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Illinois · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

Circuit Court Clerk (county level - each of Illinois's 102 counties / 25 judicial circuits) / Illinois Supreme Court (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile) or Appellate/Supreme Court
  2. Note: Illinois has 25 judicial circuits - each county is part of a circuit; some circuits cover single counties (Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, Winnebago, Sangamon), others cover multiple counties
  3. Search online:
  4. ILLINOIS COURTS CASE MANAGEMENT ONLINE (CMIS): Some circuits have online case search at courts.illinois.gov
  5. COOK COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: cocircuitclerk.org - cook county has its own robust case search system
  6. OTHER COUNTIES: Check your specific county circuit court clerk website; many have online case search
  7. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the relevant county
  8. In-person access: visit the courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
Online searches free for basic case information; certified copies: typically $2 per page plus certification fee; contact specific county clerk for current schedule
Processing Time
Immediate online searches for indexed records; same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - courts.illinois.gov and individual county circuit court clerk websites; Cook County: cocircuitclerk.org
Where to Go
Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed
County-specific variations apply

Illinois has 102 county circuit courts each with their own case management systems. Cook County (Chicago) has the most comprehensive online case access and largest circuit. Outstate counties vary significantly in online access. Some circuits have unified online systems; others require county-by-county lookup. Verify online availability with your specific county circuit court clerk.

Illinois Notes

Important state-specific details

  • Illinois Supreme Court and Appellate Court opinions: illinoiscourts.gov.
  • Cook County Circuit Court (largest trial court in the US): online case search at cocircuitclerk.org; (312) 603-5030.
  • Criminal history background checks: Illinois State Police - isp.state.il.us; Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act allows public access to conviction records.
  • Illinois Sex Offender Registry: isp.illinois.gov/sor - searchable online.
  • Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 5 ILCS 140): agencies must respond within 5 business days.
  • Juvenile records: generally sealed; different access rules apply.
  • Many smaller counties: circuit court clerks have limited staff and online access; call ahead before visiting.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Illinois Supreme Court / Illinois Courts - illinoiscourts.gov | (217) 782-2035; Illinois State Police (criminal history) - isp.state.il.us | (217) 782-7980