Champaign County Dissolution of Marriage
Champaign County dissolution of marriage records are filed and kept at the Circuit Clerk office in Urbana, Illinois. The 6th Judicial Circuit serves Champaign County, and all dissolution cases are maintained by the clerk at the Champaign County courthouse. If you need a copy of a final dissolution decree, want to look up a case by name, or need documents from an older filing, the Champaign County Circuit Clerk is the right place to start. This page explains how to find and access Champaign County dissolution of marriage records using the clerk's in-person service and the county's online record search portal.
Champaign County Quick Facts
Champaign County Circuit Clerk Office
Susan McGrath is the Circuit Clerk for Champaign County. Her office at 101 East Main Street in Urbana handles all dissolution of marriage case filings, stores all court documents, and processes public requests for copies. The clerk's office is the official keeper of dissolution records in Champaign County. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies of public court documents. For certified copies of a dissolution decree, the clerk's office is the only source in Champaign County.
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone is 217/384-3725 and fax is 217/384-3879. Copy fees in Champaign County are $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certified copies cost $6. When visiting, bring a photo ID and the names of both parties, along with the approximate year the dissolution was filed. Staff can usually pull recent cases quickly, but older archived files may take more time. Call ahead if you need an older record from the Champaign County courthouse.
The Champaign County Circuit Clerk website is a good resource for current information about the office, forms, and record access options before you visit in person.
The Champaign County Circuit Clerk website provides office hours, contact information, and links to the online record search tools available for dissolution of marriage cases.
| Circuit Clerk | Susan McGrath |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 East Main Street Urbana, IL 61801 |
| Phone | 217/384-3725 |
| Fax | 217/384-3879 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Circuit | 6th Judicial Circuit |
| Website | champaigncircuitclerk.org |
Online Dissolution of Marriage Records in Champaign County
Champaign County has its own online record search portal through the Circuit Clerk's office. You can access it at champaigncircuitclerk.org/record-search-type/. The portal lets you search dissolution cases by name or case number. It is a direct way to look up Champaign County court case information without visiting the courthouse. The search covers active and closed cases, including dissolution of marriage filings from past years.
The clerk's website also has a court file viewing option at champaigncircuitclerk.org/view-a-court-file/. This lets you see what documents are in a Champaign County dissolution case file. It can help you identify which specific documents you need to request copies of before making the trip to Urbana. Both the record search and file viewing tools are maintained by the Champaign County Circuit Clerk office.
The Champaign County record search portal lets you search dissolution cases by name directly from the clerk's website without needing to visit the courthouse in Urbana.
For a broader search across Illinois counties, Judici provides public access to many Illinois circuit courts. The Illinois courts also maintain a statewide clerk directory at illinoiscourts.gov if you need to contact other offices in the 6th Judicial Circuit or compare procedures across counties.
The Champaign County court file viewer at champaigncircuitclerk.org/view-a-court-file/ shows you the documents available in a dissolution case before you request certified copies from the clerk's office.
Champaign County Dissolution Record Fees
Champaign County has a clear fee schedule for court record copies. Plain copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Certified copies of the dissolution decree cost $6. These fees align with the Illinois Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105/, Section 27.2a. Certified copies include the court seal and the clerk's certification, making them legally accepted for official purposes such as changing your name with the Social Security Administration or refinancing a mortgage.
Filing fees for a new dissolution petition in Champaign County depend on the type of case. A joint simplified dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 is available when the marriage lasted under eight years, there are no minor children, and both parties agree on all terms. This option is less expensive than a standard dissolution. For cases involving contested property, custody, or support issues, the filing fee is higher. If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you may request a fee waiver from the Champaign County Circuit Clerk by filing an Application to Sue or Defend as a Poor Person.
Note: For current filing fees specific to your type of case, call the Champaign County Circuit Clerk at 217/384-3725 or check the clerk's website at champaigncircuitclerk.org before you file.
Illinois Dissolution Law and Champaign County Cases
Champaign County dissolution of marriage cases are governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act at 750 ILCS 5/. This law applies in every Illinois county. The 6th Judicial Circuit judges assigned to Champaign County cases apply this statute when deciding property division, child support, maintenance, and custody. It is the foundation for every dissolution case filed at the Champaign County courthouse.
Before filing in Champaign County, at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days. That requirement is in 750 ILCS 5/401. You file in the county where you or your spouse lives at the time of filing. Illinois is a no-fault state. There is no need to prove wrongdoing. You file on the ground of irreconcilable differences. Once the petition is filed and the other spouse is served, the case becomes active. Temporary orders for housing, support, or child custody can be entered by the Champaign County court while the final hearing is scheduled.
Property in Champaign County dissolution cases is divided under equitable distribution at 750 ILCS 5/503. The court considers the length of the marriage, the contribution each spouse made, and the financial outlook for both parties after the split. An even 50/50 division is not guaranteed. Child support is calculated using the income shares formula under 750 ILCS 5/505. These terms are all set out in the final dissolution decree entered by the Champaign County judge and filed with the clerk in Urbana.
Eligible couples may use the joint simplified dissolution process under 750 ILCS 5/452. This shorter process is available when the marriage was brief, there are no minor children, and both parties agree on everything. It is a faster and lower-cost path through the Champaign County courts. Standardized dissolution forms for all case types are free at the Illinois courts divorce forms page.
What Champaign County Dissolution Records Contain
A dissolution case file at the Champaign County Circuit Clerk includes every document submitted from the opening petition to the final decree. The petition names both parties and states what the filing spouse is asking the court to do. Any response, counter-petition, motion, or temporary order filed during the case is also part of the record. These are public documents that anyone can request through the clerk's office or view through the online file viewer.
The final dissolution decree is the most requested document from the Champaign County clerk. It is the signed order from the 6th Judicial Circuit judge that ends the marriage and sets all terms. The decree covers the division of property and debt under 750 ILCS 5/503, maintenance if ordered, and all parenting terms including custody, visitation schedules, and child support under 750 ILCS 5/505. The final decree is what you need for legal purposes such as name changes, property transfers, and updating financial accounts. Certified copies with the court seal are available from the clerk's office in Urbana.
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, personal identifiers including social security numbers and financial account numbers are redacted from public versions of filings. Everything else in the dissolution file is open to the public. Champaign County dissolution records are public documents under Illinois law, and the clerk must make them available for inspection or copying when requested.
IDPH Verification for Champaign County Dissolutions
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolution records from 1962 to the present. Champaign County dissolutions from that period are included. IDPH does not issue certified court copies of decrees or case documents. Their verification service confirms basic facts: the names of both parties, their dates of birth, and the date and county of the dissolution.
To request a verification, send a written request to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. The fee is $5 per search, payable by check or money order made out to "Illinois Department of Public Health." Mailed requests take four to six weeks to process. Call (217) 782-6554 for questions. If you need the full court record from Champaign County, including a certified copy of the decree, contact the Circuit Clerk at 217/384-3725 or use the online portal at champaigncircuitclerk.org. IDPH verification is most useful when you only need to confirm the basic facts of a past dissolution without getting the full court file.
Legal Help for Champaign County Dissolution Cases
Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free information about dissolution of marriage at illinoislegalaid.org. The site explains how Illinois law handles property division, child custody, support, and maintenance in plain terms. Their easy form guided tool also helps you fill out the correct paperwork before filing with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk in Urbana.
Champaign County has local legal aid resources available. Prairie State Legal Services has offices in the area and may provide free or low-cost help to income-eligible residents. Contact their intake line to find out if your case qualifies. Cases involving children or domestic violence often get priority. Even a brief consultation with a legal aid attorney can help you understand your rights before you file a dissolution in Champaign County.
The University of Illinois College of Law, located in Champaign County, also has clinical programs that may offer legal assistance in certain family law matters. Call their office to inquire about any available clinics covering dissolution cases.
All approved dissolution forms for Illinois are available free at the Illinois courts forms page. Use these forms when filing in Champaign County. The clerk's office at champaigncircuitclerk.org may also have county-specific guidance on completing and submitting your papers correctly.
The Illinois Legal Aid guide on court record access explains exactly what to expect when requesting Champaign County dissolution records from the clerk in Urbana.
Illinois Legal Aid's easy form tool helps you complete dissolution paperwork correctly before filing at the Champaign County Circuit Clerk office in Urbana.
Cities in Champaign County
Champaign County includes the city of Champaign, which has a population well over 50,000. All dissolution of marriage cases for Champaign city residents are filed at the Champaign County Circuit Clerk office in Urbana, which is the county seat. Urbana and Champaign are neighboring cities that together form the core of Champaign County. Other communities in the county include Rantoul, Savoy, and Tolono. All residents of Champaign County file their dissolution petitions at the clerk's office in Urbana.
Nearby Counties
Champaign County borders several other counties in east-central Illinois. Each has its own Circuit Clerk. File your dissolution in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.