Franklin County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Franklin County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Franklin County, Illinois may access a range of publicly available information through official county offices, state repositories, and online portals. FranklinILRecords.org provides data and publicly available information related to public records maintained by government agencies in Franklin County. Depending on the record type and the custodial office, requestors may be able to locate court filings, property documents, vital records, and other government-generated materials, subject to applicable exemptions under state law.

Record categories that may be available include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family law)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Property tax and assessment records
Voting and election records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement records (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records

Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.

Online Access:

The Franklin County government portal provides access to county department information and links to online services.
The County Clerk and Recorder's office maintains certain property and vital records that may be searchable online.
The Circuit Clerk's office handles court case records; some case information may be accessible through the Illinois Courts e-filing and case lookup systems.
No universal registration is required to inspect public records, though some online portals may require account creation for document downloads.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Franklin County Courthouse to submit records requests in person. The Circuit Clerk's office is located at 202 W. Main Street, Benton, Illinois 62812. The County Clerk and Recorder's office is located at the same courthouse complex. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding state and federal holidays.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the appropriate custodial office. Requestors must include a description of the records sought, the requestor's name and contact information, and a preferred method of delivery. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, public bodies are required to respond within five business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email:

Franklin County Courthouse main line: (618) 438-3221
County Clerk and Recorder: (618) 438-3221
Circuit Clerk: (618) 438-3240

What Are Public Records in Franklin County?

Public records in Franklin County are defined by the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) 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 record types are maintained by Franklin County offices:

Record Type	Custodial Office
Civil, criminal, probate, family court records	Circuit Clerk
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	County Clerk and Recorder
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	County Clerk and Recorder
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	County Assessor / Treasurer
Voting and election records	County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Board / individual departments
Budget and financial documents	County Board
Law enforcement records	Sheriff's Office (subject to exemptions)
Land use and zoning records	County Zoning Office

As noted on the Franklin County Courthouse page maintained by the Illinois Courts system, "In the state of Illinois most counties maintain trial courts in a county-based courthouse, which also house other government offices," reflecting the centralized nature of records access in Franklin County.

Is Franklin County an Open Records County?

Franklin County operates in full compliance with Illinois open records law. Under 5 ILCS 140/1, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, all public bodies in the state — including county offices — are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request, subject to enumerated exemptions. The Act establishes a presumption of openness, meaning that records are presumed to be public unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

The Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor oversees compliance with FOIA statewide and provides guidance to both public bodies and requestors. As stated in the Act, "It is the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees."

Franklin County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance; the state statute governs all public records requests submitted to county offices. Members of the public who believe a request has been improperly denied may file a Request for Review with the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor.

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

The current fee structure for public records in Franklin County is governed by 5 ILCS 140/6, which sets limits on what public bodies may charge for records reproduction.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Black-and-white paper copies (up to 50 pages)	No charge
Black-and-white paper copies (pages 51 and beyond)	$0.15 per page
Color copies or abnormal-size documents	Actual cost
Electronic records (when available)	No charge in most cases
Certification of records	Varies by office
Search fees	Not permitted under state law

Inspection fees: Members of the public may inspect records at no charge.
Copy fees: The first 50 pages of black-and-white, letter- or legal-size copies are provided at no charge. Pages beyond 50 are charged at $0.15 per page.
Certification fees: Vital records such as birth and death certificates carry separate statutory fees set by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Electronic format fees: Electronic copies are provided at no charge when the public body can produce them without undue burden.
Fee waivers: Public bodies may waive fees when disclosure is in the public interest and the request is not made for commercial purposes.

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order payable to the respective county office.

Does Franklin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Franklin County offices. Under Illinois law, any person may inspect public records during regular business hours at no charge. The right to free inspection is distinct from the right to obtain free copies; copying fees may apply as described above.

Free records resources currently available include:

In-person inspection at the Circuit Clerk's office, County Clerk and Recorder's office, and other county departments during regular business hours
Online case information through the Illinois Courts system for certain court records
Property and tax records accessible through the County Assessor's and Treasurer's online portals where available
County board minutes and agendas posted on the Franklin County government website at no charge

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public have the right to view records in person without charge, but obtaining physical or electronic copies may incur fees as outlined in the fee schedule above.

Who Can Request Public Records in Franklin County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Franklin County. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, eligibility to request records is not limited to Illinois residents, and requestors are not required to provide identification or state the purpose of their request as a condition of access. The Act defines "person" broadly to include individuals, corporations, partnerships, firms, organizations, and associations.

Key eligibility provisions include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Illinois retain full rights to request public records.
Identification: Not required for most records requests, though some offices may ask for identification when releasing records that contain personal information about the requestor.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request, except in limited circumstances involving commercial requestors.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be required to provide identification to protect against unauthorized disclosure of personal information.
Requesting records about others: Requests for records pertaining to other individuals are subject to the same general rules, though certain record types — such as sealed court records or juvenile records — carry additional restrictions regardless of who is requesting.

Commercial requestors are subject to different response timeframes and fee structures under the Act, and public bodies may require a statement of commercial purpose when the nature of the request suggests commercial use.

What Records Are Confidential in Franklin County?

Certain records maintained by Franklin County offices are exempt from public disclosure under Illinois law. 5 ILCS 140/7 enumerates the categories of information that public bodies may withhold from disclosure.

Confidential and exempt records currently include:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial 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 related to active investigations are exempt to the extent that disclosure would interfere with the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records.
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Maintained as confidential by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt, with limited exceptions for certain disciplinary records.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to a public body in confidence.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Exempt to protect public safety.
Military discharge records (DD-214): As noted by the County Clerk and Recorder's office, "Thanks to a recent change in Illinois law, DD-214 records are now considered a confidential vital record and cannot be accessed by the public."

When a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the public body is required to redact the exempt portions and release the remainder.

Franklin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Franklin County Clerk and Recorder
202 W. Main Street
Benton, IL 62812
(618) 438-3221
County Clerk and Recorder

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays

Franklin County Circuit Clerk
202 W. Main Street
Benton, IL 62812
(618) 438-3240
Circuit Clerk – Franklin County

The Circuit Clerk is responsible for "filing and maintaining records of all cases that are heard by Franklin County Courts involving adoptions, family cases, divorces, criminal" matters, and related proceedings.