Chicago Dissolution of Marriage Records
Chicago dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Cook County Circuit Court, Domestic Relations Division. Cook County handles all dissolution filings for Chicago residents. The Domestic Relations Division sits at the Richard J. Daley Center in the Loop and processes thousands of cases each year. You can search case records online or visit the courthouse in person. The Circuit Clerk does not require you to hire a lawyer to look up a dissolution of marriage case filed in Chicago.
Chicago Quick Facts
Where to File for Dissolution of Marriage in Chicago
Chicago residents file dissolution of marriage cases at the Cook County Circuit Court. The Domestic Relations Division handles all matters related to dissolution, legal separation, civil union dissolution, child support, and parenting time. The division is at Room 802 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago. This is the right place to file a new case and to get copies of old dissolution of marriage records in Chicago.
| Court | Cook County Circuit Court, Domestic Relations Division |
|---|---|
| Address | Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington St., Room 802 Chicago, IL 60602 |
| Phone | 312-603-6300 |
| DomesticRelDivservices@cookcountycourt.com | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Circuit Clerk | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Cook County Circuit Clerk |
| Website | cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
The Daley Center is in the heart of the Loop, close to several CTA train and bus lines. The Domestic Relations Division does not handle adoptions or guardianship cases. Those go to other divisions of the Cook County Circuit Court. When you visit the Daley Center for Chicago dissolution records, bring a valid photo ID and any case numbers you have.
Note: The Chicago City Clerk does not keep dissolution of marriage records. All records are at the Cook County Circuit Clerk office.
How to Search Chicago Dissolution of Marriage Records
The Cook County Circuit Clerk offers free online search at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. You can look up dissolution of marriage cases by case number or by the name of either party. The online search shows case status, hearing dates, and basic party information. It does not show the full documents, but it gives you enough to confirm a case was filed and whether it is complete.
The screenshot below is from the Cook County Circuit Clerk case search portal, which covers all dissolution of marriage cases filed in Chicago.
To get copies of documents from a Chicago dissolution of marriage case, you can request them in person at Room 1001, 50 West Washington Street, or by mail. The Circuit Clerk charges $6 per name for a case search, $15 for the first certified copy page, and $6 for each additional page. Regular copies are $2 per page. If you know the case number, in-person searches are fast. Staff can pull records from the file the same day for most cases.
You can also use Judici.com as a secondary tool to search Illinois court records, though Cook County case detail is most complete through the official clerk portal. For historical Chicago dissolution records, some older files may be in off-site storage. Ask the clerk about retrieval times for cases filed before 1990.
Cook County Dissolution of Marriage Fees
Fees for dissolution of marriage in Chicago are set by Cook County. They apply to all cases filed at the Domestic Relations Division. The cost to file a new dissolution case depends on the type and whether children are involved. Below are the main fees you will run into when dealing with dissolution of marriage records in Chicago.
- Case search by name: $6 per name
- Certified copies: $15 first page, $6 each additional page
- Regular copies: $2 per page
- Filing a new dissolution case: varies, typically $300 to $400 depending on claims
- Filing an appearance (for the respondent): court-set fee
Fees change from time to time. Call the Domestic Relations Division at 312-603-6300 to confirm current filing costs before you come in. Cook County also offers fee waivers for low-income filers. You can get an Application to Sue or Defend as an Indigent Person at the courthouse or through the Circuit Clerk website.
Note: Fee schedules for Cook County are available on the Circuit Clerk website at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.
Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Law
Illinois law governs all dissolution of marriage cases filed in Chicago. The main statute is the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, found at 750 ILCS 5/. This law covers everything from residency rules to property division to child support. Every Chicago dissolution case follows these rules.
Under 750 ILCS 5/401, at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing for dissolution of marriage in Chicago. You do not need to have lived in Cook County for that whole time. You just need to meet the state residency rule. Once you meet the 90-day rule, you can file at the Cook County Domestic Relations Division. The residency requirement is one of the first things the court checks when a new case is filed.
Illinois is a no-fault state for dissolution of marriage. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, the only ground is irreconcilable differences. There is no need to prove fault or blame either spouse. If the parties have lived separate and apart for six months, the court presumes irreconcilable differences exist. In Chicago, most dissolution cases use this ground since it is simpler and avoids prolonged conflict.
Property division follows 750 ILCS 5/503, which requires equitable distribution. This means fair, not always equal. The court looks at how long the marriage lasted, what each spouse contributed, and other factors. Child support rules are in 750 ILCS 5/505, which uses an income-shares formula. Joint simplified dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 is an option for short marriages with no children and limited assets. Court records are subject to redaction rules under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, which protects sensitive personal data in dissolution filings.
Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records. This is separate from the court file. IDPH records go back to 1962 and cover dissolutions across the whole state, including Chicago. They are useful when you need to confirm a dissolution happened but do not need a full copy of the court decree.
IDPH dissolution records are at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. You can reach them by phone at (217) 782-6554. The search fee is $5 per name. IDPH does not issue certified copies of dissolution records. For a certified copy of the actual decree, you must go to the Cook County Circuit Clerk in Chicago. IDPH records are useful for verification only. Mail requests to IDPH typically take 4 to 6 weeks. Learn more at dph.illinois.gov.
Note: If you need a dissolution record for a legal matter in Chicago, the certified decree from the Cook County Circuit Clerk is the document most courts and agencies will accept.
Legal Help for Chicago Dissolution Cases
Chicago has several resources for people who need help with a dissolution of marriage case. These include free legal aid organizations, self-help resources, and court-provided forms. Not every person going through dissolution in Chicago needs to hire a private attorney, especially in uncontested cases with simple terms.
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org provides step-by-step guides for filing dissolution of marriage in Illinois. The site explains how to get copies of your court records, which forms to use, and what to expect at each stage. Court forms approved by the Illinois Supreme Court are at illinoiscourts.gov. These forms are free and cover dissolution, child support, and parenting plans.
For low-income Chicago residents, the Chicago Legal Clinic and the Legal Aid Chicago office provide free or reduced-fee help with dissolution cases. The Cook County Circuit Court also has a Self-Help Center in the Daley Center building where staff can answer procedural questions. They cannot give legal advice, but they can point you to the right forms and rooms. Illinois Legal Aid's main portal is at illinoislegalaid.org. The Chicago Bar Association also runs a lawyer referral service for residents who want to consult a family law attorney.
Cook County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Chicago is the seat of Cook County, and all dissolution of marriage filings for the city go through the Cook County Circuit Court. The county page has full fee information, court contact details, online access options, and more resources for dissolution cases in the Chicago area.