Who Is the Madison County Clerk
Honorable Linda A. Andreas is the elected Madison County Clerk. The County Clerk page says the office provides prompt, courteous service; acts as the county's chief election authority; maintains vital records including birth, marriage, and death; handles public filings, tax and real estate services; and records county board meeting proceedings. The same office holder serves as Recorder, separate from the Circuit Clerk.
The image below links to the County Clerk's home page.
The page introduces the office and connects users to the main service areas: marriage licenses, vital records, tax extension, real estate, county board, and elections.
Madison County Clerk and Recorder Offices
Both offices sit in the Madison County Administration Building at 157 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, right next to the courthouse. The same person leads both offices, but the suites and phone numbers are different.
County Clerk
157 N. Main Street, Suite 109
P.O. Box 218
Edwardsville, IL 62025-0218
(618) 296-4482
Marriage: (618) 692-6290
Recorder
157 N. Main Street, Suite 211
P.O. Box 308
Edwardsville, IL 62025-0308
(618) 296-4475
recorder@madisoncountyil.gov
Vital Records at the Madison County Clerk
Vital records include births, marriages, civil unions, deaths, and genealogy. The County Clerk's vital records request page lists the fee schedule, the request process, and the required identification. The image below links to that page.
The office accepts in-person, mail, and online requests. Online requests go through Official Records Online, a private partner, with a $10 service fee on top of the standard cost. Major credit cards are accepted; FedEx overnight upgrade is $40 by major credit card.
| Record | Fee (first copy) | Additional copies of same record |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $20 | $8 each |
| Civil union record | $20 | $8 each |
| Marriage record | $20 | $8 each |
| Death certificate | $23 | $8 each |
| Genealogy record | $12 | $8 each |
How to Request a Madison County Vital Record
The County Clerk publishes the request requirements in plain language. The same steps apply for in-person, mail, and online requests, with small adjustments for delivery and payment.
- Complete and sign the vital records request form.
- Mail or deliver the form to Linda Andreas, Madison County Clerk, 157 N. Main Street, Suite 109, P.O. Box 218, Edwardsville, IL 62025-0218.
- Include the required fee by check or money order payable to "Madison County Clerk."
- Or pay by credit or debit card with the standard $3.99 card fee.
- Include a copy of valid photo ID such as a driver's license or military ID.
- Add a phone number or email if ordering by mail so the office can follow up if information is missing.
Marriage Licenses at the Madison County Clerk
Marriage licensing in Madison County runs through the County Clerk's office under Linda A. Andreas. Both parties must appear in person. The image below links to the marriage license page.
The license fee is $35 in cash; checks are not accepted. The license must be obtained at least one day before use, expires 60 days after the effective date, and must be used in Madison County. People under 18 need certified birth records and, if 16 or 17, parental consent. For the full walkthrough see marriage and divorce records.
Elections and Voter Registration
The County Clerk is the chief election authority for Madison County. The office handles voter registration, polling places, early voting, vote-by-mail applications, and county board canvassing. People who move within Madison County can update their voter registration at the County Clerk's office in Suite 109.
Election filings for candidates, political committees, and ballot questions also go through the County Clerk. The office posts election calendars, sample ballots, and results.
Recorder and Land Records
The Recorder's primary duty is to record, index, and maintain documents that transfer land in Madison County. Records start in 1812. The Recorder accepts deeds, mortgages, liens, trusts, easements, veterans' DD-214 discharge documents, out-of-county birth certificates, and marriage licenses for recording.
Copy requests sent to recordercopies@madisoncountyil.gov should include the reference numbers. The Recorder does not perform title searches. Copies cost $1 per page by mail and $2 per page by email. Turnaround is 5 to 7 business days, with faster handling when the office can.
Genealogy Research Records
Genealogical records are a separate program at the County Clerk. Marriage records go back to 1813, death records began in 1878, and birth records were recorded in the late 1800s. Illinois required counties to keep vital records starting in 1916. The image below links to the genealogy research page.
Illinois rules limit genealogy access to older records. Birth certificates older than 75 years, marriage certificates older than 50 years, and death certificates older than 20 years can be released for genealogy with a "For Genealogical Purposes Only" stamp. Genealogy copies cost $12 for the first copy and $8 for each additional.
Tax Extension and Real Estate Filings
The County Clerk also handles tax extension, the calculation that produces individual property tax bills based on the tax rates set by local taxing bodies. Real estate filings such as tax sales, redemptions, and certain certifications go through the County Clerk. The Treasurer collects the actual property taxes, but the Clerk's office is where the extension happens.
The Recorder side of the office handles deed, mortgage, and lien recording rather than the tax extension calculation. Together the two functions cover most of the document side of real estate in Madison County.
County Clerk vs. Circuit Clerk
The County Clerk and the Circuit Clerk are different offices. The County Clerk handles vital records, elections, tax extension, and real estate filings. The Circuit Clerk handles court files, copy requests, and court money. If you need a court order, certified copy of a court ruling, divorce decree, or case docket, go to the Circuit Clerk instead.
The County Clerk does not maintain criminal court records or civil case files. The Circuit Clerk does not issue marriage licenses or birth certificates. Knowing which office handles which record saves a trip.
County Board and Public Filings
The Madison County Clerk records the proceedings of the county board, which includes minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and appointments. Those records are part of the public file kept by the office. Anyone tracking a county board action can ask the office for the relevant meeting record.
Public filings under the Clerk's office cover business filings such as assumed name certificates, notary public commissions, and certain veterans' filings under state law. Each filing has its own form and fee; the Clerk's counter staff can hand out the right form or point users to the Illinois statewide form set.
Hours and Payment Methods
The County Clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays. Both the Edwardsville offices and the Recorder counters share the same general hours. Marriage license issuance follows the same window.
Payment methods include cash for the $35 marriage license fee, checks or money orders payable to "Madison County Clerk" for vital records by mail, and credit or debit cards with a $3.99 card fee. The Recorder accepts payment for copy requests by check; online ordering through Official Records Online adds a separate service fee.
How Recording Works at the Madison County Recorder
Documents brought to the Recorder are reviewed, indexed, and assigned a document number. Standard recording requirements apply, including formatting, margins, signatures, and notary acknowledgements. The office charges per-page recording fees set by Illinois statute and local rule. A title company or attorney typically prepares the recording packet, but private parties can also record qualifying documents.
The Recorder runs a Land Record Search portal linked from its page. The exact search fields were not inspected for this site, but the office indexes by grantor and grantee names, document type, and date range. The Recorder does not perform title searches and points users to private title companies for that work.
Veterans living in Madison County can record a DD-214 military discharge certificate with the Madison County Recorder at no cost in Illinois per state law. The recorded copy is then kept on file for future certified-copy requests in Madison County. Veterans who need a certified DD-214 for VA benefits, employment applications, school enrollment, or military burial use the Recorder's certified-copy process rather than contacting the federal records center each time.