735 ILCS 5/8-1211
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 735 - CIVIL PROCEDURE|735 ILCS 5/ - Code of Civil Procedure.|Article VIII - Evidence

 (from Ch. 110, par. 8-1211)Sec. 8-1211.     State land sales.     Copies of the books and entries of the  sale of all lands or lots heretofore or that hereafter may be sold by this  State or any of the officers thereof under any law of this State, certified  to be true and correct copies of such books and entries by the proper  person or officer in whose custody said books and entries may properly be,  shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in such books and  entries. The certificate of such officer of the purchase of or issuing of a  patent for any tract of land sold by this State or any agent of the same,  shall be deemed as evidence of title in the party certified to have made  such purchase or obtained such patent, his or her legatees, heirs or  assigns, unless a better and paramount title is exhibited for the same. The  patent for land shall be deemed a better and paramount title in the  patentee, his or her legatees, heirs and assigns, than such certificate,  and when any swamp and overflowed lands and lots heretofore have been or  hereafter may be sold under any law of this State by any proper person  or officer of the county in which such lands are located, copies of the books  and entries of the sales of such swamp and overflowed lands and lots  certified to be true and correct copies of such books and entries by the  proper person or officer in whose custody such books and entries may  properly be, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in such  books and entries. The certificate of such officer of the sale or entry  of any tract or tracts of such swamp and overflowed land or lots and of  the execution of a deed for the same, giving the date of such sale or  entry, the date of the execution of the deed, the name of the purchaser  and description of the land, under the seal of his or her office, may, if the  original deed is lost, or it is out of the power of the party wishing to  use the same to produce it in evidence, and the original deed has never  been recorded, be read in evidence in place of said original deed, and  shall be prima facie evidence of the execution and delivery of a proper  deed for such land and shall be deemed as evidence of title in  the person certified to have made such entry or purchase, his or her legatees,  heirs and assigns, until a better and paramount title is exhibited for the  same. Whenever it appears that the original deed made upon any entry  or sale of such swamp and overflowed lands is lost, or not in the power  of the party wishing to use the same to produce in evidence, and the  same has never been recorded as above stated and that the books and  original entries of sale of such swamp and overflowed lands or lots have  also been lost or destroyed, and the clerk of the circuit court  or  other proper officer has made return of such sales and entries to  the State Comptroller according to law, a certified copy of such return  by the Comptroller, under his or her seal of office, may be used in evidence  with the like force and effect as hereinbefore provided.    (Source: P.A. 86-657.)