St. Clair County Family Court Records
St. Clair County family court records are managed by the Circuit Clerk at 10 Public Square in Belleville, Illinois. With a population of about 253,694, St. Clair County is one of the most populated counties in southern Illinois. The clerk's office maintains records for divorce, custody, child support, and protective order cases. You can search for family court records through the Re:SearchIL state portal or go to the courthouse in Belleville. St. Clair County sits across the river from St. Louis, Missouri, and handles a high volume of family law filings each year.
St. Clair County Quick Facts
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Office
The St. Clair County Circuit Clerk operates out of 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. Call (618) 277-6600 for help with records. The office stores and manages all family court documents filed in St. Clair County. Staff handle new filings, keep existing case files, and process requests from the public for copies.
In-person visits are the most straightforward way to get records. Walk in with a case number or the names of the parties. The clerk will search the system and pull the case file. St. Clair County sees a lot of family law activity, so having your case number ready helps. Copies of most active cases can be made while you wait. Files from older cases that are in storage may take extra time.
Mail requests are accepted as well. Write to the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk at 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. Include case details, what documents you need, and payment for the copy fees. The Illinois Courts clerk directory has the full list of all county clerk offices.
Search St. Clair County Records Online
The Re:SearchIL portal is the main online tool for St. Clair County family court records. It connects to documents filed through eFileIL. You need a free account to search. Once logged in, look up cases by party name or case number. Documents cost $0.10 per page with a cap of $3 per document. If you are a party to the case, you can view your own records free of charge.
Certain case types have restricted remote access. The Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy blocks online viewing of adoption records, juvenile cases, and mental health filings. Some family law documents may also have limits depending on their content. For those restricted records, you need to visit the St. Clair County courthouse in person.
All civil filings in Illinois go through the eFileIL system. This includes family law cases in St. Clair County. New filings enter the digital system right away. Older paper-filed cases might not be in the online database yet.
Below is the Re:SearchIL portal used for looking up St. Clair County family court records.
Create a free account on Re:SearchIL to start searching St. Clair County case filings.
St. Clair County Family Court Fees
Copy fees at the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk follow 705 ILCS 105. The first page is $2. Pages two through twenty cost $0.50 each. Each page after twenty costs $0.25. Certification of a document is $6. State law sets these rates, so they apply uniformly across all Illinois counties.
Record search fees can run up to $6 per year searched. This fee applies when the clerk needs to search by name on your behalf. Bringing a case number usually avoids the search fee. Viewing records on a public access terminal at the courthouse in Belleville is free. You only pay when you need printed or certified copies of St. Clair County court documents.
Family Law Filings in St. Clair County
St. Clair County's family division processes divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities, child support, and orders of protection. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5) controls divorce proceedings statewide. A St. Clair County divorce file generally includes the initial petition, any response, financial disclosure forms, and a parenting plan when children are involved.
Since 2016, Illinois uses "allocation of parental responsibilities" in place of custody. These filings address parenting time and who makes key decisions for children. Child support records track amounts owed, payments made, and enforcement actions. Protective orders related to domestic violence are also handled through the family division in St. Clair County.
Some records are not public. Juvenile cases and adoption files are restricted under state law. Judges can seal specific documents or whole cases when privacy or safety is a concern. Sealed records are not available to the public through any channel.
Note: Court records in St. Clair County do not include arrest information unless criminal charges were filed as part of a domestic case.
Public Access to St. Clair County Records
Most family court records in St. Clair County are public. The State Records Act (5 ILCS 160) gives every person the right to access public records unless a specific law restricts them. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to give a reason for your request.
Final judgments, orders, and docket entries from family cases are almost always public. Exceptions include juvenile records, adoption files, sealed cases, and documents with Social Security numbers or bank account details. The Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy adds further limits on what you can see online versus what is available at the courthouse.
Legal Help in St. Clair County
Illinois Legal Aid Online is a free resource for people dealing with family court in St. Clair County. The site has guides on divorce, custody, and child support. Their court records guide explains how to request copies from the clerk.
The Illinois Court Help portal provides chat-based support for people without lawyers. It helps you find the right forms and understand how court works in St. Clair County. The Illinois Courts website also lists self-help resources and court forms that apply to family cases in this county.
Nearby Counties
St. Clair County borders several other Illinois counties. Each one has its own Circuit Clerk who keeps family court records for that area.