Hardin County Dissolution of Marriage
Hardin County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Circuit Clerk office in Elizabethtown, the county seat along the Ohio River in the far southern tip of Illinois. The 1st Judicial Circuit Court serves Hardin County and handles all family law matters, including dissolution of marriage filings. With fewer than 4,000 residents, Hardin County is Illinois's least populous county, but the Circuit Clerk maintains complete records of all dissolution of marriage cases filed there. This page covers how to search those records, what the filing process involves, and where to get help in Hardin County.
Hardin County Quick Facts
Hardin County Circuit Clerk Office
Nancy Pennell is the Circuit Clerk for Hardin County. Her office in Elizabethtown holds all dissolution of marriage case files for the county. This includes petitions, temporary orders, marital settlement agreements, and final decrees. Staff can search the case index by party name or case number and provide certified copies of court documents. The clerk office handles both walk-in and mail-in records requests.
Hardin County is extremely rural and small. The courthouse in Elizabethtown serves the entire county. Because of the small staff, calling ahead before visiting is strongly recommended. The 1st Judicial Circuit covers a group of counties in the far southern part of Illinois. If you live near a county line, confirm which county you are in before filing, since venue for dissolution of marriage is determined by where you live. Call 618/287-2735 with any questions.
| Circuit Clerk | Nancy Pennell |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 308 Elizabethtown, IL 62931 |
| Phone | 618/287-2735 |
| Fax | 618/287-2713 |
| Judicial Circuit | 1st Judicial Circuit |
| County Seat | Elizabethtown, IL |
Online Records Access for Hardin County Dissolution Cases
Hardin County participates in the Judici system, which gives the public free online access to circuit court records across Illinois. You can search dissolution of marriage cases by name or case number at www.judici.com. The system shows basic case data like the filing date and case status. For a county as small as Hardin, the number of cases in the system is limited, but Judici is still a useful first step for confirming whether a dissolution was filed there.
Because Hardin County has a small staff, online searching can save you a trip to the courthouse. If you confirm the case exists in Judici, you can then contact the clerk by phone or mail to request copies. The Illinois Courts directory at www.illinoiscourts.gov lists all circuit clerks with current contact details, including Hardin County.
Judici provides free public access to Hardin County circuit court records, including dissolution of marriage cases, searchable without a courthouse visit.
Dissolution of Marriage Fees in Hardin County
Filing fees for dissolution of marriage in Hardin County follow Illinois circuit court standards. Base fees in Illinois typically run between $200 and $250 for a dissolution petition, though the exact amount in Hardin County may vary. Call the clerk at 618/287-2735 to get the current fee before you file. Copy fees are charged per page when you request records, with certified copies costing more than plain photocopies.
A fee waiver is available if you cannot afford the filing cost. File an Application to Sue or Defend as an Indigent Person along with your petition. A judge reviews your financial situation and can waive all or part of the fees. This is a standard Illinois process, and qualifying for a waiver does not disadvantage you in your dissolution case. The Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105/ governs how clerks in Hardin County and across Illinois manage court fees.
Dissolution of Marriage Law in Hardin County
Dissolution of marriage in Hardin County is governed by 750 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, one spouse must have been an Illinois resident for at least 90 days before filing. The petition is filed with the Circuit Clerk in Elizabethtown. After filing, the other party must receive legal notice before the case can proceed to any hearings.
Illinois uses a no-fault system. You do not need to prove fault. The sole ground for dissolution is irreconcilable differences. Couples who qualify for a Joint Simplified Dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 can use a faster process. This is available for short marriages with no minor children, limited marital property, and both parties waiving maintenance. For other cases, property is divided under 750 ILCS 5/503, and child support is set under 750 ILCS 5/505 when children are part of the case.
The judge may issue temporary orders for support, custody, or property use while the case is open. All of these filings become part of the public record in Hardin County. Once the final decree is signed, the marriage is legally dissolved, and the decree is stored permanently in the clerk's records.
The Illinois Courts website offers free standardized dissolution forms, including petitions and financial affidavits, that Hardin County residents can use when filing with the Circuit Clerk.
What Hardin County Dissolution Records Include
A dissolution of marriage case file in Hardin County contains the original petition, any response filed by the other party, temporary court orders, the marital settlement agreement, and the final decree. The petition states who the parties are, when they were married, and what the petitioner is requesting from the court. The settlement agreement covers property, debts, maintenance, and if there are children, the parenting plan and child support terms.
Sensitive personal information in court filings must be redacted under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138. This protects parties from having Social Security numbers and financial account numbers exposed in the public record. Dissolution records in Hardin County are public under 5 ILCS 140/. Most of the case file is open to anyone who asks. Some records tied to minor children may have access limits. Certified copies of the final decree are available from the Hardin County Circuit Clerk for a fee.
- Petition for dissolution of marriage
- Proof of service
- Temporary court orders
- Marital settlement agreement
- Parenting plan (when children are involved)
- Final decree of dissolution
IDPH Verification for Hardin County Dissolution Records
The Illinois Department of Public Health indexes dissolution of marriage records statewide from 1962 forward. If you need to verify that a dissolution was filed in Hardin County without pulling the full court file, IDPH can help. The service costs $5 per search and takes 4 to 6 weeks by mail. Send your request to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include both parties' names and the approximate year of dissolution. Call IDPH at (217) 782-6554 for more information. They do not issue certified copies of decrees.
IDPH maintains a statewide index of dissolution records from 1962 to the present and can verify events filed in Hardin County.
Legal Help for Hardin County Dissolution Cases
Hardin County is one of Illinois's most rural counties, and in-person legal services can be difficult to access. Illinois Legal Aid Online fills much of that gap. Their site at www.illinoislegalaid.org provides free legal guides, articles on the dissolution process, and an Easy Form builder that helps you create court documents without a lawyer. This is especially useful for residents of Hardin County where local law offices are sparse.
For help getting records from the Hardin County clerk, Illinois Legal Aid has a records guide at www.illinoislegalaid.org. Standardized forms for Illinois dissolution cases are available free from the Illinois Courts at www.illinoiscourts.gov. Legal aid organizations serving southern Illinois may also provide phone or remote assistance to Hardin County residents who qualify based on income.
Illinois Legal Aid Online provides step-by-step guidance for Hardin County residents on how to access dissolution of marriage records from the circuit clerk.
The Easy Form tool at Illinois Legal Aid Online helps Hardin County residents prepare dissolution of marriage petitions and other court filings at no cost.
Cities in Hardin County
No city in Hardin County meets the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Elizabethtown is the county seat and the primary population center. All residents of Hardin County file dissolution of marriage cases at the Circuit Clerk office in Elizabethtown, which is the only courthouse serving the county.
Nearby Counties
Hardin County borders these counties. Make sure you file your dissolution of marriage petition in the county where you currently live, as that determines proper venue under Illinois law.