Union County Birth Records

Union County birth records are on file at the County Clerk's office in Jonesboro. The clerk keeps birth certificates for all births that took place in Union County, with records stretching back to around 1877. Getting a certified copy is a quick process if you visit the courthouse in person. Mail requests are also accepted for those who live outside the area. Union County handles birth certificate searches for its roughly 17,200 residents and for people from other parts of Illinois and beyond who have roots in this corner of southern Illinois.

Union County Clerk Birth Certificate Office

The Union County Clerk is the go-to office for birth certificates in the county. It is at the courthouse in Jonesboro. Walk-in service is available on weekdays. Bring a photo ID so staff can check your identity before handing over any records.

You can call (618) 833-5711 to ask about hours or what you need to bring. The Union County Clerk follows the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) when processing birth record requests. This law tells the clerk who can get a certified copy, what ID is acceptable, and how records must be protected. Staff in Jonesboro handle birth, death, and marriage records, so they are well versed in the rules. If you are not sure what you need, a quick phone call before your visit will save you time at the Union County courthouse.

The office is small and usually not crowded. Most people who walk in for a Union County birth certificate are done in under 20 minutes.

How to Get a Union County Birth Certificate

There are two main ways to get a birth certificate from Union County. In person is the fastest route. Go to the courthouse in Jonesboro, show your ID, fill out a short form, and pay the fee. The clerk can print a certified copy for you right away.

By mail is the other way. Send a letter to the Union County Clerk at 309 W. Market Street, Room 116, Jonesboro, IL 62952. Your letter should have the full name on the birth certificate, the date of birth, parents' names, your name and return address, a copy of your photo ID, and your reason for the request. Include a check or money order for $15 made out to the Union County Clerk. Each additional copy of the same Union County birth record ordered at the same time costs $2. Mail orders usually take about two to three weeks to process.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders has a directory with every county clerk in the state. Use it to find contact info for Union County or for other southern Illinois counties where you may also need birth records.

Note: All Union County birth certificate requests must include a valid photo ID whether you visit in person or send a request by mail.

Union County Birth Records Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health has a page that covers how to obtain a birth certificate from any county in Illinois. You can view the details for Union County and the rest of the state at dph.illinois.gov.

That page covers the forms, fees, and eligibility rules that apply to Union County birth records. It also has links to mail-in forms if you plan to order through the state instead of the local clerk.

For a broader look at vital records in Illinois, the IDPH main records page gives an overview of birth, death, and other record types. Check it at dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/birth-death-other-records.

This page is useful if you need other types of records from Union County along with a birth certificate. It links to all the relevant IDPH services.

Who Can Request Union County Birth Records

Illinois law limits who can get a certified birth certificate. The rules exist to protect personal data. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, the Union County Clerk will only release certified copies to people who qualify. A current photo ID is required every time.

Eligible people for a Union County birth certificate are:

• The person on the record, if 18 or older
• A parent listed on the birth certificate
• A legal guardian with court papers
• A legal representative with proper authorization
• A government agency with a written need

Anyone who uses a birth certificate for fraud faces prison time. Under 410 ILCS 535/27, this is a Class 4 felony in Illinois with a sentence of up to three years. Union County checks every request against these rules.

Union County Birth Certificate Fees

The fee for a certified birth certificate from Union County is $15 for the first copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time is $2. Cash is accepted for walk-in visits. Mail orders require a check or money order made out to the Union County Clerk.

Through the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health charges $10 for a short-form copy and $15 for a long-form certified copy. Extra copies are $2. Genealogical copies run $10 each. State mail orders take about 12 weeks. You can also order by phone or online through VitalChek, which adds a service charge. For most Union County residents, the clerk in Jonesboro is faster and easier.

Union County Genealogy Birth Records

Union County has birth records from about 1877. That makes the clerk's office a valuable resource for genealogy researchers working in southern Illinois. Under state law, birth records 75 years old or more can be released as uncertified genealogical copies. These copies cannot be used for legal purposes but are perfect for family history projects.

IDPH charges $10 per genealogical copy. Union County may have a local rate, so call (618) 833-5711 to check before you order. The Illinois Regional Archives Depository and the IACCR can help you track down records from other counties if your family moved around southern Illinois. Start at the Union County Clerk and work outward from there.

Cities in Union County

Union County has several small communities in southern Illinois. Jonesboro is the county seat. Other towns include Anna, Cobden, Dongola, and Alto Pass. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All birth records for these areas are filed with the Union County Clerk in Jonesboro.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. If you are not sure which county a birth was recorded in, check where the hospital or home was at the time. Birth records go in the county where the birth took place.