Illinois Dissolution of Marriage
Illinois dissolution of marriage records are held at the county level by the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. To search dissolution of marriage records in Illinois, you start at the courthouse where the case was filed. The state has 102 counties, and each one keeps its own case files going back many decades. You can search many counties online, visit in person, or send a mail request to the clerk. The Illinois Department of Public Health can also verify facts of a dissolution of marriage from 1962 through the present.
Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Quick Facts
Where to Find Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Records
In Illinois, dissolution of marriage records are not held by a single state office. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records, does not issue certified copies of dissolution of marriage records. Certified copies come from the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. That distinction matters when you need an official copy for a legal reason like changing a name, applying for benefits, or proving a prior marriage ended.
What the IDPH can do is verify facts of a dissolution of marriage. This covers the names of both spouses, dates of birth, the date the dissolution took place, and the city or county where it happened. The state has verification records from 1962 through the current index date. A verification costs $5 per search and is not the same as a certified copy. You can request one by mail, fax, or in person at the IDPH office at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, phone (217) 782-6554. Mail requests average four to six weeks to process. The IDPH requires a completed application, a valid government-issued photo ID, and the $5 fee paid by check or money order made payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health." Do not send cash.
The image below is from the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page, which explains what the state can and cannot provide.
For certified copies and full case files, contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. The Illinois Courts website maintains a list of all 102 circuit court clerks with contact information, addresses, and phone numbers. Each clerk can provide copies of the divorce decree, settlement papers, and all documents filed during the case. This is the most complete dissolution of marriage record available in Illinois.
How to Search Records Online
Many counties in Illinois allow you to search case records online at no cost. Judici.com covers 82 of the state's 102 counties and lets you search public court records without paying for a background check service. You can look up cases by name or case number. Judici shows litigant info, civil judgments, hearing dates, and case minutes for participating courts. The site itself notes that it is operated by Judici.com, not a court, and that its links do not constitute endorsement by any participating court.
Individual county portals often let you go deeper than Judici. Cook County has its own public search tool through the Cook County Circuit Clerk website. DuPage County has a portal at dupagecircuitclerk.gov where you can view case status and docket entries. Lake County offers an online portal through JournalTech that requires free registration. Will County has public access tools on its circuit clerk website. Kane County has a portal at kanecoportal.co.kane.il.us/portal where case numbers follow a format like 2024MR3. Each system may require you to register before viewing full case details, but most are free to use.
Illinois Legal Aid notes that online systems may not always be complete or up to date. If you need an official or certified copy of a dissolution of marriage record, you must request it directly from the clerk of the court, and fees apply. You can learn more about accessing court records at Illinois Legal Aid Online.
The image below shows the Judici.com court records search portal used across Illinois counties.
Online searches work best for basic case information like dates and party names. In-person visits to the clerk office let you see the full case file and request certified copies the same day.
Types of Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Illinois come in several forms. The divorce decree is the final court order that ends the marriage. A judge signs this after the case is resolved. It covers all terms of the dissolution: property division, child custody and parenting time, child support, and maintenance if ordered. The decree is the most complete dissolution of marriage record you can get and comes only from the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the case was heard. Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/, this act governs all aspects of divorce proceedings in Illinois including grounds for divorce, property division, child support, and parenting time.
A Marital Settlement Agreement is another document often found in dissolution case files. Under 750 ILCS 5/502, parties can agree to the terms of property and debt division in writing. Once the court approves it, the agreement becomes part of the final order. If you need records that show how specific assets or debts were split, the settlement agreement is where to look. The divorce decree may incorporate or directly reference the agreement. Both are public records held by the Circuit Court Clerk.
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, personal identifiers must be redacted from public court filings. This includes Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and the full names of minor children. A judge can also seal a dissolution case if there is a compelling reason to do so. Sealed records are not accessible to the public without a court order. These cases are uncommon but do exist in Illinois.
Dissolution of marriage records typically contain:
- Full legal names of both spouses
- Date and place of the marriage
- Date the petition was filed with the court
- Date the final judgment was entered
- County and circuit court that heard the case
- Terms of property and debt division
- Parenting plan and child support orders if applicable
Official Forms for Dissolution Cases
The Illinois Supreme Court has approved standardized forms for dissolution of marriage cases. These forms are free to download and can be used by people who file without a lawyer. The image below shows the Illinois Courts forms page for divorce, child support, and maintenance cases.
You can access official forms at the Illinois Courts forms page. The Illinois Legal Aid Online Easy Form tool walks you through the paperwork step by step. The image below shows the Illinois Legal Aid divorce resource page, which has guides and interactive form tools for people handling their own dissolution case.
Illinois Legal Aid's divorce resource at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/divorce covers uncontested divorce, joint simplified dissolution, and cases with children. Joint Simplified Dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 is available to couples who meet specific criteria, including being married less than eight years and having no children under age 18. It is a faster, simpler path that creates fewer court documents than a full dissolution proceeding.
Circuit Court Clerks Across Illinois
Illinois has 24 judicial circuits. Each circuit serves one or more counties. The Circuit Court Clerk in each county handles all case filings, stores court documents, and makes copies of dissolution of marriage records available to the public. The image below shows the Illinois circuit court clerks list maintained by the Illinois Courts system.
Each county's clerk office has its own hours, fees, and access procedures. Some counties require in-person visits for certified copies. Others accept written mail requests. A growing number have online portals for searching case records. The Illinois Courts clerks page links to contact information for every county in the state. If you do not know which county handled a dissolution, you can try Judici to search across many counties at once, or contact the IDPH to verify basic facts about a record from 1962 onward.
E-filing became mandatory for civil cases in many Illinois circuits starting January 1, 2016. This means more recent dissolution of marriage cases are often easier to access through online portals. Older cases may require an in-person visit or a written request by mail to the county clerk. Processing times vary by location and by how old the case is.
Fees for Dissolution of Marriage Records
Costs depend on what you need and which county holds the records. The IDPH charges $5 for a dissolution of marriage verification. This covers one search and the verification of facts. County Circuit Clerks set their own copy fees under the Illinois Clerks of Courts Act, 705 ILCS 105/, which in Section 27.2a establishes the framework for those fees.
Cook County charges $6 for a record search per name, $15 for the first page of a certified copy, and $6 for each page after that. Regular copies at Cook County run $2 per page. DuPage County charges $2 for the first page of a document copy, $0.50 for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 per page after that, with a $6 certification fee. Champaign County charges $5 for the first copy page and $1 for each additional page, with $6 for a certified copy. Sangamon County charges $4 per year searched for a record search, $2 per page for regular copies, and $5 per document for certification on top of copy fees. Peoria County charges $6 per name search, $2 for the first page, $0.50 per additional page, and $4 per certification.
Most counties charge between $4 and $6 for a name search and $5 to $15 for certified copies. Looking at basic case information online or on a courthouse computer is generally free. Printed copies cost money regardless of how you request them. Fees can change, so call or check the county clerk's website to confirm current rates before submitting any request.
Note: Do not send cash for record requests. Offices require a check or money order payable to the specific clerk's office.
Are Dissolution of Marriage Records Public in Illinois
Yes, dissolution of marriage records in Illinois are generally public. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/, gives people the right to access government records. Court records, including dissolution of marriage case files, fall under this law. You do not need to be a party to the case to request them. You do not need to give a reason for your request either. The records are open to anyone who asks.
Some limits apply. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 requires personal identifiers to be redacted from public court filings. A judge can also order a dissolution case sealed if someone shows a compelling reason why it should not be public. Sealed records require a court order to access. These situations are not common, but they do happen. Financial records and details about minor children may also be protected even in cases that are otherwise public in Illinois.
Historical Records and Older Cases
For older dissolution of marriage cases, the Illinois State Archives holds historical records dating from 1763 to 1900. The Archives are at the Margaret Cross Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756, phone (217) 782-4682. The IRAD system (Illinois Regional Archives Depository) helps researchers locate records stored at universities around the state. These older records are useful for genealogy research or tracking down a case from the 1800s.
The IDPH holds verification records starting from 1962. Cases before that year are not in the state system and must be requested from the county where the divorce was granted. Some counties have digitized older records, but many require an in-person visit or a written request to the circuit clerk. If you are researching a very old case or doing family history work, start with the Illinois State Archives and then check with the relevant county clerk.
For international use of a dissolution of marriage document, the Illinois Secretary of State's Index Department issues apostilles. The Springfield office is at 111 E. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62756, (217) 782-7017. The Chicago office is at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 1240, Chicago, IL 60602, (312) 814-8218. An apostille costs $2 per document. Walk-in requests at either office are processed the same day.
Browse Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Records by County
Each of Illinois's 102 counties has its own Circuit Court Clerk who handles dissolution of marriage records. Pick a county below to find clerk contact details, online search tools, fees, and local resources.
View All 102 Illinois Counties →
Dissolution of Marriage Records in Major Illinois Cities
Illinois residents file for dissolution of marriage at their county Circuit Court, not at a city office. Pick a city below to find out which court serves that area and how to search for records there.