EFFINGHAM COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Effingham County Public Records?

Per the Illinois Open Records Act, Effingham public records are any information created, reproduced, stored, cataloged, and amended by government bodies. The Act does not cover documents that are legally exempt from public disclosure. The term “public records” covers any form of hand-written documents, type-written documents, maps, photographs, and electronic forms of communication, such as emails and texts. Portions or whole documents are redacted or restricted from public view if it includes the following:

• Private information containing unique identifiers, such as biometric identifiers, driver’s license, social security number, and medical records.
• Records created in the course of administrative proceedings and law enforcement procedures
• Records relating to the security of correctional institutions and detention facilities
• Research data obtained or produced by any public body
• Records about educational matters
• Construction-related technical documents for projects
• Minutes of meetings of public bodies closed to the public.
• Administrative or technical information associated with automated data processing operations
• Test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data used to determine the qualifications of an applicant for a license or employment.
• Records, documents, and information relating to real estate purchase negotiations until those negotiations have been completed or otherwise terminated.

Effingham County Crime Statistics

The Illinois State Police (ISP) provides annual reports of crime statistics for all counties in Illinois. In 2018, Effingham County reported 547 crimes, including 59 violent crimes and 488 property crimes. The violent crimes include 14 rapes, seven robberies, and 38 aggravated assaults - there was no incident of homicide. The property crimes include 70 burglaries, 387 larcenies, 29 motor vehicle thefts, and two arsons.

Effingham County’s 2018 crime statistics reveal a decline in total crimes of the county in five years. Between 2014 and 2018, there was a decline in four of eight major index crimes. Aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and arson rates declined by 37%, 17%, 14%, and 60%, respectively. Rape and robbery rates increased by 75% and 600%, respectively. Homicide rates remained the same for both years.

Are Effingham Criminal Records Public?

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the documentation of criminal proceedings such as felonies, contempt of court, DUIs, misdemeanors, and juvenile cases are not accessible to the public. For instance, the Effingham County Criminal Department restricts criminal records check to only the record subject, certified government agencies, and job application agencies. However, the County Criminal Department prohibits job application agencies from checking residents’ criminal records during initial job application processes.

Record subjects can request copies of their criminal records via the Department’s searchable online portal. To obtain Effingham criminal records, requesters must register an account and subscribe on the search portal. Applicants will also need to provide the defendant’s first name, last name, middle name, case number, citation/ticket, and charges.

Effingham County criminal records are also accessible through name-based criminal records checks online. Name-based criminal records checks are done through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) portal. Go through the user’s guide or the CHIRP Instructions to get instructions on how to request criminal records with the portal. To pay for a criminal records search, credit cards or eCheck are accepted.

Similarly, the ISP conducts fingerprint-based checks electronically through licensed live scan fingerprint vendors. An interested applicant should scan fingerprints and send fingerprint-based checks through any vendor on the state’s list of approved live scan fingerprint vendors.

How to Obtain Effingham County Police Reports and Arrest Records

As the primary custodian of police reports and arrest records, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office maintains and issues copies of Effingham County’s police reports and arrest records. Any member of the public can access these records by visiting the Sheriff’s Office at:

Effingham County Sheriff’s Office
101 North Fourth Street
Suite 101
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-2102
Fax: (217) 342-2213

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Effingham County

In line with the Illinois Compiled Statutes (730 ILCS 152/115 (a) and (b)), the Illinois State Police (ISP) regularly updates and provides access to sex offenders’ information in Effingham County and the state. Interested persons can search for Effingham sex offenders’ information via the ISP’s online sex offender database. To obtain information about sex offenders in Effingham County, search by using the offender’s first and last name, zip code, city, county, status ( non-compliant, compliant, and absconded), and offender type ( child sex offender or adult sex offender). Requesters may also access sex offender locations via the ISP’s Map Search.

How to Find Effingham County Inmate Information

Effingham County inmate information is accessible via the Illinois Department of Correction (DOC), which serves as the custodian of inmate records at the state level. Requesters can access inmate information via the DOC’s online platform. To obtain Effingham County inmate information, search by inmates’ last name, IDOC number, or birth date.

How Do I Visit an Inmate in Effingham County?

Visitors are allowed to visit inmates in the Effingham County Jail on Tuesday and Saturday. Female inmate visitation hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., while male inmates’ visitation hours are between the hours of 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Effingham County Jail
101 North Fourth Street
Suite 101
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-3866

Court Records

The Illinois court system comprises the Court of Claims, Administrative Adjudication, and Circuit Court. Effingham County has only one Circuit Court. The Circuit Court’s Clerk provides access to different court records, such as criminal court records, civil court records, traffic records, and probate records. The Effingham Circuit Court is located at:

Effingham County Circuit Court
Effingham County Courthouse
120 West Jefferson Avenue
Suite 101
P.O. Box 586
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-4065
Fax: (217) 342-6183

Are Effingham County Court Records Public?

According to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, a majority of Effingham county court records are open and accessible to the general public. The Clerk of the Effingham County Circuit Court is responsible for maintaining all court records in the county. Therefore, interested persons can obtain copies of Effingham County court records from the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Office via in-person requests. Visit the Office of the Circuit Clerk at:

P.O. Box 586
120 West Jefferson Avenue
Suite 101
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-4065

Can You Look Up an Effingham County Court Record Online?

Effingham County court records are available online. Therefore, interested persons can request and obtain copies of Effingham County court records via an online search platform.

To access court records, register an account on the online search platform, and search for court records using the following details - the defendant’s full name, the plaintiff’s full name, the court filing date, and the case number.

How to Obtain Effingham County Civil Court Records

Effingham county civil court records are under the purview of the Clerk of Effingham County Circuit Court. Via an online searchable platform maintained by the Circuit Court’s Clerk, interested persons can request and access copies of civil court records. Register on the platform and subscribe to access civil court records. Details such as the concerned parties’ names, case number, date range, and the county where the case was filed are required when requesting Effingham County’s civil court records.

How to Obtain Effingham County Criminal Court Records

Interested persons can obtain copies of Effingham County criminal court records from the Clerk of Effingham County Circuit Court’s search platform. Requesters must register an account or sign-in to the platform to obtain criminal court records.

What are Effingham County Vital Records?

Effingham County vital records refer to official documents that record life events within the county. These vital records include records of births, deaths, divorces, and marriages. The Effingham County Circuit Clerk is the primary custodian of divorce records. In addition to this, the Effingham County Clerk maintains and issues copies of marriage, birth, and death records.

Similarly, the Vital Records Division of the Illinois Department of Health provides eligible individuals with access to marriage, birth, and death records at the state level.

Access to vital records is restricted only to qualified persons. Eligible persons include the person named on the document, immediate family, legal attorney, or persons with court permission.

Where and How to Get Effingham County Divorce Records?

The Effingham County Circuit Clerk maintains and issues copies of the county’s divorce records. Interested individuals should send a written request detailing the purpose of the request, the record subjects’ names, date, and place where the divorce event occurred to the Circuit Clerk’s office at:

Effingham County Circuit Clerk
120 West Jefferson Avenue
Suite 101
P.O. Box 586
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-4065

Also, requesters may be required to provide the case file number of court records (if known). The Circuit Clerk will provide information about the required payment.

On the other hand, the Illinois Department of Public Health, via the Division of Vital Records, maintains and grants requesters access to copies of Effingham County divorce verification records. The Division of Vital Records issues copies of divorce records from 1962 to the present. Requesters should note that divorce verification records comprise the following data - the record subjects’ full names, county/city of the event, and date of the event.

To obtain divorce verification records from the Division of Vital Records, requesters must submit the following:

• A valid and clear government-issued identification card.
• An application for divorce verification records.
• The required search fee. Divorce verification records cost $5 per copy.

To order for divorce verification records via mail, complete the application for divorce verification records or write a request letter detailing the record bearers’ names, the place and date of the event, and the record bearer’s birth dates. Send the application form alongside a money order or the search fee to the:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Mail requests take an average duration of 4 to 6 weeks. To order Effingham County divorce verification records in-person, visit the address listed above. Requesters must tender a valid ID before accessing the records.

Where and How to Get Public Effingham County Marriage Record

Any member of the public can access copies of Effingham County marriage verification records from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDP). The IDP, via the Vital Records Division, provides verification that a marriage event took place.

Therefore, marriage verification records contain limited information about the record subjects, such as the record bearers' names, the marriage date, and the place where the marriage occurred. Requesters may obtain copies of marriage verification records via mail orders, in-person visits, and fax.

To obtain copies of Effingham County divorce records, requesters must provide the following:

• A completed request form for marriage verification records.
• A valid and clear government-issued ID.
• The required search fee. Requesting marriage verification records cost $5.

To request via mail order, fill out the request form or write a request letter stating the request’s purpose, the record bearers' full names, the date and place of the marriage, and the birth dates. Send completed request form and the search fee as a money order or check payable to the Illinois Department of Health, and attach a copy of a government-issued ID to the:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Alongside the request form, requesters must send their credit card number and expiration date to pay for the search fee ($5 search fee and $12.95 handling fee). Also, requesters must provide a return address, a daytime phone number, a written signature, and a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID card. Orders via fax take at least seven days. The IDP receives in-person requests for marriage verification records on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To submit requests in-person, visit the IDP at:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Where and How to Get Confidential Effingham County Marriage Records?

The Morgan County Clerk is in charge of issuing certified copies of marriage records in the county. Individuals interested in getting marriage records should submit requests to the office of the County Clerk at:

Effingham County Clerk
Effingham County Office Building
101 North 4th Street
P.O. Box 628
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-6535
Fax: (217) 342-3577

The first certified copy of a marriage record costs $20 and $5 for each additional copy requested at the same time.

Where and How to Get Effingham County Birth Records?

An interested individual can get an Effingham County birth record from the County Clerk in person or by mail. A valid ID and payment are needed to make a request. The first certified copy costs $15, and subsequent copies cost $5. Accepted methods of payment are check and money order. The following individuals are eligible to get a birth record:

• The record owner
• Parents
• Legal guardian or representative, with proof to that effect
• Individuals with a genealogical interest
• Individuals with court orders
• A State Department, Municipal Corporation, or the Federal Government
• Veteran’s Administration or an accredited veteran’s organization

To obtain copies of birth records from the County Clerk, visit the County Clerk’s Office at:

Effingham County Clerk
Effingham County Office Building
101 North 4th Street
P.O. Box 628
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-6535
Fax: (217) 342-3577

At the state level, the Division of Vital Records of the Illinois Department of Health issues certified copies of birth records. To get a birth record, fill out the Application for Illinois Birth Record. Provide a valid and clear government-issued. Furthermore, pay the required search fee. Requests for marriage verification records cost $5. To request via mail order, fill out the birth record request form or write a request letter stating the purpose of the request, the record bearers' full names, the date and place of the marriage, and the birth dates. Send the completed request form and the search fee as a money order or check payable to the Illinois Department of Health, and attach a copy of a government-issued ID to the:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Alongside the request form, requesters must send their credit card number and expiration date to pay for the search fee ($5 search fee and $12.95 handling fee). Also, requesters must provide a return address, a daytime phone number, a written signature, and a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID card. Orders via fax take at least seven days. The IDP receives in-person requests for marriage verification records on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To submit requests in-person, visit the IDP at:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Where and How to Get Effingham County Death Records?

Effingham County death records are available at the County Clerk’s office. Requesters can access death certificates by sending request in-person or by mail. Notwithstanding the request made, a requester must present a valid ID and pay the required fee before accessing the records. A certified copy of a death record costs $15 for the first request. Subsequent copies cost $10 each. Access to death records is restricted to the following persons:

• The decedent’s immediate family members
• Their authorized agents
• Persons with personal or property right interest in the record
• A State Department, Municipal Corporation, or the Federal Government
• Persons with court orders
• Veteran’s Administration or an accredited veteran’s organization

To obtain copies of death records from the County Clerk, visit the County Clerk’s Office at:

Effingham County Clerk
Effingham County Office Building
101 North 4th Street
P.O. Box 628
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-6535
Fax: (217) 342-3577

A certified death record costs $24 for the first copy. For every additional copy of the same record requested at the same time, it costs $13. Death records are also available with the Illinois Department of Health. To obtain a death record, an interested individual should complete the Application for Illinois Death Record. Enclose payment and a valid government-issued ID alongside the completed request form.

At the Illinois Department of Health, requesters may obtain death verification records via mail orders, in-person requests, and requests via fax. To request records via mail order, users must fill out the death record request form or write a request letter stating the purpose of the request, the deceased's full name, and the date and place of the death. Send completed request form, the search fee as a money order or check payable to the Illinois Department of Health, and a copy of a government-issued ID to the:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

To order via fax, send the application form for the verification of death records to (217) 523-2648.

Furthermore, requesters must send their credit card number and expiration date to pay for the search fee ($5 search fee and $12.95 handling fee). Also, requesters must provide a return address, a daytime phone number, a written signature, and a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID card. Orders via fax take at least seven days.

The IDP receives in-person requests for marriage verification records on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To submit requests in-person, visit the IDP at:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.