Mason County Birth Records
Mason County birth records are held at the County Clerk's office in Havana, Illinois. About 13,000 people live in this central Illinois county along the Illinois River. The clerk keeps birth certificates from around 1877 to the present day. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate from Mason County, you have several options to get one. Walk-in visits to the courthouse in Havana are the fastest. Mail and online orders also work. Illinois law restricts who can receive a certified copy, so review the eligibility rules below before you request a Mason County birth record.
Mason County Quick Facts
Mason County Clerk Birth Certificate Services
The Mason County Clerk is the sole source for local birth certificates. The office sits in the courthouse in Havana. Staff handle requests for all births that took place within Mason County. Call (309) 543-6661 if you have questions. Bring a current photo ID when you visit. The clerk does not release birth record details over the phone.
Under 410 ILCS 535/25, only certain people can receive a certified birth certificate in Illinois. The eligible list includes the person named on the record if they are at least 18, a parent on the certificate, a legal guardian with court papers, a legal representative, or someone with a court order. The Mason County Clerk verifies every request. Expired IDs are not accepted. If your name has changed, bring supporting papers like a marriage certificate so the clerk can match your current ID to the record you want from Mason County.
| Office |
Mason County Clerk 100 N. Broadway, Suite 3 Havana, IL 62644 Phone: (309) 543-6661 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
How to Order a Mason County Birth Certificate
Walk-in service in Havana is the quickest route. Show your ID, complete the request form, pay the fee, and pick up your certified copy. Most requests are handled while you wait. Same-day service is typical for records that are already in the system at the Mason County Clerk's office.
You can also submit a mail request. Send your letter to the Mason County Clerk at 100 N. Broadway, Suite 3, Havana, IL 62644. Include the full name at birth, date of birth, both parents' names, your name and return address, a photocopy of your valid photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 payable to the Mason County Clerk. Each additional copy of the same record is $11 if ordered at the same time. Give the office one to two weeks for mail processing. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to help speed things along.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also accepts birth certificate requests for Mason County. State orders take about 12 weeks, so local requests are faster by a wide margin.
The IDPH screenshot above explains how to order a birth certificate through the state office. Mason County residents can use this method when visiting Havana is not an option.
Mason County Birth Record Fees
A certified birth certificate from Mason County costs $21 for the first copy. Extra copies of the same record are $11 each when you order them together. These prices are the same for walk-in and mail requests.
The state IDPH offers lower base fees. Short-form copies are $10. Long-form copies cost $15. Additional copies run $2 each. Genealogy copies are $10 per record. The state office is at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702. The catch is the wait. State mail orders take roughly 12 weeks. That is a long time compared to same-day service at the Mason County Clerk in Havana. VitalChek adds its own fees if you order online, but it can cut down on wait time compared to the state mail route.
Note: Confirm current fees with the Mason County Clerk at (309) 543-6661 before sending any payment by mail.
Who Can Request Mason County Birth Records
Birth certificates are not public records in Illinois. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) makes them restricted. Mason County cannot release a certified copy to just anyone. You need to prove your identity and your right to the record.
The people who qualify for a certified Mason County birth certificate are:
- The person named on the record, if 18 or older
- A parent whose name is on the certificate
- A legal guardian with court documentation
- A legal representative with written authorization
- A person with a valid court order from a judge
Under 410 ILCS 535/27, using a birth certificate for fraud or deception is a Class 4 felony. Punishment can include up to three years in prison. The Mason County Clerk takes ID verification seriously and will not release records to anyone who cannot prove eligibility.
Mason County Genealogy Birth Records
Mason County has records going back to around 1877. These older records are useful for genealogy research. Under Illinois law, birth records that are 75 years old or more can be released as uncertified genealogical copies. The copies are stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and cannot be used for legal matters.
The area around Havana and the Illinois River attracted many settlers in the 1800s. If your family has roots in Mason County, the clerk's office is the best place to begin your search. The state charges $10 for genealogy copies through the IDPH office. The Illinois Regional Archives Depository system may hold even older Mason County records that are no longer at the courthouse. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders can help you find the right contacts for historical vital records research in Mason County and surrounding areas.
This IDPH page covers the full range of vital records services in Illinois. It is a good starting point when planning genealogy research that involves Mason County birth records.
State Birth Records for Mason County
The IDPH maintains birth records from 1916 to the present for every county in Illinois. You can request a Mason County birth certificate through the state instead of going to Havana. Send your request to 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702. The phone number is (217) 782-6554. Under 410 ILCS 535/12, the registrar checks that you are eligible before releasing the record.
State fees are $10 for short-form and $15 for long-form. Extras cost $2. Processing takes about 12 weeks by mail. The Mason County Clerk in Havana can often do same-day service, which makes the local option much faster. Choose the state route when time is not a concern or when the record you need falls in the 1916-and-later range and you cannot reach the Mason County courthouse.
Delayed Birth Registration in Mason County
Not all births get filed right away. In Mason County, older records sometimes have gaps because registration was less consistent in earlier decades. Illinois law allows for delayed registration when a birth was missed.
Births filed between 3 days and one year late can use a standard form. Births that are one to seven years late need the State Registrar's approval and the record is marked as delayed. For births more than seven years ago that were never recorded, a "Delayed Record of Birth" form must be signed under oath. You may need school records, church records, census data, or sworn affidavits as proof. Call the Mason County Clerk at (309) 543-6661 to learn what documentation you should gather before starting this process.
Cities in Mason County
Mason County includes several small communities along the Illinois River. Havana is the county seat and the primary population center. All birth certificates for people born in Mason County come from the County Clerk in Havana.
Other communities include Mason City, San Jose, Manito, Forest City, and Kilbourne. All Mason County birth records go through the clerk's office in Havana regardless of which town the birth occurred in.
Nearby Counties
Mason County shares borders with several other counties. If you are unsure which county a birth was registered in, check the location where the hospital or home was at the time. The birth is recorded in the county where it took place.