Greene County Dissolution of Marriage Lookup
Greene County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Clerk office in Carrollton, the county seat in west-central Illinois. The 4th Judicial Circuit handles all family law matters for Greene County, including dissolution of marriage petitions, decrees, and related orders. Greene County has about 13,000 residents, and the clerk's office serves as the official repository for all court records. If you need to find a dissolution case, request a certified copy of a decree, or learn how to file, this page covers what you need to know about Greene County dissolution of marriage records.
Greene County Quick Facts
Greene County Circuit Clerk Office
Mary White serves as the Circuit Clerk for Greene County. Her office holds all dissolution of marriage case files filed in the county. This includes petitions, responses, settlement agreements, parenting plans, and final decrees. The clerk's office can search records by name or case number and provide certified copies of final decrees and other court orders.
Carrollton is a small county seat, so the office operates with a modest staff. Calling ahead is always a good idea before you visit. The 4th Judicial Circuit covers Greene County along with several other counties in the region. If you are near the county line, check which county you actually live in before you file, since that determines where your dissolution of marriage case must be filed.
| Circuit Clerk | Mary White |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 318 Carrollton, IL 62016 |
| Phone | 217/942-3421 |
| Fax | 217/942-5431 |
| Judicial Circuit | 4th Judicial Circuit |
| County Seat | Carrollton, IL |
Search Greene County Dissolution Records Online
Illinois provides free online access to circuit court records through Judici. Greene County participates in the Judici system, which lets you look up dissolution of marriage cases by party name or case number. You can see basic case data like the filing date, type, and status at no charge. Go to www.judici.com and choose Greene County from the drop-down menu to search available records.
Judici is useful for confirming whether a dissolution case was filed or for getting a case number to use when you contact the clerk. It does not always include document images, so for the actual court papers or a certified copy of a decree, you will need to reach out to the Greene County Circuit Clerk directly. The Illinois Courts website also lists all circuit clerks at www.illinoiscourts.gov if you need updated contact information.
The Illinois Courts website lists every circuit court clerk in the state, including Greene County, with contact information for requesting dissolution of marriage records.
Greene County Dissolution of Marriage Fees
Filing fees for dissolution of marriage in Greene County are set by the circuit court in line with Illinois law. Base filing fees across Illinois generally run between $200 and $250 for a dissolution petition. Greene County's exact amount may differ slightly. To get the current fee, call the Circuit Clerk office at 217/942-3421 before you file. Copy fees for records requests are charged on a per-page basis, with certified copies costing more than plain photocopies.
If you cannot pay the filing fee, you can request a waiver. File an Application to Sue or Defend as an Indigent Person along with your petition. The court reviews your financial information and can waive the fee if you qualify. This is a standard process in Illinois courts, and many Greene County residents who apply do receive waivers. The fee waiver does not affect how the court handles your dissolution case.
Note: The Clerks of Courts Act, 705 ILCS 105/, governs how Illinois circuit clerks handle fee collection.
Dissolution of Marriage Process in Greene County
Dissolution of marriage in Greene County is governed by 750 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, you or your spouse must have lived in Illinois for at least 90 days before you can file. The petition goes to the Circuit Clerk in Carrollton. After filing, the other party must be served with legal notice of the case before it can move forward.
Illinois is a no-fault state. The only ground for dissolution is irreconcilable differences. You do not have to prove that your spouse did anything wrong. For marriages that meet specific conditions, a Joint Simplified Dissolution may be available under 750 ILCS 5/452. This is limited to short marriages with no minor children, limited marital assets, and both parties waiving maintenance. Most dissolution cases in Greene County go through the standard process, which includes addressing property division under 750 ILCS 5/503 and, if there are children, child support under 750 ILCS 5/505.
The court may issue temporary orders while the case is open. These can cover where children live, who pays household bills, and what happens to marital property during the proceeding. All of these orders become part of the public record in Greene County. The final decree is the judge's order closing the case and officially dissolving the marriage.
Official Illinois court forms for dissolution of marriage, including petitions and parenting plan templates, are available from the Illinois Courts website for use in Greene County filings.
What Greene County Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage file in Greene County typically includes the petition, the other party's response, any temporary court orders, the marital settlement agreement, and the final decree of dissolution. The petition names both parties and states the basic facts of the marriage and the grounds for dissolution. The settlement agreement covers how property and debts are divided, whether maintenance is agreed to, and, if the couple has children, the parenting plan and child support terms.
Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers and financial account numbers must be redacted from public filings. This protects both parties from identity-related risks. The final decree is the document most people need for legal purposes like changing a name, handling real estate, or proving marital status. Certified copies of the decree are available from the Greene County Circuit Clerk. Records are public under 5 ILCS 140/, and you do not need to be a party to the case to request them.
- Petition for dissolution of marriage
- Service of process documentation
- Temporary orders for support or property
- Marital settlement agreement
- Parenting plan (when children are involved)
- Final decree of dissolution
IDPH Record Verification for Greene County
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records from 1962 to the present. If you need to confirm that a dissolution occurred in Greene County without getting the full case file, IDPH offers a written verification service for $5 per search. You submit a request by mail with the names of both parties and the approximate year. IDPH responds by mail in 4 to 6 weeks. They do not issue certified copies. For certified copies, contact the Greene County Circuit Clerk. Reach IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702-2737, phone (217) 782-6554.
IDPH offers a written verification of dissolution of marriage records for events statewide from 1962 forward, including cases filed in Greene County.
Legal Help for Greene County Dissolution Cases
Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free legal guidance for people handling dissolution of marriage without a lawyer. Greene County residents can use their step-by-step guides, legal articles, and Easy Form tool at www.illinoislegalaid.org. The site covers the full dissolution process, from filing the initial petition to reaching a final decree. The Easy Form system lets you build your own court documents using plain-language questions.
For record requests, Illinois Legal Aid has a dedicated guide at www.illinoislegalaid.org that explains how to ask the Greene County clerk for your records and what to expect. The Illinois Courts website at www.illinoiscourts.gov has standardized forms for dissolution cases. These forms are accepted in Greene County and all other Illinois circuit courts.
The Illinois Legal Aid Easy Form tool helps Greene County residents prepare dissolution of marriage petitions and other required filings at no cost.
Cities in Greene County
No city in Greene County meets the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Carrollton is the county seat and the main population center. All Greene County residents, including those in White Hall and Roodhouse, file dissolution of marriage cases at the Circuit Clerk office in Carrollton.
Nearby Counties
These counties share borders with Greene County. If you are not sure which county to file in, use the county where you live now as your guide for filing your dissolution of marriage petition.