Find Birth Records in Clark County

Clark County birth records are managed by the County Clerk in Marshall, Illinois. The clerk's office stores birth certificate files and issues certified copies to eligible requestors. Clark County is a rural county on the eastern edge of Illinois near the Indiana border, with about 15,500 residents. If you need a birth certificate from Clark County for any reason, you can visit the courthouse in Marshall, send a request through the mail, or order by phone. This page covers the steps, costs, and Illinois laws that apply to getting Clark County birth records.

Clark County Clerk Birth Certificates

The Clark County Clerk handles all birth record requests at the courthouse in Marshall. The office keeps vital records for the entire county. Staff process walk-in and mail requests during normal business hours. Clark County is a small office, so wait times for in-person visits are typically short. Most requests are handled the same day you show up.

Fees follow the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535). A short-form certified copy is $10. The long-form copy with all recorded details costs $15. Extra copies ordered at the same time are $2. You must show a valid photo ID to get a Clark County birth certificate. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted. Call (217) 826-2811 to check hours or ask about a specific record.

You can also find the Clark County Clerk in the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory, which lists all 102 county clerks across the state.

The directory is handy if you need to contact more than one county office for birth records or other vital records.

How to Order Clark County Birth Records

An in-person visit to the courthouse in Marshall is the quickest route. Bring your photo ID. Tell the clerk what you need. Pay the fee and they will pull the record. Most walk-in orders in Clark County are done while you wait.

Mail requests are another option. Write a letter with the full name on the birth certificate, date of birth, and parent names if available. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to the Clark County Clerk. Send it to 501 Archer Avenue, Marshall, IL 62441. Mail orders can take one to three weeks depending on volume. Because Clark County is a small office, the time can vary a bit from week to week.

You can also order through VitalChek by phone. They charge a processing fee on top of the county cost. Credit and debit cards are accepted. This is useful when you cannot make the trip to Marshall.

Note: Always include parent names in your request when possible, as this helps the Clark County Clerk narrow down the record.

Who Can Get Clark County Birth Records

Access to certified birth certificates is limited by Illinois law. The rules in 410 ILCS 535/25 set out who can request one. The Clark County Clerk applies these rules to every request.

People who qualify include:

• The person named on the record, if 18 or older
• A parent listed on the birth certificate
• A legal guardian with court papers
• A legal representative with written authority
• Government agencies with a stated need
• Anyone with a court order from a judge

For records 75 years old or more, anyone with a genealogical interest can request an uncertified copy. Using a birth certificate for fraud is a Class 4 felony under 410 ILCS 535/27. The penalty can be up to three years in prison.

State Birth Records for Clark County

The Illinois Department of Public Health has birth records from across Illinois going back to 1916. Births in Clark County after January 1916 are on file with IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave in Springfield. A short-form copy is $10. A long-form is $15. Additional copies are $2 each. Genealogical copies cost $10.

State requests take about 12 weeks by mail. That is much longer than the Clark County Clerk in Marshall. But IDPH is useful if you need records from several counties. Walk-in service at the Springfield office is available weekdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. Marshall is about two hours east of Springfield by car, so visiting either office is a real option depending on where you live.

The state page lists forms, fees, and the step-by-step process for ordering from IDPH by mail or in person.

Birth Registration in Clark County

All births in Clark County must be registered within seven days. That is the rule under 410 ILCS 535/12. Hospital births in the Marshall area are registered by the medical staff. For home births, the parents or midwife must handle the filing. The record then goes to both Clark County and the state system.

If a birth was never registered or was filed late, a delayed birth certificate may be needed. Sworn testimony and supporting documents are required. The rules for delayed filing are in 410 ILCS 535/14. Late registrations come up more often with older records from before the state started its vital records program in 1916.

Correcting Clark County Birth Certificates

The Clark County Clerk cannot change information on a birth certificate. That responsibility falls to the Illinois Department of Public Health. If you see an error on your Clark County birth record, reach out to IDPH at (217) 782-6554 or email DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov.

Minor errors found within one year of birth are the simplest to correct. Major changes, such as a name update or a change to parent information, require more documentation and more time. IDPH processes corrections in about 12 weeks. The rules are in 77 Ill. Adm. Code Part 500. Once the state makes the correction, the updated record is sent to the Clark County Clerk's office in Marshall.

Clark County Genealogy Birth Records

Genealogical copies of Clark County birth records are available for files that are 75 years old or more. These copies are not certified. They carry a stamp marking them for family history research only. They hold the same facts as the original, though, which makes them useful for anyone tracing family roots in eastern Illinois near the Indiana border.

Clark County was organized in 1819, making it one of the older counties in the state. The Marshall area has families that go back to the early days of Illinois settlement. For births before 1916, the county clerk is the sole source of records. The state did not begin its vital records system until that year. Local historical societies in the area can also help with Clark County genealogy research.

Cities in Clark County

Clark County includes Marshall, Casey, Martinsville, Westfield, and several smaller towns. All birth records for these communities go through the Clark County Clerk in Marshall. No town in the county operates its own vital records office. The county clerk is the single point of contact for all birth certificate requests.

Nearby Counties

These counties sit next to Clark County. Birth records are filed where the birth happened, not where the family lived later. Check the address before you contact an office.