Peoria County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Peoria County dissolution of marriage records are maintained at the Circuit Clerk office in downtown Peoria. The 10th Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution of marriage filings in Peoria County, which is one of the larger counties in central Illinois with a population of about 179,630. Residents of the city of Peoria and every other community in the county file dissolution cases at the same courthouse on Main Street. The clerk office provides in-person access, online case search, and mail-in requests for certified copies of dissolution decrees and related documents.
Peoria County Quick Facts
Peoria County Circuit Clerk Office
Robert Spears is the Circuit Clerk for Peoria County. His office at the Peoria County Courthouse handles all dissolution of marriage records filed in the county. The address is 324 Main Street, Room G-22, Peoria, IL 61602-1319. This is one of the busier circuit clerk offices in central Illinois given Peoria's size. Staff can search dissolution of marriage records by party name or case number and can provide certified copies of decrees and related orders.
You can reach the clerk office by phone at 309/672-6989. An alternate number is 309/672-6059. The fax is 309/677-6228. The office website is peoriacounty.gov/149/Circuit-Clerk, which has information on services, hours, and online case access. For in-person visits, call ahead to confirm current hours. For mail requests, include the full names of both spouses, the year of the dissolution, and payment for copy fees. The clerk will mail copies once the file is located.
| Circuit Clerk | Robert Spears |
|---|---|
| Address | 324 Main Street, Room G-22 Peoria, IL 61602-1319 |
| Phone | 309/672-6989 (main) 309/672-6059 (alternate) |
| Fax | 309/677-6228 |
| Website | peoriacounty.gov/149/Circuit-Clerk |
| Judicial Circuit | 10th Judicial Circuit |
The Peoria County Circuit Clerk website shown below is where you can access case information, contact the clerk, and find details on fees and services related to dissolution of marriage filings.
The Peoria County Circuit Clerk's office at peoriacounty.gov provides basic case information online and serves as the main point of contact for dissolution of marriage record requests in Peoria County.
Online Dissolution of Marriage Search in Peoria County
Peoria County offers online case search through the Circuit Clerk website. You can look up basic case information by case number or party name. This is a fast way to confirm whether a dissolution of marriage case exists in Peoria County and to get the case number before requesting copies. Basic case information is available online at no charge. Visit peoriacounty.gov/149/Circuit-Clerk to access the online search tool.
Peoria County is also included in the Judici court records portal. You can search dissolution cases at judici.com by selecting Peoria County. Party names, case numbers, and case status are searchable through Judici. Document images may be available for a small fee per document. Between the county website and Judici, Peoria County residents have solid online access to dissolution of marriage case information without making a trip to the courthouse on Main Street.
The Illinois Department of Public Health also operates a statewide dissolution of marriage index that includes Peoria County records from 1962 onward. The IDPH index is useful for verifying that a dissolution occurred in Illinois when you do not have the exact case number. The IDPH does not provide certified court copies. For those, contact the Peoria County Circuit Clerk directly.
Judici, shown above, is one of the online portals where you can search for Peoria County dissolution of marriage cases without visiting the courthouse in person.
Peoria County Dissolution of Marriage Fees
Peoria County has published fees for dissolution of marriage record searches and copies. A record search costs $6 per name. Copy fees are $2 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certification of a document costs $4 per document. These fees apply at the Circuit Clerk office at 324 Main Street. Call 309/672-6989 to confirm current rates before submitting a mail request or visiting in person.
If you are filing a new dissolution of marriage case in Peoria County, a filing fee is due at the time you submit the petition to the Circuit Clerk. The amount depends on the case type. People who cannot afford the fee can request a waiver. Ask the clerk for the fee waiver application. The Illinois Courts have standardized dissolution forms at illinoiscourts.gov that are accepted in the Peoria County courthouse.
The IDPH statewide dissolution index search costs $5 per name. That fee is separate from Peoria County Circuit Clerk fees. You pay the IDPH directly when you submit a request to their Springfield office.
How Dissolution of Marriage Works in Peoria County
Peoria County courts follow the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act at 750 ILCS 5. Illinois uses the term dissolution of marriage instead of divorce. The state uses a no-fault system, meaning you do not have to prove your spouse did anything wrong. The only accepted ground is irreconcilable differences. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, one spouse must have resided in Illinois for 90 days before filing. You must file in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.
To start a dissolution in Peoria County, you file the petition at the Circuit Clerk office at Room G-22 in the Main Street courthouse. The clerk opens a case file and assigns a number. You then serve notice on the other spouse. Once served, both parties can work toward a settlement on property, support, and parenting matters. Uncontested cases where both sides agree on all terms typically move through the 10th Judicial Circuit more quickly. Contested cases may require hearings before a judge in Peoria. The judge then rules on each disputed issue.
Given Peoria County's size, the court system handles a meaningful volume of dissolution of marriage cases each year. The city of Peoria alone contributes a large portion of these filings. All city residents file at the same Main Street courthouse. Property division follows equitable distribution under 750 ILCS 5/503. Child support is calculated under the income shares formula in 750 ILCS 5/505. For eligible couples, the Joint Simplified Dissolution procedure under 750 ILCS 5/452 can speed up the process significantly.
Illinois court record access guidelines shown above apply to Peoria County and explain the process for requesting dissolution of marriage case copies from the Circuit Clerk office.
What Peoria County Dissolution of Marriage Files Contain
Peoria County dissolution of marriage case files hold every document generated from the time the petition is filed to the final order. The petition and summons open the file. As the case develops, the file grows to include financial affidavits, responses from the opposing party, temporary orders, settlement agreements, and transcripts of any hearings. All of these documents are stored at the Circuit Clerk office in Room G-22 of the Peoria courthouse.
The final dissolution decree is the key document in the Peoria County case file. The judge signs this order to formally end the marriage. It sets out all binding terms: property division under 750 ILCS 5/503, any maintenance award, the parenting plan, and child support amounts under 750 ILCS 5/505. Certified copies of the final decree are often needed for legal tasks like changing a name, refinancing a home, or updating government records. The $4 certification fee per document covers this service at the Peoria County clerk office.
Dissolution records in Peoria County are public under Illinois law. Under Supreme Court Rule 138, sensitive personal data such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar identifiers must be redacted from public copies. Information about minor children may also have limited public access. Most of the file remains open to anyone who requests it at the clerk office on Main Street in Peoria.
IDPH Dissolution of Marriage Verification for Peoria County
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide dissolution of marriage index that includes Peoria County records from 1962 to the present. You can use this index to verify that a dissolution of marriage occurred in Illinois without knowing the exact case number or county. This is especially useful when parties may have moved between counties or when old records are being researched.
To request an IDPH search, mail your inquiry to 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include both parties' names, the approximate year, and $5 per name. Call (217) 782-6554 to ask questions before sending your request. The IDPH provides a summary record or a no-record letter. Mail responses take 4 to 6 weeks. For certified court copies, contact the Peoria County Circuit Clerk after confirming the case details through IDPH. Full details are at the IDPH dissolution records page.
The IDPH site shown above explains the statewide dissolution index and how Peoria County residents can request a search to confirm a dissolution is on file in Illinois.
Legal Help for Peoria County Dissolution Cases
Peoria County residents have access to several legal help resources for dissolution of marriage cases. Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org is a strong free starting point. The site has plain-language guides, a full library of Illinois court forms, and the Easy Form tool that helps you build dissolution documents step by step. The Easy Form is designed to produce forms that meet Illinois court standards and is accepted in Peoria County.
Legal Aid of Illinois serves Peoria County and the surrounding central Illinois area. They provide free civil legal help to income-eligible residents. Dissolution of marriage, child support, and custody matters are among the case types they handle. Call ahead to check availability and whether you qualify. Peoria County also has a bar association that can provide attorney referrals for dissolution cases. A local attorney will know the 10th Judicial Circuit procedures and the Peoria courthouse well. The Illinois Courts have approved dissolution forms at illinoiscourts.gov that are accepted in Peoria County.
The Easy Form tool shown above is free and helps Peoria County residents prepare dissolution of marriage court documents without needing legal training or a paid attorney.
Cities in Peoria County
Peoria County includes the city of Peoria as well as Pekin, West Peoria, Bartonville, Chillicothe, and other communities. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents of these cities and towns are filed at the Circuit Clerk office at 324 Main Street in Peoria. Every dissolution case in Peoria County, including cases filed by residents of the city of Peoria, goes through the 10th Judicial Circuit courthouse on Main Street.
Other communities in Peoria County include Pekin, West Peoria, Bartonville, Chillicothe, East Peoria, Dunlap, and Bellevue. All file dissolution cases at the Peoria County courthouse.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Peoria County in central Illinois. File your dissolution of marriage case in the county where you or your spouse lives at the time of filing. If you are unsure, the address on your current government ID is generally the right guide.