Search Illinois Family Court Records
Illinois family court records are public documents held by Circuit Court Clerks in each of the state's 102 counties. These records cover divorce filings, child custody cases, child support orders, and other domestic relations matters handled by Illinois courts. You can search for family court records online through state portals like Re:SearchIL and Judici, or visit a clerk's office in person at the county courthouse. Each county runs its own court system, so the county where the case was filed is where you start your search. This page covers how to find, search, and get copies of family court records across Illinois.
Illinois Family Court Records Quick Facts
Illinois Family Court Records Online
Illinois offers several ways to search family court records from home. The state runs two main portals that cover most counties. Both let you look up case info without going to a courthouse. How far back the records go and what you can see depends on the county and the type of case you are searching for in Illinois.
The Re:SearchIL portal is the statewide system for court documents filed through eFileIL. You can search by party name or case number. Public users need to register for an account. Once logged in, you can view documents for most civil and family court cases in Illinois. The cost is low. You pay $0.10 per page with a cap of $3 per document. If you are a party to the case, you can see your own records at no cost. Not all case types are open to the public through this portal. Under the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy, adoption records, juvenile cases, and mental health filings are blocked from remote access. Some family case types have limited access as well.
The Re:SearchIL system pulls from eFileIL, so it works best for cases filed in recent years after e-filing became required.
Judici is a free public access portal that covers 82 Illinois counties. You can search any of the 82 participating courts at no charge. The site shows case details, hearing dates, docket entries, and party names for family court records. Available data includes civil judgments, fines, payment details, and court documents. Attorneys and judges can use Courtlook to search across all Judici counties at once. For everyone else, you pick one county at a time.
Judici is approved by the Illinois Supreme Court. It is the best free option for searching family court records in most Illinois counties.
Illinois also requires e-filing for all civil case types, including family law matters. The eFileIL system handles filings into family court cases statewide. While eFileIL is mainly a filing tool, it connects to Re:SearchIL for public record searches. You can learn more about how e-filing works through the Illinois Courts website.
E-filing is required in all Illinois counties for family law cases. This means new filings show up in the online system faster than they did with paper-only records.
What Illinois Family Court Records Show
Family court records in Illinois cover a range of case types. The most common are divorce, child custody, child support, and protective orders. Each case creates its own file at the Circuit Clerk's office. Under 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the court handles dissolution of marriage proceedings, allocation of parental responsibilities, and child support. These cases generate some of the most frequently requested family court records in Illinois.
The Illinois Courts family law resources page covers the types of cases that flow through the family division. Case types include dissolution of marriage, legal separation, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time or visitation, child support, and domestic violence protective orders. Each filing adds papers to the court record.
This page on the Illinois Courts site lists self-help resources for people handling family cases without a lawyer.
A typical family court record in Illinois includes the case number, names of the parties, and the type of case. Docket entries show a running list of court dates and what happened each time. Filings and pleadings are the documents that each side submits. Court orders and judgments are the decisions signed by the judge. Some records also contain exhibits, evidence, and transcripts of what was said in court. The Illinois Legal Aid Online divorce guide walks through what these filings look like in a typical dissolution case.
This guide from Illinois Legal Aid Online explains the divorce process step by step, which helps you know what documents to expect in the court file.
Custody cases create their own set of family court records in Illinois. The parental responsibilities page on Illinois Legal Aid Online explains how these cases work. Since 2016, Illinois uses the term "allocation of parental responsibilities" instead of custody. These records include parenting plans, court orders on decision-making, and parenting time schedules.
Parental responsibilities cases are among the most common family court records in Illinois after divorce filings.
Find Your Court in Illinois
Illinois has 102 counties. Each one has a Circuit Court that handles family law cases. The Circuit Clerk in each county keeps family court records and makes them available to the public. You need to search in the county where the case was filed. If you do not know the county, the Illinois Courts directory has an interactive map that helps you find the right court. You can search by court type and county.
Use this map to find which circuit court serves your county and get contact info for the clerk's office.
The Illinois Courts website is the official site for the state judiciary. It has links to court forms, self-help resources, and information about attending court by phone or video. The site also connects you to eFileIL and Re:SearchIL for online access to family court records across Illinois.
The Illinois Courts homepage is a good starting point if you are not sure where to begin your search for family court records.
Illinois Court Record Copy Fees
Copy fees for family court records in Illinois are set by state law. Under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act, circuit court clerks charge $2 for the first page of any document copy. Pages 2 through 20 cost $0.50 each. All pages after that cost $0.25 each. If you need a certified copy, the clerk adds $6 per document for certification. A record search fee of up to $6 per year searched may also apply. These fees are the same across all 102 counties in Illinois.
The Clerks of Courts Act spells out exactly what clerks can charge for copies of family court records in Illinois.
Looking at records online or on a courthouse computer is usually free. You only pay when you need printed copies or certified documents. The Re:SearchIL portal charges $0.10 per page with a $3 cap per document. Judici is free for basic case searches. In-person visits to the Circuit Clerk's office let you view family court records at no cost in most counties. You only pay for copies you take with you.
Note: Fees can change, so call the clerk's office to confirm current costs before you go.
Illinois Family Court Records Access
Most family court records are open to the public in Illinois. Under 5 ILCS 160, the State Records Act, any person has the right to access public records unless a specific law says otherwise. Court records fall under this rule. You do not need to be a party in the case to request copies. You do not have to give a reason for your request. The records are open to all.
The State Records Act is the foundation for public access to family court records in Illinois. It puts the burden on the government to justify any restrictions.
Some records are not open to the public. Juvenile delinquency and child protection cases are sealed by law. Adoption records are confidential. Cases that a judge has ordered sealed or expunged are off limits. Documents with Social Security numbers, bank account details, or medical records may be redacted from public copies. Certain family law or protective cases may also have restricted access if privacy or safety is at stake. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5) governs how these family cases are handled and what records they produce.
This statute covers divorce proceedings, parental responsibilities, and child support in Illinois. It is the main law behind most family court records in the state.
Illinois Family Court Legal Help
Illinois Legal Aid Online has a detailed guide on how to get copies of your court records. The guide explains that you can look up most court records on your own at no cost. In many counties, you can search online. In others, you may need to go to the clerk's office in person. Keep in mind that online systems may not always be complete or up to date. For certified copies, you must request them directly from the clerk.
This FAQ page from Illinois Legal Aid Online answers common questions about what court records show and how to get them.
The Illinois Legal Aid Online website is a hub for free legal information. It covers family law topics like divorce, custody, child support, and protective orders. The site has self-help forms, step-by-step guides, and legal facts for people handling family court cases on their own in Illinois. If you need a lawyer, the site can connect you with legal aid organizations in your area.
Illinois Legal Aid Online is one of the best free resources for people dealing with family court records in Illinois.
The Illinois Court Help portal is another state resource. It helps people who do not have lawyers find information about the court process. The portal covers family law issues and can point you to the right forms and court locations for your case. It is run by the Illinois courts and is free to use.
The Court Help portal is useful if you need to file family court papers without an attorney or if you want help understanding how the process works in Illinois.
Browse Illinois Family Court Records by County
Each county in Illinois has its own Circuit Clerk who keeps family court records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, search options, and resources for family court records in that area.
Family Court Records in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major Illinois cities file family court cases at their county Circuit Court. Pick a city below to learn about family court records in that area.