Kankakee County Dissolution of Marriage
Dissolution of marriage records in Kankakee County are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Kankakee, the county seat. The 21st Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution cases filed in Kankakee County, Illinois. This page explains how to access dissolution of marriage records in Kankakee County, what information those records contain, what fees to expect, and where to get legal help if you need assistance with your case.
Kankakee County Quick Facts
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk
Sandra Cianci is the Circuit Clerk for Kankakee County. Her office at 450 East Court Street in Kankakee manages all dissolution of marriage filings for the county. This office keeps the case file for every dissolution petitioned in Kankakee County, provides copies of records to the public, and handles all new case filings. Whether you need to find an old case or get a certified copy of a final decree, the clerk's office in Kankakee is where you start.
The clerk's office accepts in-person requests during business hours and can be reached by phone. Staff search records by name or case number. If you only have a name, bring both the first and last name and spell them correctly, as court records are indexed that way. Older cases may take more time to locate. All dissolution of marriage records for Kankakee County are stored at the courthouse at 450 East Court Street. This is the only courthouse location for the county.
| Circuit Clerk | Sandra Cianci |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901 |
| Phone | 815/936-5700 |
| Fax | 815/939-8830 |
| Judicial Circuit | 21st Judicial Circuit |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Circuit Court Clerks Directory | Illinois Courts - Circuit Court Clerks |
Online Access to Kankakee County Dissolution Records
Judici is the primary online tool for searching dissolution of marriage records in Kankakee County. You can search by party name or case number. The platform shows case status, hearing dates, and key filing events. Some records are free to access, while full document viewing may need a paid account. Visit judici.com and choose Kankakee County to begin your search.
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide dissolution of marriage index that includes Kankakee County cases. This index is useful when you need to confirm a dissolution occurred but do not have a case number or file. IDPH charges $5.00 per name and processes mail requests in four to six weeks. They do not issue certified court copies. For those, contact the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk at 815/936-5700. Write to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield IL 62702-2737 or call (217) 782-6554, or visit dph.illinois.gov.
The Illinois Courts website also provides a directory of circuit court clerks at illinoiscourts.gov, which includes current contact information for the Kankakee County clerk's office.
Kankakee County Dissolution of Marriage Fees
Copy fees for dissolution of marriage records in Kankakee County are set under 705 ILCS 105/. Standard copies cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee. Call 815/936-5700 to confirm current rates before making the trip to the courthouse.
Filing a new dissolution of marriage in Kankakee County requires a filing fee set by the 21st Judicial Circuit. The amount can change, so ask the clerk before filing. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can apply for a waiver. This involves submitting a financial affidavit to the court. The Illinois Legal Aid Online site has step-by-step guidance on how to request a fee waiver. Residents who meet the income guidelines may have their filing fees reduced or eliminated when filing for dissolution of marriage in Kankakee County.
Note: The IDPH search fee of $5.00 per name is separate from any fees charged by the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk for copies or filings.
Dissolution of Marriage Process in Kankakee County
Filing for dissolution of marriage in Kankakee County starts at the Circuit Clerk's office at 450 East Court Street. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing. Illinois uses a no-fault system. The only ground is irreconcilable differences. You do not have to prove that either party caused the breakdown of the marriage. The clerk opens a case file and assigns a case number. The case is public from that point.
Uncontested dissolutions are faster. When both parties agree on all terms, the case can proceed without a full trial. For couples who qualify, 750 ILCS 5/452 allows for a Joint Simplified Dissolution. This requires no children, no real estate, and limited joint debt. The forms for this process are free at illinoiscourts.gov. If both parties agree and the court approves the settlement, the case can close without a hearing in many situations.
Contested dissolution cases in Kankakee County go through hearings. The court divides property under 750 ILCS 5/503 using equitable distribution. Child support is calculated under 750 ILCS 5/505. The judge signs the final decree once all issues are resolved. The clerk records it and it becomes a permanent public document in Kankakee County.
What Kankakee County Dissolution Records Contain
The case file for a dissolution of marriage in Kankakee County includes every document filed from the first petition to the final decree. The petition names both parties and states what the filer wants. The response from the other spouse is included if one was filed. Any temporary orders, financial disclosures, parenting plans, and settlement agreements are also part of the file. Each document is a public record unless the court seals it.
The final dissolution decree is what most people need from the Kankakee County case file. It names both spouses, states the date the dissolution was granted, and covers all the terms of the case. Property and debt division, custody and visitation, child support amounts, and any maintenance payments are all spelled out in the decree. Many institutions ask for a certified copy of this document. The Kankakee County Circuit Clerk can provide certified copies for a fee. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, personal identifiers like Social Security numbers are redacted from public versions of court filings. The rest of the file is open to the public.
Post-judgment modifications are also part of the public record in Kankakee County. If a party returned to court to change a custody order, support amount, or other term, those filings are in the case file and can be looked up by name or case number.
IDPH Dissolution Verification for Kankakee County
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide dissolution of marriage index. Kankakee County dissolutions are included. When you need to confirm a dissolution happened but do not have a case number, IDPH is a useful first step. The search costs $5.00 per name. Mail requests take four to six weeks. IDPH does not provide certified copies of court decrees.
Send mail requests to 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield IL 62702-2737 or call (217) 782-6554. More at dph.illinois.gov. For certified court copies, contact the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk at 815/936-5700.
Legal Help in Kankakee County
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org is a free resource for Kankakee County residents working through a dissolution without a lawyer. The site has guided forms, plain-language articles, and the EasyForm tool that can generate court-approved documents for uncontested dissolution cases. Getting started here can save time and money for straightforward cases in Kankakee County.
Prairie State Legal Services serves northeastern Illinois, including Kankakee County. They provide free or low-cost legal help to residents who meet income guidelines. Call their office to apply and find out if your case qualifies. For those who can afford a private attorney, the Illinois State Bar Association has a referral service that connects people with lawyers who handle dissolution cases in the 21st Judicial Circuit. The Illinois Legal Aid guide on getting court record copies is also helpful for anyone trying to access their Kankakee County dissolution file. Approved forms are always free at illinoiscourts.gov.
Cities in Kankakee County
Kankakee County includes the city of Kankakee and several surrounding communities. All dissolution of marriage cases for county residents are filed with the Circuit Clerk at 450 East Court Street in Kankakee. No city in Kankakee County reaches the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Other communities in Kankakee County include Bourbonnais, Bradley, Manteno, Momence, and St. Anne. Residents of all these towns file dissolution cases with the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk at the courthouse in Kankakee.
Nearby Counties
Kankakee County borders several other counties in northeastern Illinois. If your dissolution may have been filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's circuit clerk to find the records.