Monroe County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Monroe County are filed at the Circuit Clerk office located in Waterloo, the county seat. The 20th Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution of marriage cases in Monroe County. Residents across the county, from Waterloo to Columbia to Valmeyer, bring their cases to this courthouse. The clerk office is your starting point if you need to search for dissolution records, get copies of a decree, or file a new case. Records are open to the public under Illinois law, and the clerk can assist with requests by mail, phone, or in person.
Monroe County Quick Facts
Monroe County Circuit Clerk Office
Lisa Fallon is the Circuit Clerk for Monroe County. Her office at the courthouse in Waterloo keeps all dissolution of marriage records filed in this county. The clerk's role includes accepting new filings, maintaining case files, and providing access to records for anyone who requests them. The office is at 100 South Main Street, Room 115, Waterloo, IL 62298. Staff can look up dissolution of marriage cases by name or by case number.
If you plan to visit in person, call the office at 618/939-8681 to confirm hours and what identification or information you should bring. For mail requests, write a clear letter listing the full names of both parties, the year of the dissolution, and any case number you have. Include payment for copy fees. Send the request to Room 115 at the Main Street address. The clerk will process your request and mail copies back to you.
| Circuit Clerk | Lisa Fallon |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 South Main Street, Room 115 Waterloo, IL 62298 |
| Phone | 618/939-8681 |
| Fax | 618/939-8685 |
| Judicial Circuit | 20th Judicial Circuit |
You can also find Monroe County clerk contact information on the Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory. This page stays up to date with changes to office contacts across all 102 Illinois counties.
Search Monroe County Dissolution of Marriage Records Online
Monroe County uses the Judici online court records system. You can search dissolution of marriage cases at judici.com by choosing Monroe County from the list. Judici lets you search by party name or case number. Basic case status and party information is available at no charge. If you want to see actual document images, Judici charges a small per-document fee.
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide dissolution of marriage index. This includes Monroe County records from 1962 to the present. The IDPH search is useful when you are not sure which county handled a case or when you need a quick confirmation that a dissolution occurred. The IDPH does not issue certified court copies. They can only confirm the record exists and provide a basic summary. For certified copies of the decree and related orders, contact the Monroe County Circuit Clerk in Waterloo.
The Judici search portal shown above covers Monroe County and can help you find dissolution of marriage cases without driving to the Waterloo courthouse.
Fees for Monroe County Dissolution Records
Copy fees in Monroe County are set under 705 ILCS 105, the Clerks of Courts Act. Standard copy fees typically run a few dollars per page, with certified copies costing more. Call 618/939-8681 to confirm the current fee schedule before you mail your request. Bringing exact payment saves time if you visit in person.
Filing a new dissolution of marriage case in Monroe County requires a filing fee paid to the Circuit Clerk at the time of submission. The amount varies based on whether the case involves children, property, or other issues. Low-income filers can apply for a fee waiver. The Illinois Courts provide a form for this purpose that the clerk can give you. Standardized dissolution forms are also available free at illinoiscourts.gov.
The IDPH dissolution index search costs $5 per name. Send a check or money order payable to IDPH with your request to 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737.
How Dissolution of Marriage Works in Monroe County
Monroe County courts follow the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act at 750 ILCS 5. Illinois law uses the term dissolution of marriage rather than divorce. The only ground for dissolution in Illinois is irreconcilable differences. You do not have to prove fault by either spouse. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, one spouse must have resided in Illinois for at least 90 days before the court can act on a petition.
To start a dissolution case in Monroe County, one spouse files a petition with the Circuit Clerk in Waterloo. The clerk opens a case file and assigns a case number. The other spouse must be served notice. Both sides can then work toward an agreement on property, support, and any parenting matters. Uncontested cases where both parties agree on all terms can move through the Monroe County court quickly. When issues are disputed, the case may require multiple hearings before a judge in the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Property is divided under 750 ILCS 5/503 using equitable distribution. Child support is calculated using the income shares formula under 750 ILCS 5/505. Couples who qualify may use the Joint Simplified Dissolution process under 750 ILCS 5/452, which is faster and involves fewer steps.
Standardized Illinois dissolution forms like the ones shown above are accepted at the Monroe County courthouse in Waterloo and are available at no charge through the Illinois Courts website.
What Monroe County Dissolution Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file in Monroe County contains every document the parties and the court generate throughout the case. This starts with the petition and the summons. It may also include financial affidavits, motions, discovery documents, agreed orders, and transcripts of hearings. The file grows as the case moves forward and ends when the court enters the final dissolution decree.
The final decree is the document most people need from Monroe County. It ends the marriage and contains all the binding terms the judge approved. This includes how marital property is divided under 750 ILCS 5/503, any maintenance award, the parenting plan, and child support obligations. Certified copies of the final decree are often needed for name changes, real estate transactions, and government benefit changes.
Dissolution records in Monroe County are public. Certain sensitive details are redacted under Supreme Court Rule 138, including Social Security numbers and financial account data. Records involving minors may have limited public access. Most of the file is viewable by anyone who asks at the clerk office in Waterloo.
IDPH Dissolution Records for Monroe County
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide dissolution of marriage index that covers Monroe County. Their records go back to 1962. You can use the IDPH to verify that a dissolution of marriage occurred in Illinois for a specific person. This is helpful when you are not sure of the case number or even which county handled the filing.
To request an IDPH search, contact them at (217) 782-6554 or write to 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. The fee is $5 per name. The IDPH provides a summary or a no-record response. They do not issue certified court decrees. For those, contact the Monroe County Circuit Clerk. Mail processing at IDPH takes 4 to 6 weeks. More details are available at the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page.
The IDPH website shown above explains the process for requesting a statewide dissolution of marriage index search, which includes Monroe County records.
Legal Help for Monroe County Dissolution Cases
Monroe County residents who need legal help with a dissolution of marriage have several options. Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org offers free guides, forms, and tools for people handling their own cases. The Easy Form tool helps you fill out dissolution paperwork step by step and is designed to work with Illinois court requirements. It covers cases filed anywhere in the state, including Monroe County.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid serves southern Illinois, including Monroe County. They provide free civil legal services to income-eligible residents. Dissolution of marriage is among the matters they handle. Contact them to find out whether you qualify. The Illinois Courts have approved forms for dissolution cases at illinoiscourts.gov. These forms are accepted in the Monroe County courthouse and can be used without an attorney.
Note: If your dissolution case involves domestic violence or child safety issues, seek help from a legal aid office before you file on your own.
Cities in Monroe County
Monroe County includes Waterloo, Columbia, Valmeyer, Hecker, and Maeystown, among other communities. All dissolution of marriage cases from these towns are filed at the Circuit Clerk office in Waterloo. No city in Monroe County exceeds the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
All Monroe County residents file dissolution cases at the courthouse at 100 South Main Street in Waterloo. Call 618/939-8681 before visiting the clerk office.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County borders three other counties in southern Illinois. File your dissolution of marriage case in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.