Cass County Clerk:  Shelly Wessel 

                                        Chief Deputy:  Jeannie Harris

  Deputy Clerk:  Janet Carrigan

Deputy Clerk:  Mary Keaton 

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Welcome to the office of the Cass County Clerk & Recorder

The County Clerk has many roles in Cass County Government. The County Clerk is the keeper of the official seal of the County, Clerk of the County Board, keeper of vital statistics, marriage licenses, assumed names, tax extension, delinquent taxes and the Cass County Election Authority.

We look forward to serving you and hope that this website is a helpful tool.

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Birth Certificates

To request a copy of a birth certificate, please click here send request via mail with a copy of your ID and payment or to request online click here.

Photo ID is required to obtain a birth record (see below for acceptable ID).

Birth records begin in our office at the year of 1860.

Who may obtain a birth record:

• The record can be released to the person named on the record, if they are 18 years of age or over.

• The parent, if their name appears on the Birth Certificate as the mother or father.

• A Legal Guardian who possesses guardianship papers that are signed by a judge.

• A Legal Representative who is representing the person named on the Birth Certificate or is representing his/her parents.

• A Court Order 

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Marriage Certificates

To request a copy of a marriage certificate, please click here send request via mail with a copy of your ID and payment or to request online click here.

Marriage certificates begin in our office at the year 1939.

Who may obtain a marriage record:

• A certified copy may be obtained by either the bride or groom.

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Death Certificates

To request a copy of a death certificate, please click here send request via mail with a copy of your ID and payment or to request online click here.

Photo ID is required to obtain a death record (see below for acceptable ID).

Death records begin in our office at the year 1878.

Who may obtain a death record:

• Applicant must be immediate family (mother, father, brother, sister, spouse, child)

• Or applicant must be the informant listed on the death record.

• Applicant must have a personal or property right interest in the record.

Applicant should be prepared to show documentation proving their need for the record and/or intended use and valid identification.

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Civil Union Certificates

To request a copy of a civil union certificate, please click here send request via mail with a copy of you ID and payment.

Civil Union Certificates begin in our office at the year 2011.

Who may obtain a civil union record:

• A certified copy may be obtained by either partner of the civil union.

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Marriage Licenses

To obtain a marriage license in Cass County, please fully complete the applications and email.

Our office will call you to schedule an appointment for both parties to come to our office when the applications have been received.  You will be required to present government issued photo ID. There is a $40.00 fee, payable by cash or check.  

Marriage licenses become effective one day after they are issued and are valid for 60 days.

• Once you complete the application and email to cassclerkoffice@casscountyil.gov
• We will call you to schedule an appointment.

If you are unable connect to print application please stop by the office to pick them up.

MARRIAGE LICENSES ISSUED IN CASS COUNTY ARE ONLY VALID FOR MARRIAGES WITHIN CASS COUNTY.

 Marriage License Application (print one for each party)

 Licensia de Matrimonio (imprimir una application para cada persona)

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Notaries

Please visit the Illinois Secretary of State's Home Page for more information.

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Delinquent Taxes

Delinquent taxes sold in Cass County tax sales must be redeemed in the Office of the County Clerk.   

It is necessary to call our office to be assured of the exact amount of payment. 

Payment must be made in cash, certified check or money order.

No personal checks accepted.

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Assumed Name

The procedure for filing a certificate of Assumed Business Name is as follows:

• Fill out the Certificate of Intention form.  This form should be signed in front of a notary public.

• Return the form to the Clerk's Office along with a $15.00 filing fee. 

• We will need a check for $202.50 publication fee (must be kept separate from the $15.00 Clerk filing fee).  The Notice must be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.  

• After our office receives proof of publication from the newspaper, we will issue you a Certificate of Ownership of Business along with a copy of your publication notice.

• If you have a corporate, incorporated or limited business, you must file with the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield, Illinois.

Helpful Links:

• Illinois Department of Revenue

• Illinois Secretary of State

• IRS (Internal Revenue Service)

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Elections

The Office of the County Clerk conducts all elections in Cass County.  Cass County has 7,641 registered voters and 21precincts.  

Q:  Am I registered to vote?

A:  You can check your voter registration status online by visiting the Illinois State Board of Elections at: Registration lookup

You may register to vote in the Office of the County Clerk, with a Deputy Registrar, or when receiving services at the Driver's License Facility.  It is necessary to provide two forms of identification when registering.  One form must have your current address.  You must be at least 18 years of age to register or will attain that age by the next election.  

Application for vote by mail ballot

Application for Permanent Vote By Mail

How to Report Change of Address

If you are currently registered in Cass County and have moved within the County, you may change your voter registration address by completing the information on the reverse side of your voter identification card and returning it to our office.  If you have misplaced your voter identification card, you may call our office at (217) 452-2277 Ext-4 or e-mail to request a transfer of address form to be mailed to you, which you must complete and return no later than 27 days prior to the election.  You may go to the Illinois State Board of Elections website to change your address online by clicking here or you may print out a transfer of address form, complete the required information, and return it to our office.  

Fill in all of the blanks EXCEPT for voter's signature.  Print out the completed form, SIGN and then send back to our office at the address below.  

If you are currently registered to vote in Cass County and have moved outside the County, you must re-register with the local election authority in your new County of residence.  

How to Report Change of Name

A person who changes his or her name must re-register to vote.  

Cancellation of Voter Registration

Once a citizen is registered to vote, his/her name is remain on the registration roster as long as he/she remains eligible to vote in that election jurisdiction.  Removal of a voter's name from the list of registered voters, cancellation of his/her registration, may only be made for the following reasons.  

You may call our office at (217) 452-2277 Ext-4 or e-mail to request a cancellation form be mailed to you, or you may also print out a cancellation request, complete the required information, and return it to our office.

1.  Request of the Voter: A voter may request in writing that their name be removed from the voter registration file (does not require that a reason be given), or a voter may acknowledge in writing that he/she no longer is a resident of the election jurisdiction.  Similarly, an attempt by the voter to register to vote in another election jurisdiction is deemed to be a request to cancel all previous voter registrations.

2.  Incarceration:  If a voter is incarcerated pursuant to a conviction of a crime, his/her voter registration may be canceled.

3.  Falsification of Application/Not Qualified:  If the voter is convicted of a crime involving a material falsification of his voter registration in regard to age, citizenship, or residence, his/her registration may be canceled.

4.  Death:  If the election authority receives proof of the death of a registered voter, this voter's registration may be canceled.   

 

Future Election Dates

Consolidated April 1, 2025

 

Links for Voters

Am I registered to Vote in Illinois?

Register to Vote Online

Voting Results

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What are Election Judges?

Judges of elections are responsible for the administration of election procedures in the polling place on Election Day.  They are in the position of ensuring that the election process is administered fairly and in accordance with the law.

What are the qualifications necessary to be an election judge?

• Be a citizen of the United States; 

• Be of good repute and character and not subject to the registration requirement of the Sex Offender Registration Act; 

• Be able to speak, read, and write the English language;

• Be skilled in the four (4) fundamental rules of mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division);

• Be of good understanding and capable;

• Not be a candidate for any office in the election and not be elected committeeman; and, 

• Reside in and be entitled to vote in the precinct where selected to serve as judge.  However, in each precinct one judge of each party may be appointed from outside the precinct, but from within the County.  All judges must be electors with the County.

What are some of the duties of the Election Judges?

• To open and close polls;

• To be responsible for all election materials; 

• To ensure that only qualified voters are permitted to vote and that each qualified voter is permitted to vote once and only once; 

• To ensure that all votes are cast in secret;

• To give instructions in the method of voting when requested by a voter;

• To give assistance to illiterate and physically disabled voters;

• To maintain order in the polling place throughout the day;

• To tally the vote after the polls are closed; and to certify the election results in that precinct.

Can high school or college students serve as Judges?

Yes, an election authority may establish a program to permit a person who is not entitled to vote to serve as an election judge if the individual meets the following qualifications:

• Is a citizen of the United States; 

• Is a junior or senior in good standing enrolled in a public or private secondary school, or is a student currently enrolled in community college or a public or private Illinois university or college; 

• If currently enrolled in a secondary school, has the written approval of both the principal and a parent or legal guardian; 

• Has a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;

• Has satisfactorily completed the training course for judges of election; 

• Meets all other qualifications for appointment and service as an Election Judge.

How may I become an Election Judge?

Contact the Cass County Clerk:

• (217)452-2277 Ext-4

• countyclerk@co.cass.il.us 

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Land Records

The County Clerk serves as the Recorder of Deeds in Cass County.  Records of real estate transactions are recorded in the County Clerk's Office.  Real estate recordings date back to 1839.

 

Document Preparation

Document preparation is a specialized task which may demand legal knowledge or advice. 

The office of the County Clerk is forbidden by law to give legal advice.

 

Documents for recording MUST contain:

• Name and address of "Prepared By"

• Name and address of "Return To"                                                 

• Name and address of "Tax Bill To"

• Property Tax Identification Number

• Legal Description

• Common Address

Our current accepted forms of payment for recordings are cash and check only.

Recordings

• Agreements/Options to Purchase

• Assignments

• Deeds/Contract for Deed

• Easements (other than public utility)

• Foreclosures

• Leases

• Lis Pendens

• Liens

• Monument Records

• Mortgages

• Mortgage Releases

• Plats/Surveys

"Legislators have recently passed HB3878 which increases the Rental Housing Support Fee by an additional $9.00. The increase affects recording fees in all 102 counties throughout the State of Illinois and will take effect July 1, 2023"

You are welcome to come to our office and use our free terminal to search information. 

The Cass County Clerk's Office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.

 

To sign up for a Laredo subscription, please contact 217-452-2277 Ext-4

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Military Discharge DD214 Request

Who may obtain a copy of a Military Discharge?

• Military Veteran

• Former Member of the Military

• Next of kin of a deceased (Surviving Spouse that has not remarried, Parent, Child(ren), and Sibling)

Fees:

There is no charge for certified copies of the DD214.

What you need:

Application for Search of Military: Military Discharge - Request Form

(You MUST fill out a request form as required by State Law)

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Frequently Asked Questions

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