Perry County Family Court Records Search
Perry County family court records are stored at the Circuit Clerk's office in Pinckneyville, Illinois. These records document divorce filings, child custody cases, child support orders, and other domestic relations matters that go through the Perry County court system. Free online access is available through Judici, which covers Perry County along with 81 other Illinois counties. The clerk's office in Pinckneyville also accepts in-person and mail requests for court documents. Whether you need a copy of a divorce decree or want to look up a custody case, the Circuit Clerk is the office to contact.
Perry County Quick Facts
Perry County Circuit Clerk
The Circuit Clerk's office in Perry County manages all court records, including family law case files. The office is in the Perry County Courthouse in Pinckneyville. Staff there handle filing of new cases, storage of existing records, and requests for copies from the public. If you need to see a family court record, this is the office to contact.
You can visit the clerk's office in person during standard business hours. Bring a case number if you have one. If not, give the clerk the names of the people involved and they will search for the case. The clerk can pull the file and make copies on the spot for most active cases. For older cases or files that have been archived, it may take more time. Walk-in service is the quickest way to get what you need.
Mail requests work too. Send a written letter to the Perry County Circuit Clerk in Pinckneyville with the case number or party names, the type of document you need, and a check or money order to cover copy fees. Include a return address so the office can mail the copies to you.
Search Perry County Records Online
Perry County is on the Judici portal. This is free. No account is needed for basic searches. Visit the Judici site, select Perry County from the county list, and enter a party name or case number. You will see docket entries, hearing dates, case minutes, and the names of the people involved. Family court cases like divorces and custody matters show up alongside other case types.
Judici is good for getting a quick look at case status and history. But it does not always show full documents. You might see a docket entry saying a petition was filed, but you would need the clerk's office to actually read the petition. For cases filed electronically, the Re:SearchIL portal may have the actual documents. That costs $0.10 per page, with a max of $3 per document.
Below is an image of the Illinois Court Help portal, a resource that can guide you through searching for records in Perry County and across the state.
This state-run portal offers chat support and can help you understand how to find and request court records.
Perry County Court Record Fees
Fees for copies of family court records in Perry County follow state law. Under 705 ILCS 105, the first page of any copy is $2. Pages two through twenty cost $0.50 each. Everything after that is $0.25 per page. Certification costs $6 per document.
A search fee of up to $6 per year can apply when the clerk has to look up records by name. Having a case number on hand usually avoids this fee. Browsing records online through Judici is completely free.
Note: Confirm current fees with the clerk before sending payment by mail.
Types of Family Records in Perry County
Family court records in Perry County cover several types of cases. Dissolution of marriage is the most common. These divorce cases are governed by 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. A typical file holds the original petition, any reply from the other party, financial statements, a parenting plan if there are kids, and the final judgment.
Custody matters now fall under the label "allocation of parental responsibilities" in Illinois. These records deal with parenting time, decision-making, and modifications. Child support cases track payment orders and enforcement. Orders of protection also create records in the family court system when they come from domestic situations. All of these files are managed by the Perry County Circuit Clerk.
Restricted records include juvenile cases, adoption files, and anything a judge has sealed. Documents with Social Security numbers or bank account info are typically redacted from public copies.
Public Access to Perry County Records
Under 5 ILCS 160, the State Records Act, anyone can ask to see public records in Illinois. You do not have to be a party in the case. You do not have to give a reason. Most family court records in Perry County are open for public review. Walk into the clerk's office with a name or case number and ask to see the file.
Final judgments in divorce and custody cases are nearly always available. Court orders and docket entries are public too. The exceptions are sealed cases, juvenile files, adoption records, and documents with protected personal info. If a judge has ordered a case sealed, no public search method will turn it up.
Legal Help for Perry County
Free legal resources are available for Perry County residents. Illinois Legal Aid Online covers divorce, custody, child support, and how to get court records. The Illinois Court Help site offers chat-based assistance and can walk you through forms and filing steps. Both are free and designed for people handling family court matters without an attorney.
The Illinois Courts website has self-help resources and links to eFileIL. Since e-filing is required for all family law cases in Illinois, that link is useful if you need to file something new in Perry County.
Nearby Counties
Perry County is in southern Illinois. If a family court case was filed in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's clerk for records.