Coles County Dissolution of Marriage Lookup
Coles County dissolution of marriage records are maintained at the Circuit Clerk's office in Charleston. The 5th Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution cases filed in Coles County. If you need to find a case, get a certified copy of a final decree, or verify that a dissolution was completed, the Circuit Clerk in Charleston is your first stop. Records from recent decades are searchable online, while older files require a direct request to the court office.
Coles County Quick Facts
Coles County Circuit Clerk Office
Melissa Hurst serves as Circuit Clerk for Coles County. Her office is the official keeper of all court records in the county, including all dissolution of marriage case files. From the time a petition is filed until the final judgment is entered, every document in the case is stored and managed by the Circuit Clerk. The public can access most of these records in person during courthouse business hours.
The office is located at 651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128, Charleston, IL 61920. Call 217/348-0516 to speak with staff about searching a case or requesting copies. The fax number is 217/348-7324. When you call, have the names of both parties and any case number you may know. Staff can check by name if you do not have the case number. For certified copies of a dissolution decree in Coles County, you need to either visit in person or send a written request with payment.
| Circuit Clerk | Melissa Hurst |
|---|---|
| Address | 651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128, Charleston, IL 61920 |
| Phone | 217/348-0516 |
| Fax | 217/348-7324 |
| Judicial Circuit | 5th Judicial Circuit |
| Circuit Clerks Directory | Illinois Courts - Circuit Court Clerks |
Search Coles County Dissolution Records Online
Judici provides free online access to Coles County circuit court records, including dissolution of marriage cases. You can search by party name or case number and see filing dates, case status, and hearing information. Visit judici.com and choose Coles County from the list of counties to start your search. No account is needed and there is no fee for the basic search.
If a case is not found on Judici, it may be an older file that has not been digitized. For those situations, contact the Coles County Circuit Clerk at 217/348-0516 or send a written request to 651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128, Charleston, IL 61920. Include the names of both parties and the approximate year the dissolution was filed or finalized. The Illinois Legal Aid guide on getting court records explains how to request documents from the clerk's office if you are unfamiliar with the process.
You can search Coles County dissolution of marriage case records on Judici for free using the party's name or case number.
Coles County Dissolution of Marriage Fees
The Coles County Circuit Clerk charges copy fees per page for dissolution of marriage records. Certified copies carry a higher fee than plain copies. Before you send a payment or make a trip to Charleston, call the office at 217/348-0516 to get the current fee amounts. It is worth confirming this every time you request records since fees can change.
Filing a new dissolution case in Coles County also requires payment of court filing fees. The Illinois Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105/) sets the framework for how these fees are calculated statewide. Local courts may have some variation in what they charge for specific services. If cost is a barrier, ask about the Application to Sue or Defend as an Indigent Person to request a fee waiver when you file.
Note: Fee schedules at circuit clerk offices are public information. You can ask the Coles County clerk to provide a written fee schedule upon request.
Filing Dissolution of Marriage in Coles County
Dissolution of marriage in Coles County is governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/). Illinois law requires irreconcilable differences as the ground for dissolution. No fault needs to be proven. One spouse files a petition with the Coles County Circuit Clerk's office in Charleston. The other spouse must be served according to court rules.
The 90-day Illinois residency rule under 750 ILCS 5/401 applies to all Coles County filings. At least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before the petition date. Once filed, the case proceeds through pretrial steps and, in agreed cases, can move to a final hearing relatively quickly. Where both spouses agree and meet the eligibility requirements, a Joint Simplified Dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 is available as a simpler path. Property division follows the equitable distribution rules in 750 ILCS 5/503. Child support calculations are set by 750 ILCS 5/505.
Free standardized dissolution forms are available from the Illinois Courts approved forms page and are accepted in Coles County courts.
What Coles County Dissolution Records Contain
A Coles County dissolution of marriage file is a collection of all the court papers filed in a case. The petition starts the file. As the case moves forward, the file grows with answers, motions, temporary orders, financial disclosures, and agreements. Each document that gets filed is stamped with the date by the circuit clerk and added to the official record. The file is kept at the Coles County courthouse until the case closes, after which it goes into long-term storage.
The final judgment for dissolution of marriage is the most important document in the file. This is the signed court order that ends the marriage. It contains all the decisions from the case: property division, any maintenance or spousal support, and the full parenting plan if children are involved. Most people who request records from the Coles County Circuit Clerk are looking for a certified copy of this judgment. It is needed for things like changing a name, updating financial accounts, or proving single status for a new marriage.
Illinois public records law under 5 ILCS 140/ makes court records available to the public. However, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 requires that Social Security numbers, financial account details, and other sensitive identifiers be redacted from the public copy of any court document. The Coles County Circuit Clerk follows these rules when producing copies of dissolution records.
Illinois IDPH Verification for Coles County
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide registry of dissolution of marriage records going back to 1962. IDPH can confirm that a dissolution was granted in Coles County and provide the names of the parties, dates of birth, and the date and location of the dissolution. This is a verification service, not a copy service. For the actual decree, go to the Coles County Circuit Clerk.
Send a written request to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, or call (217) 782-6554 for assistance. The fee for a verification search is $5, payable by check or money order to "Illinois Department of Public Health." Mail requests typically take 4 to 6 weeks. See the full process at dph.illinois.gov.
IDPH tracks dissolution of marriage records for Coles County from 1962 forward and can confirm key details about any filed dissolution.
Legal Help in Coles County
If you are going through a dissolution of marriage in Coles County and need guidance, Illinois Legal Aid Online is a free starting point. The site at illinoislegalaid.org has plain-language guides on Illinois dissolution law, instructions for completing the court forms, and a tool to find legal aid near you. Prairie State Legal Services covers Coles County and can provide free representation to those who qualify based on income.
Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, and the area has a number of family law attorneys who practice in the 5th Judicial Circuit. If you need an attorney but do not qualify for free legal aid, the Illinois State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can point you to attorneys handling dissolution cases in Coles County. Many family law attorneys in the area offer an initial consultation at a flat or reduced fee, which can help you understand your options before committing to representation.
Cities in Coles County
Coles County includes Charleston, Mattoon, Oakland, and other communities. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents of any city or town in Coles County are filed at the Circuit Clerk's office at 651 Jackson Avenue in Charleston. No cities in Coles County meet the population threshold for a separate city records page on this site.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Coles County and each has its own circuit court handling dissolution of marriage. You must file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives in Illinois.