How to Search Illinois Court Records (Start Here)

Illinois court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk in each county. The Circuit Court handles trial-level cases. Illinois does not have a single statewide court search portal — you must go to the county where the case was filed.

What this page covers: Illinois state court case records. What it does not cover: Federal court cases (PACER) or sealed/juvenile records.

Where to start: Identify the county where the case was filed, then contact the Circuit Clerk in that county. Some counties courts offer online case search on their individual websites.

Common mistake: Without a statewide portal, many people search the wrong county. If you are unsure where a case was filed, start with the county where the defendant lived or where the incident occurred.

Trial court of general jurisdiction
State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
Highest court
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
Statewide civil case search
State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
Statewide criminal docket search
Docket Search
Federal courts
Illinois Central District Court | PACER: Federal Court Records
Number of counties
102 counties
Population
12,710,158
Households
4,956,000
Median Income
$78,433
Median Home Value
$250,800
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Illinois court URLs verified against the official .gov / state-judiciary publisher on the review date. 6 primary .gov / .uscourts.gov sources cited below.

Illinois Court Records — Key Numbers (2024)

The Illinois Circuit Court Statistical Report Dashboard provides quarterly caseload data sourced from all 24 circuits.
Illinois Courts
Court system
Statewide
2024
Latest fiscal year
Official .gov data
.gov
Primary source
Never data brokers
Free
Public access
Most case records
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems editorial

What Illinois court records actually cost

Illinois pricing is county-driven: most circuit clerks offer free case lookups, and the statewide re:Search index is free for basic use. Copies and certifications are billed per page by each clerk, and expungement filing fees vary by county — with fee waivers available and no fee at all for cases that qualify for automatic sealing.

Exact amounts are set by each court's current fee schedule — check the official source before you order.

What Changed in 2026 — Illinois Court Records

2026
Illinois 2024 caseload report active
The Illinois Courts publishes its current 2024 case filings, dispositions, and trends on the official statistics portal.
2026
Illinois statewide case-access portal live
Illinois Courts's public case-access portal continues to operate at www.illinoiscourts.gov with statewide coverage.
2026
Latest Illinois judiciary annual report
The most recent annual report from the Illinois Courts is publicly available with full statistical addenda.
2026
Illinois courts main directory
Illinois's primary judicial-branch directory at www.illinoiscourts.gov continues to be the canonical entry point for all state court matters.

The 4-Step Illinois Court Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Identify the court level
In Illinois, civil and criminal trial cases sit in Illinois Courts trial courts. Appellate matters go to the state's appellate courts.
2
Step 2 — Use the state case-access portal
Start at https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/ — the official public case-access for Illinois.
3
Step 3 — Federal cases are separate
Federal cases involving Illinois parties live on PACER (pacer.uscourts.gov), not the state system.
4
Step 4 — Sealed / expunged records
Records sealed or expunged under Illinois law are NOT searchable on public portals. To verify, contact the originating court clerk directly.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Illinois Court Records

MYTH"Illinois court records are on PACER."
FACTPACER only has federal cases. Illinois state court records live on www.illinoiscourts.gov.
MYTH"All Illinois case files are free."
FACTPartly true. Searching and viewing dockets is usually free. Downloading full documents or certified copies often costs $1-$5 per item.
MYTH"Sealed = deleted in Illinois."
FACTSealed records still exist — they're just hidden from public search. The court clerk and law enforcement can still access them.
MYTH"Third-party search sites are official."
FACTOnly www.illinoiscourts.gov and the linked official portals are authoritative for Illinois.
MYTH"Same-day filings show online immediately."
FACTMost Illinois courts have a 24-48 hour processing lag before new filings appear in public search.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Court Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Court records
Sample Illinois counties: Adams · Alexander · Bond · Boone · Brown

Court Records Databases

34 official Illinois court records sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Court Records

Department Information - Bureau County Circuit Clerk
Official Free
The Circuit Clerk’s office is responsible for the collection and distribution of fines, fees, and costs. Our office is located on the main floor of the Courthouse and is divided into two parts. Our front office contains the Traffic, Criminal, and Civil Departments and the Public Access workstation where court records may be searched. Our back office contains the Probate, Jury, Juvenile and Child Support Departments. The Bureau County Circuit Clerk’s Office consists of 10 full-time employees including the Circuit Clerk and the current annual budget is $335,220.00.
🌐 circuitclerk.bureaucounty-il.gov
View a Court File
Official Free
Champaign County Historical Archives · Illinois State Archives · Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission · The Champaign County Circuit Clerk's Office has been preserving court records since the late 1800's. We are particularly proud of our collection of Wills and Probate files.
🌐 champaigncircuitclerk.org
Cook County Clerk of Court - Case Search
Official Free
For your convenience, the Clerk of the Circuit Court offers on-line access to electronic docket information for cases in the Criminal divisions. By using this service, the user agrees and understands that he or she is bound by the on-line access to court records Terms of Agreement · Copyright ...
🌐 casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
Online Case Search | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
Official Free
Search the full electronic docket for cases filed in the Civil, Law, Chancery, and Domestic Relations/Child Support divisions. Start Search · Search records for cases filed in Probate Court related to claims against estates and guardianships. Start Search · Search records related to Wills filed with the County of Cook, Illinois...
🌐 casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
Cook County Court - Probate Wills
Official Free
For your convenience, the Clerk of the Circuit Court offers on-line access to electronic docket information for cases in the Criminal divisions. By using this service, the user agrees and understands that he or she is bound by the on-line access to court records Terms of Agreement · Copyright ...
🌐 casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
https://casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Dock...
Official Free
Case records from the Illinois courts serving Illinois surface through this system. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official court office.
🌐 casesearch.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts
Official Free
Search Illinois Supreme Court opinions and Illinois Appellate Court opinions and Rule 23 orders for many different years.
🌐 illinoiscourts.gov
DeKalb County, Illinois Official Site
Official Free
Search traffic, criminal and civil court records. ... View jury duty responsibilities and status. ... Access to various Joiner History Room data sets. ... Search sex offender status. ... Warrant search for local agencies- authorized users only. ... View County Clerk & Recorder’s Office historical documents.
🌐 dekalbcounty.org
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTY-THIRD ...
Official Free
criminal case category. For assistance with e-filing, go to the SRL Room, located on the first floor in the DeKalb County · Courthouse. 1. A filing fee in the amount of $187.00 (non-refundable) for each petition filed, due at the time of e- filing.” This amount includes a $60.00 fee payable to the Illinois State Police.
🌐 dekalbcounty.org
Fulton County Circuit Court Case Files Index (1825–1876)
Official Free
The Fulton County Circuit Court Case Files Index was compiled by Tim Daudelin, intern for the Illinois Regional Archives Depository at Western Illinois University in Macomb. The 9,399 records in the database were extracted from the Fulton County Circuit Court Case Files (IRAD Accession 2/0001/01).
🌐 ilsos.gov
SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Official Free
Case records from the Illinois courts serving Illinois surface through this system. It is independently run, so verify anything critical against the official court office.
🌐 cic.countyofkane.org
Madison County ILLINOIS
Official Free
This is the court-records channel for Madison County: case searches and docket details. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 madisoncountyil.gov
Case Search - Public Case Access
Official Free
This is the court-records channel for Illinois: case searches and docket details. Confirm details with the official court office before relying on them.
🌐 caseinfo.mchenrycountyil.gov
Court Records Search | McLean County, IL - Official Website
Official Free
This information pertains only to cases held before the Courts of McLean County, IL. It is provided as a service and is not considered the official court record. The Court and the Circuit Clerk do not provide any warranties ensuring its accuracy. It is the responsibility of the individual to ...
🌐 mcleancountyil.gov
Sangamon County, Illinois Public Records Lookup | SangamonRecords.us
Official Free
Public records in Sangamon County ... collection of public records that includes: Court Records: Civil, criminal, traffic, probate, and family court cases maintained by the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk ...
🌐 sangamonrecords.us
St. Clair County Illinois > Home
Official Free
Upcoming Events: View All · The St. Clair County Administration and Courts Building is preparing to undergo extensive renovations that will affect parking, traffic, and building access. To aid those who are planning on visiting the building, we have set up an informational page that will provide ...
🌐 co.st-clair.il.us
Judici | Participating Courts
Official Free
Background check agencies can use our Multicourt service to search across all Judici counties. We also offer web services to automate searches, as well as Court Reports of all cases filed, docketed or disposed (civil or criminal) and Will Index Searches. for a complete list of Illinois Courts ·
🌐 judici.com
Court Case Information
Official Free
View Court Case Information · Court case information can be viewed on this website. You may search for specific case information using participant name or case number · Search by Participant Name · To search by Participant Name, enter information below in Last Name First Name format · Smith ...
🌐 clericusmagnus.com
FOIA/Public Records
Official Free
The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk supports open government and an informed public. While we are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (see Copley Press, Inc. v. Administrative Office of the Courts, (1995), 271 III. App. 3d 548, appeal denied, 163 III. 2d 551; see also Illinois Attorney General Opinion No. 99-005 (March 15, 1999)), the official court records ...
🌐 lasallecounty.com
Search Records Online | DuPage Co, IL
Official Free
Welcome to the DuPage County Recorder’s website. Here you may access our Digital Imaging System from the convenience of your home or office. This website is provided by the DuPage County Recorder's Office as an extension to our Public Access Terminals located in the Recorder's Office.
🌐 dupagecounty.gov
Court Schedules
Official Free
Court case information for Illinois — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 circuitclerkofwillcounty.com
Adams County Court Search
Official Free
This page is operated by Judici.com, not a court. Links to this page do not constitute endorsement by any court of the content, policies, or services offered here · For questions or comments about this web site, please see our Contacts Page
🌐 judici.com
jacksoncoilcircuitclerk.gov
Official Free
Find public records in Jackson County. Learn more about how to lookup and obtain Jackson County inmate records, criminal records, arrest records, court records, bankruptcy records, sex offender information, vital records and more. Navigate the complexities of public records laws in Jackson County.
🌐 jacksoncoilcircuitclerk.gov
Virginia VINE - Virginia
Official Free
Illinois VINE — free, secure custody status, criminal case info and victim notification (VINELink/vineapps.com).
🌐 vinelink.vineapps.com
Smart Search - Peoria County Records Portal
Official Free
Case records from the Illinois courts serving Peoria County surface through this system. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 portal-ilpeoria.tylertech.cloud
County Offices
Official Free
Court case information for Illinois — dockets, hearing dates, and case lookups. Confirm details with the official court office before relying on them.
🌐 lasallecounty.com
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.
🌐 illinoiscourts.gov
Illinois Northern Bankruptcy Court | PACER: Federal Court Records
Official Paid
PACER covers the federal side: cases from Illinois appear here when they were filed in U.S. district or bankruptcy court. Confirm details with the official court office before relying on them.
🌐 pacer.uscourts.gov

Illinois Counties

102 Illinois counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Cook DuPage Lake Will Kane McHenry Winnebago Madison St. Clair Adams Alexander Bond Boone Brown

Which Illinois counties publish court dockets online

51 of Illinois's 104 counties run their own online source for court dockets, based on what this directory indexes. Every other county is covered by the statewide systems listed above — click a county for its full records page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois's trial courts publish case lookups through the Illinois Courts. Start at www.illinoiscourts.gov — most case dockets, filings, and hearing calendars are searchable by name, case number, or filing date. County-level clerks publish additional searches; see the cards below for direct county court links.

The Illinois Courts operates Illinois's official statewide judicial portal at www.illinoiscourts.gov. Basic case lookups are typically free of charge; certified copies and bulk-data exports may incur a per-document or per-search fee. Federal cases for Illinois residents are searched separately through PACER.

Trial courts in Illinois handle the original filing of civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. Appellate courts review questions of law from trial-court decisions. The Illinois Courts publishes the full court structure, judge rosters, and jurisdiction maps at www.illinoiscourts.gov.

Online coverage varies by court and case type. Most Illinois county courts have digitized records from approximately the late 1990s or early 2000s forward; older case files may require an in-person clerk visit or a written record request. Check the Illinois Courts portal at www.illinoiscourts.gov for each court's coverage window.

No. Illinois courts redact or remove sealed, expunged, juvenile, and certain confidential records from public-facing searches as required by state statute and court rule. If a record was previously visible and has since been sealed, it will no longer appear in the Illinois Courts portal. For verification you can contact the county clerk where the case was filed.