le – Whether someone can’t make it to the Courthouse because of the COVID-19 virus or because the business hours aren’t workable with their schedule, Macoupin County Clerk Pete Duncan recently launched a new tool allowing those who can’t make it to the office to apply for licenses and permits.

The County Clerk’s office is in charge of issuing assumed name business licenses, marriage licenses, liquor licenses as well as other various permits for the county. Over the past year, the Clerk’s office has begun a self service tool online that allows for users to apply, pay, and if the license does not require a notary, complete the application for these licenses and permits. Even if a notary is required, the applicant can print out the application, get it notarized and then return it to the Clerk’s office to complete the process. This tool allows for applicants to cut down the need to come to the Courthouse and the time spent there if they do.

“We live in a time when anyone can pull out their phone, open an app, order something, and have it delivered to them in no time at all,” Duncan said. “Yet too many in government are stuck in wanting to continue to do things the way they’ve always been done. Government has to do more to allow taxpayers to get the service when and where they want it. This self service portal is another step I’ve taken with my office to achieve that goal. While we are always happy to help in person at the Courthouse for anyone who wishes to apply there, we also know many people want to apply from the comfort of their own home and on their own schedule. Over the last ten years, we’ve strived to allow for just that.”

Duncan explained this service, which he was able to pay for completely from COVID CURES fund so not at the expense of the county’s general fund, will continue to expand in the coming weeks and months. The next step will be to allow for those who need a certified copy of a birth, marriage, or death certificate to apply and pay for it online. He is also working with the company to allow for genealogy researchers to use this service to search and print out copies of genealogical vital records.

Those who need to apply for one of these licenses or permits can visit www.macoupincountyclerk.com for more information and a link to the online self service tool.