101 N. Fourth St., Effingham, IL 62401 (217) 342-4065 Effingham County Circuit Clerk/Courts