Searching McDonough County: what to expect
McDonough County keeps a modest online footprint — 2 of the 17 sources below are the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. Illinois courts search county by county, and McDonough County has no public online docket listed — case records mean the clerk's office, or the statewide options on the Illinois court records page. Two local sources do most of the work — mcg.mcdonough.il.us for local vital-records requests, mcdonoughil.devnetwedge.com for parcel and property-tax data. One gap: recorded documents aren't published by the county itself. Use the Illinois recorded documents page for those.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all McDonough County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Illinois state publishers on the review date. 5 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
McDonough County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for McDonough County, Illinois — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
26,662
Population
Census estimate
11,600
Households
Census estimate
$48,904
Median income
Annual household
$100,400
Median home value
Census ACS
Macomb
County seat
In Illinois
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
4 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
1 source
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
1 source
Professional licenses
2 sources
Recorded documents
1 source
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
McDonough County Records at a Glance
| Record type | McDonough County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts Twelfth Judicial Circuit | State of Illinois Office of the I… |
| Criminal records | Illinois statewide criminal records sources |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Assessor's Office - McDonough County |
| Vital records | McDonough County Clerk |
| Voter records | McDonough County Elections - Voter Registration |
| Professional licenses | Professional License Look-up License Lookup |
| Recorded documents | McDonough County Clerk |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for McDonough County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — McDonough County Records
2026
McDonough County official government portal active
The official McDonough County government website at mcg.mcdonough.il.us continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
McDonough County court records portal verified
State court system links for McDonough County verified against the Illinois judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
McDonough County property records online
McDonough County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step McDonough County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the McDonough County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the McDonough County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Illinois statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Illinois state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About McDonough County Records
MYTH"McDonough County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for McDonough County are held by the Illinois state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in McDonough County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have McDonough County data."
FACTOnly the official Illinois state repository has verified, current McDonough County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The McDonough County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe McDonough County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- mcg.mcdonough.il.us — Official McDonough County government website
- www.illinoiscourts.gov — Court records — official source
- www.illinois.gov — Licenses — official source
- www.mcg.mcdonough.il.us — Recorded documents — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — McDonough County & Illinois Records
For records not specific to McDonough County, use Illinois's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Illinois statewide record systems:
- Illinois Court Records →
- Illinois Criminal Records →
- Illinois Property Records →
- Illinois Vital Records →
- Illinois Voter Records →
- Illinois Wants & Warrants →
- Illinois Licenses →
- Illinois Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Illinois statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Shortcuts for the most common McDonough County lookups:
About McDonough County, Illinois
McDonough County is located in west-central Illinois. The county seat is Macomb (official site: http://mcg.mcdonough.il.us/).
- Population: 26,662
- Households: 11,600
- Median household income: $48,904
- Median home value: $100,400
- Below poverty line: 19.8%
- Land area: 589.3 sq mi
- Population density: 45.2 people / sq mi
- Public libraries indexed: 4
- NCES schools indexed: 15
State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
Official Free
The Office of the Illinois Courts provides information about the Illinois court system, including Circuit Courts, Appellate Courts, and the Supreme Court.
Twelfth Judicial Circuit | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
Case records from the Illinois courts serving McDonough County surface through this system. Searching the official side is free.
illinoiscourts.gov
Ninth Judicial Circuit's location page
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
Court case information for McDonough County — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official court office.
9thjudicial.org
judici.com
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
Case records from the Illinois courts serving McDonough County surface through this system. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
judici.com
9thjudicial.org
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
Illinois divides its trial courts into 24 judicial circuits, each covering one or more counties.
9thjudicial.org
Professional License Look-up
Official Free
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation provide online public access through its 'License Lookup' to search and verify all Illinois professional license holders
License Lookup
Official Free
Use the search field below to locate licensee records. Please note that the results are based upon a match found in ANY of the searchable fields, such as address, city, county, license number, licensee name, and/or business name. Search results will
IDFPR Online Services Portal
Official Free
Welcome to the IDFPR Online Services Portal! Please allow 2-4 business days for your application to post in our systems and your license status to update. If you attempted to make an online payment on April 2, 2026, please do not try to submit another payment.
Inmates — VineLink
Official Free
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts contains Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Court information, including judges, and the opinions of the Supreme and Appellate Courts.
McDonough County Clerk
Official Free
Instructions for obtaining a vital record are on the form. Either form you choose below WILL need to be printed, signed and mailed to us.
Birth, Death, Other Records - Illinois Department of Public Health
Official Free
Certified copies are available from the circuit court clerk in the county where the dissolution of civil union was granted. To learn more, see RESOURCES in the right-hand column and click on List of Circuit Court Clerks. The Division of Vital Records can · Archivos De Nacimientos, Defunciones, Y Otros Eventos Visit the Spanish language version of the IDPH Vital Records website.
McDonough County Elections - Voter Registration
Official Free
Election administration for McDonough County runs through this office, from voter rolls to results. It is an official government source.
Illinois Online Voter Registration Application: Registration Lookup
Official Free
Election administration for McDonough County runs through this office, from voter rolls to results. If a link breaks, the office homepage at ova.elections.il.gov carries the new path.
McDonough County Clerk
Official Free
Any document PRIOR to 2000 is NOT online and you will need to come to our office to get copies, we do not email them · Disclaimer of Liability: McDonough County and its agencies and employees shall not be held liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information described and/ or contained.
www.elections.il.gov - /precinctmaps/
Official Free
Louis 11/9/2021 1:22 PM <dir> Edgar 1:22 PM <dir> Marshall 11/9/2021 1:22 PM <dir> Mason 11/9/2021 1:22 PM <dir> Massac 1/25/2022 10:31 AM <dir> McDonough 11/9/2021 1:22 PM <dir> McHenry 11/9/2021 1:22 PM <dir> McLean 1/25/2022 10:40 AM <dir> Menard 11/9/2021 1:22 PM <dir>
Assessor's Office - McDonough County
Official Free
Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption: has increased the 2026 maximum income limit to $75,000. This exemption allows you, as a qualified senior citizen, to have your home’s equalized assessed value (EAV) “frozen” at a base year value and prevent or limit any.
McDonough County Property Tax Inquiry
Official Free
Assessment and tax records covering McDonough County are published through this system. If a link breaks, start from mcdonoughil.devnetwedge.com directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in McDonough County?
McDonough County court cases are filed with the Circuit Clerk. Search the State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts portal: https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/. For federal matters, see PACER.
What's the difference between sealing and expunging a record in Illinois?
In Illinois, a sealed record is hidden from public view but still exists and remains visible to law enforcement, licensing boards, and some employers. An expunged record is treated by Illinois law as if it never happened — though FBI and federal records may persist regardless of state action. The relief process runs through the sentencing court.
Can my employer see a sealed record in Illinois?
Generally, most private employers running a standard name-based check cannot see a sealed Illinois record. However, government employers, law enforcement, schools, healthcare facilities, and any role requiring a fingerprint-based check can see sealed records under specific statutory exemptions. Confirm specifics with the sealing court.
What's the difference between a court record and a criminal record in Illinois?
A court record shows everything filed in a specific case — pleadings, motions, judgments. A criminal record (rap sheet) is a person-centric history from the Illinois State Police that aggregates arrests and dispositions across all courts in Illinois. Court records are searched by case; criminal records by person.