Tazewell County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Tazewell County?

Public records in Tazewell County, Illinois, are defined under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/2, as all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body. The following categories of records are currently maintained by various Tazewell County offices and are generally available to members of the public upon request:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family law case files are maintained by the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk. Members of the public may access Tazewell County court records through the county's official court records portal.
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the County Clerk & Recorder's Office.
Vital records — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and dissolution of marriage records are held by the County Clerk & Recorder.
Business records — assumed business name filings and related documents are filed with the County Clerk.
Tax records — property tax bills, assessment records, and payment histories are maintained by the Tazewell County Treasurer and Supervisor of Assessments.
Voting and election records — voter registration data, election results, and precinct maps are administered by the County Clerk's Elections Division.
Meeting minutes and agendas — County Board meeting minutes, committee agendas, and related documents are published by the County Clerk.
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audit reports, and expenditure records are available through the County Board and Finance offices.
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office.
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and land use permits are held by the Tazewell County Zoning Department.

Is Tazewell County an Open Records County?

Tazewell County fully complies with Illinois open records law and operates as an open records jurisdiction. Under 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq., the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), all public bodies in the state — including county agencies, elected offices, and law enforcement departments — are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. The Act establishes a presumption in favor of disclosure, meaning that all records are presumed to be open unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Key provisions of the Act include the requirement that public bodies respond to FOIA requests within five business days of receipt, with a possible extension of five additional business days under defined circumstances. Each Tazewell County department designates a FOIA Officer responsible for processing requests and ensuring compliance. The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office FOIA process provides a model example of how individual county agencies implement these obligations at the departmental level. Illinois also operates under the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120, which requires that meetings of public bodies be open to the public and that agendas and minutes be made available.

How to Find Public Records in Tazewell County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Tazewell County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process currently in effect:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Circuit Clerk; property and vital records are held by the County Clerk & Recorder; law enforcement records are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written FOIA request. Most county offices require or strongly prefer written requests. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the designated FOIA Officer of the relevant department.
Use online portals where available. The Tazewell County Courthouse provides public access computers for legal research and record lookup. The county's court records portal allows online access to case information.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the applicable county office without submitting a formal FOIA request in many cases.
Allow the statutory response period. Under current law, public bodies must respond within five business days. Requestors should retain a copy of their submitted request for reference.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Tazewell County?

The cost of obtaining public records in Tazewell County varies by record type and the office processing the request. Under 5 ILCS 140/6, public bodies may charge fees for copies of records but may not charge for the first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-size copies. Current standard fees applicable across Tazewell County offices include:

Paper copies: No charge for the first 50 pages; thereafter, a per-page fee not to exceed the actual cost of reproduction, typically $0.15 per page for standard black-and-white copies.
Certified copies of vital records: Fees are set by statute and currently apply to birth and death certificates issued by the County Clerk & Recorder.
Recorded document copies: The County Clerk & Recorder charges per-page fees for certified copies of deeds, mortgages, and other recorded instruments.
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees may reflect the actual cost of the electronic medium used.
Court record copies: The Circuit Clerk's office maintains its own fee schedule for copies of court documents, consistent with Illinois Supreme Court Rules.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waivers may be available where the requester demonstrates that disclosure is in the public interest and that waiver would not result in commercial benefit to the requester, pursuant to the standards set forth in the Illinois FOIA.

Does Tazewell County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available in Tazewell County, consistent with the requirements of Illinois law. Members of the public are not required to pay any fee solely to inspect records; fees apply only when copies are requested. The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection: Any member of the public may inspect public records at the relevant county office during regular business hours at no charge.
Online court records: The county's official court records search portal provides free online access to case information maintained by the Circuit Clerk.
Public access computers: The Tazewell County Courthouse provides public access terminals where patrons may conduct legal research and review court documents at no cost.
County Clerk & Recorder online resources: Certain property and recorded document indexes are accessible through the County Clerk & Recorder's Office online portal without charge.

Who Can Request Public Records in Tazewell County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Tazewell County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act does not restrict access to Illinois residents; non-residents and out-of-state requesters hold the same rights as county residents under current law. Requesters are generally not required to:

Establish residency in Tazewell County or the State of Illinois
Provide government-issued identification
State the reason or purpose for the request

However, certain record types carry additional access requirements. Individuals requesting their own records — such as personal criminal history or vital records — may be required to provide proof of identity to protect against unauthorized disclosure. Requests for records pertaining to another individual may be subject to restrictions where those records contain personal identifying information protected under state or federal law. Attorneys, journalists, researchers, and members of the general public are all entitled to submit FOIA requests on equal terms. Commercial requesters may be subject to additional fee provisions under the Act.

What Records Are Confidential in Tazewell County?

Not all government records in Tazewell County are subject to public disclosure. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, specifically 5 ILCS 140/7, enumerates categories of information that are exempt from mandatory disclosure. The following record types are currently exempt or restricted under Illinois law:

Sealed court records — records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — records pertaining to minors involved in delinquency or abuse proceedings are confidential under the Juvenile Court Act.
Ongoing investigation records — law enforcement records compiled in connection with active criminal investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation or endanger individuals.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical and health records — records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Illinois medical privacy statutes are exempt.
Adoption records — sealed adoption records are not subject to public disclosure except as authorized by court order.
Child welfare and protective services records — records maintained by child protective agencies are confidential under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
Personnel records — employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials' compensation and disciplinary records.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — commercial or financial information submitted in confidence is exempt from disclosure.
Security plans and infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public buildings, infrastructure, or emergency response plans are withheld to protect public safety.

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder, consistent with the severability provisions of the Act.

Tazewell County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder's Office serves as the primary custodian of property records, vital records, election records, and County Board documents. Members of the public may visit the office in person or submit requests by mail or electronic communication during regular business hours.

Tazewell County Clerk & Recorder 11 South 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 477-2264 County Clerk & Recorder

Public Counter Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding official county holidays)

Tazewell County Circuit Clerk (Court Records) 342 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 477-2214 Courts | Tazewell County

Tazewell County Sheriff's Office McKenzie Building, 105 South Capitol Street, Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 477-2250 Tazewell County Sheriff

The Sheriff's Office accepts FOIA requests for law enforcement records, including incident reports and arrest logs where disclosure is permitted under Illinois law. Members of the public may submit requests through the Sheriff's Office FOIA request portal or in person at the address listed above during regular business hours.