Find Cook County Family Court Records
Cook County family court records span the largest county in Illinois, with more than five million residents across Chicago and its suburbs. The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps all family case files, from divorce and custody to child support and protective orders. You can look up case data through the clerk's online search tool or visit one of several courthouse locations in person. With both a downtown Chicago office and five suburban district courthouses, Cook County gives more ways to get family court records than most counties in the state.
Cook County Quick Facts
Cook County Circuit Clerk Office
Mariyana T. Spyropoulos serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Her office is the central hub for all court records in the county, including family law cases. The main office is at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602. You can call them at (312) 603-5030.
The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court website is the best place to start. It has details on each court division, office hours, and how to request records. The site also has links to online case search tools and self-help resources for people who need to file or look up family court records in Cook County.
The screenshot below shows the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court homepage.
From this main page you can reach case search, court divisions, and filing info for all Cook County family court cases.
Cook County Family Court Divisions
Cook County splits family court work across three main divisions in the Chicago area. Each one handles a different kind of family case. This setup is unique to Cook County because of the sheer number of cases filed each year. Smaller Illinois counties use a single office for all family matters, but Cook County needs separate divisions to keep things moving.
The Domestic Relations Division is at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington St., Room 802, Chicago, IL 60602. Call them at 312-603-6300. This division handles dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, and allocation of parental responsibilities. It also covers parenting time disputes and non-parent visitation cases. Under 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, all divorce proceedings in Cook County go through this division. If you need records from a divorce or custody case filed in downtown Chicago, the Domestic Relations Division is where those files live.
The Domestic Violence Division is at 555 West Harrison St., Suite 4400, Chicago, IL 60607. Phone: 312-325-9500. This division deals with orders of protection and related family court matters involving domestic violence.
Here is how the Cook County court divisions are set up on their website.
Each division listed on this page has its own address, phone, and case types for Cook County family court records.
The Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Division operates at 1100 South Hamilton Ave., Room 13, Chicago, IL 60612. Phone: 312-433-5333. Juvenile records are not open to the public. Access to these files is restricted under Illinois law, so you will need special permission or be a party to the case to view them.
Suburban Court Districts in Cook County
Not all family court cases in Cook County go through the downtown Chicago offices. The county runs five suburban district courthouses. Each one handles family court filings for its part of the county. If you live in the suburbs, your case may have been filed at a district courthouse instead of the Daley Center.
- District 2, Skokie: 5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077, (847) 470-7250
- District 3, Rolling Meadows: 2121 Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008, (847) 818-3000
- District 4, Maywood: 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, IL 60153, (708) 865-6040
- District 5, Bridgeview: 10220 S. 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, IL 60455, (708) 974-6500
- District 6, Markham: 16501 South Kedzie, Markham, IL 60428, (708) 232-4551
Call the district closest to you to ask where a specific case was filed. Each suburban office has its own clerk staff that can help with record searches and copy requests for Cook County family court records.
Search Cook County Family Court Records Online
Cook County has its own online case search tool. This system covers domestic relations and child support cases, along with civil, law, chancery, and probate matters. You can search by party name or case number. Results show basic case data like filing dates, party names, case status, and upcoming court dates. The system also shows cases scheduled for the next five business days.
The online tool gives general case information but is not the official court record. If you need certified documents, you still have to go to the clerk's office in person. Also, criminal case files are not on the online system at all. But for family court records like divorce and custody cases, the online tool works well for a quick search.
Below is the Cook County online case search page where you can look up family court records.
This tool is free to use and does not need an account for basic searches.
The statewide Re:SearchIL portal is another way to find Cook County family court records. It shows documents filed through the eFileIL system. Fees run $0.10 per page, with a max of $3 per document. Parties to a case can see their own documents for free.
Note: Online case data may not always be complete or fully up to date.
Cook County Family Record Fees
Fees for copies of family court records in Cook County follow 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act. The first page costs $2. Pages two through twenty are $0.50 each. All pages after that cost $0.25. A certified copy has an added $6 fee per document for the certification stamp.
Search fees run up to $6 per year searched. This comes into play when you ask the clerk to dig through records for a certain name and you lack a case number. Free online searches through the Cook County case search tool can help you find that number before you go in person, which might save you the search fee.
The Cook County government provides info on divorce records and related fees on their service page.
This page walks through how to get divorce records and what documents you can request from Cook County.
Types of Cook County Family Court Cases
Family court records in Cook County cover many case types. Divorce is the most common. Under 750 ILCS 5, couples seeking to end their marriage file a petition for dissolution. The case file will include the petition, financial disclosures, parenting plans if kids are involved, and the final judgment. Cook County processes thousands of these cases each year.
Custody cases, now called allocation of parental responsibilities in Illinois, are another big part of the family court docket. These records show how a judge divided parenting time and decision-making power between parents. Child support cases track payment amounts, modifications, and enforcement actions. Orders of protection are filed when one party claims abuse or threat from another.
Most of these records are public. However, cases involving minors may have restrictions. Adoption files are sealed. Judges can also seal other cases if there is good reason.
Cook County Court Resources
General information on court services is on the clerk's website. This page covers how to file, what to bring, and what to expect when you visit the courthouse. It is a useful starting point if you have never dealt with the court system before.
The general information page from the Cook County Clerk of Court is shown below.
Visitors to this page can learn about court procedures, filing steps, and office locations throughout Cook County.
The clerk also has a self-help resources page. It links to forms, guides, and other tools for people who are filing on their own without a lawyer. If you need to file a family court case or respond to one, the resources page is a good place to check. Many of the forms you need for Cook County family court are there.
Here is the self-help resources page from the Cook County Clerk.
This page gathers forms and guides to help with family court filings in Cook County.
Legal Help in Cook County
Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free guides on family law topics. You can find step-by-step instructions for filing for divorce, modifying custody, and understanding child support calculations. The site also explains how to get copies of your court records in Illinois.
The Illinois Court Help portal offers live chat support. Trained staff can help you fill out forms and understand what steps to take. This is especially useful for Cook County residents who are navigating the family court system on their own. The service is free and can save time compared to calling the clerk's office.
Under 5 ILCS 160, the State Records Act, anyone has the right to access public records in Illinois. That includes most family court records in Cook County. Sealed and restricted files are the exception, but standard divorce and custody records are open.
Note: Legal aid sites give general guidance, not legal advice for your specific case.
Cities in Cook County
Cook County includes Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, along with many suburbs. Family court records for all Cook County cities are held by the same Circuit Clerk. Here are major cities in Cook County that have their own pages with more local detail:
Cicero sits just west of Chicago. Schaumburg and Arlington Heights are in the northwest suburbs near the Rolling Meadows courthouse. Evanston and Skokie are north of the city and close to the Skokie district courthouse. Palatine, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, and Hoffman Estates are also in the north and northwest suburbs.
In the south suburbs, Orland Park, Oak Lawn, and Tinley Park are near the Bridgeview and Markham courthouses. Berwyn and Oak Park border Chicago to the west. All of these cities fall under the Cook County family court system, but different suburban district courthouses may handle cases based on where you live in the county.
Nearby Counties
Cook County borders several other counties in the Chicago metro area. If a family court case was not filed in Cook County, it may be in one of these neighboring jurisdictions. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and its own record system.