Mason County

Mason County is located in central Illinois along the Illinois River, including approximately 540 square miles of rolling prairie and river bottomland. Mason County seat is Havana, a historic river town situated on the eastern bank of the Illinois River. Established in 1841, Mason County was named after Kentuckian statesman Sampson Mason. Mason County has a population of approximately 13,000 residents as of recent census estimates, making it one of the smaller rural counties in Illinois. Mason County is bordered by Tazewell County to the north, Menard and Logan counties to the east, Cass County to the south, and Fulton and Schuyler counties across the Illinois River to the west. Major communities include Havana, Havana area City, San Jose, and Kilbourne. The Illinois River provides significant recreational opportunities, and Mason County is home to portions of the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge and Sand Ridge State Forest, which attract outdoor enthusiasts for hunting, fishing, and birdwatching. Agriculture dominates the scene, with corn and soybean farming as primary economic activities. Mason County Courthouse, located at 125 N. Plum Street in Havana, houses the County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Recorder, and Assessor offices. Mason County Recorder maintains land records and property documents, while the County Clerk handles vital records and election administration. The Assessor's office, located at 125 N. Plum Street, manages property assessments and tax information. Mason County's history is deeply connected to the Illinois River transportation corridor and the development of central Illinois agriculture in the 19th century.

The Access to public records in Mason County is streamlined through the Mason County Circuit Court serves the region and handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The courthouse is located in the county seat of this area. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Illinois online court portal.

This court handles a wide array of cases, including civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The Access to public records in Mason County is streamlined through the Mason County Circuit Court also processes requests for court records, case filings, and legal documents under Illinois public records law.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Processing fees may apply for copies and research time.
• Mugshots and booking photos are typically available through direct request to the detention facility, though some third-party websites aggregate booking information from public sources.
• Response time for FOIA requests is generally five business days under Illinois law, with possible extensions for voluminous requests.

Jail & Inmate Records

• The bond and bail process in Illinois allows for the posting of bail through cash or surety bonds, enabling the release of detainees pending court appearances.

• Fees for copies are established by statute: $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page of most documents, with certified copies requiring an additional $6.00 certification fee.
• The Circuit Court handles felony criminal prosecutions, civil cases exceeding $50,000, divorce and family law matters, probate estates, and juvenile delinquency proceedings.

• The Recorder's office maintains grantor-grantee indices dating back to Mason County's formation in 1841, allowing title researchers to trace property ownership chains.
• Document copies typically cost $1.00 per page, with certified copies requiring an additional certification fee.
• Mason Chief County Assessment Officer's office, also located at 125 North Plum Street, provides property tax assessment information, parcel identification numbers, assessed valuations, and exemption data.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Certified copies of birth certificates cost $15.00 for the first copy and $2.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously; death certificates follow the same fee structure.
• Processing time for in-person requests at the County Clerk is typically immediate to same-day; mail requests may require 2-4 weeks.
• Marriage licenses are issued by Mason County Clerk's office, with couples required to apply in person; the license fee is established by state statute and typically costs approximately $15-$40.
• The Illinois Department of Public Health also offers online ordering through VitalChek for an additional processing fee.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• For formal business entity formation, corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, businesses must register with the Illinois Secretary of State, Business Services Department.
• The Secretary of State maintains a full online database at www.ilsos.gov where anyyou can search business entities, view officers and registered agents, check good standing status, and access formation documents.