Pulaski County Dissolution of Marriage

Pulaski County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the Circuit Clerk office in Mound City. The 1st Judicial Circuit handles all dissolution and divorce cases filed in Pulaski County. If you need to search for a dissolution case, get a copy of a final decree, or find out how to file, this page has the details you need. It covers the clerk's office, how to search records, what Illinois law requires, and where to get help in Pulaski County.

Pulaski County Circuit Clerk Office

Stephanie Crain is the Circuit Clerk for Pulaski County. The clerk's office holds all dissolution of marriage records for the county. This includes petitions, responses, temporary orders, and final decrees. The office is at 500 Illinois Ave. in Mound City. Staff can search records by party name or case number and provide plain or certified copies for a fee.

Pulaski County is a small, rural county in far southern Illinois. The clerk's office handles a relatively small volume of cases, which can make records easier to find. If you are requesting older records, call ahead at 618/748-9300 to ask about record availability. For mail requests, send a written request with the names of both parties, the approximate year of the case, and a check for the copy fees. Staff will process it and mail copies back to you.

Note: The clerk can search records but cannot give legal advice. For legal questions about your dissolution case, contact an attorney or Illinois Legal Aid Online.

Searching Pulaski County Dissolution Records Online

Pulaski County dissolution of marriage records may be searchable through Judici. Judici is an Illinois online court portal that allows name-based and case-number-based searches. Basic case information is free. Document images are available for a small fee per page. Try Judici first before contacting the clerk or driving to Mound City. It saves time and gives you a case number if one exists.

The Illinois Courts website has a full directory of all circuit court clerks at illinoiscourts.gov. For Pulaski County, the 1st Judicial Circuit handles all civil and family matters. The directory lists current contact details for Pulaski County and all surrounding counties in southern Illinois.

Judici covers Pulaski County and lets you find dissolution case details from home.

Fees for Pulaski County Dissolution Records

The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk charges fees to copy dissolution of marriage records. Regular copy fees in Illinois are generally $2.00 per page. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call 618/748-9300 before sending payment to confirm current rates. Sending the wrong amount delays your request.

Filing fees also apply when you start a dissolution case in Pulaski County. The Illinois Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105/ lets circuit clerks set their own fee schedules. If paying the filing fee is a hardship, you can request a waiver under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 298. You file a financial affidavit with your petition. The judge reviews it and decides whether to waive the fees for your Pulaski County dissolution case.

How to File Dissolution of Marriage in Pulaski County

Illinois dissolution of marriage law is at 750 ILCS 5/. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, at least one spouse must have been an Illinois resident for 90 days before the court can grant a dissolution. You file in the county where either spouse lives. If you or your spouse lives in Pulaski County, file with Circuit Clerk Stephanie Crain in Mound City.

Illinois has one ground for dissolution: irreconcilable differences. No fault has to be shown. If both spouses agree on everything and the case is simple, the Joint Simplified Dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452 may apply. To qualify, the marriage must be short, there can be no children, and assets must fall below the statutory threshold. Cases that do not qualify go through the standard process: file a petition, serve the other spouse, exchange financial disclosures, and attend a hearing at the 1st Judicial Circuit in Pulaski County.

Property is divided equitably under 750 ILCS 5/503. Child support uses the income shares formula under 750 ILCS 5/505. Maintenance may be ordered based on factors including the length of the marriage. The Illinois Courts website has approved dissolution forms at illinoiscourts.gov. You can download and use these forms in your Pulaski County case.

What Pulaski County Dissolution of Marriage Records Contain

A dissolution file in Pulaski County includes every document filed in the case. The petition starts the case. It names both parties, states the date of marriage, and asks the court to grant the dissolution. Any temporary orders for custody, support, or property use go in the file as well. If the parties reach a marital settlement agreement, it becomes part of the record and is attached to the final decree.

The final dissolution decree is the document most people need from the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk. It ends the marriage and sets all the terms. Certified copies are needed for name changes, refinancing property, dividing retirement accounts, and other legal matters. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 requires that Social Security numbers and financial account numbers be removed from public copies. Under 5 ILCS 140/, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, the rest of the dissolution file is open to the public. Anyone can request a copy.

IDPH Records for Pulaski County Dissolutions

The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide dissolution of marriage index that includes Pulaski County records from 1962 to the present. The IDPH index can confirm that a dissolution occurred in Illinois, but it does not include the full decree or any terms of the settlement. It is useful as a first step when you are not sure which county has the record.

To request an IDPH search, write to 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702-2737 or call (217) 782-6554. The fee is $5.00 per name. Mail processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. IDPH does not certify copies of decrees. For a certified copy, go to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in Mound City. More details are posted at dph.illinois.gov.

The IDPH $5 search is a quick way to confirm a dissolution without contacting the Pulaski County clerk first.

Legal Help for Dissolution Cases in Pulaski County

Illinois Legal Aid Online has free guides on dissolution of marriage at illinoislegalaid.org. The guides cover the filing process, how to respond to a petition, what to do when children or property are involved, and what happens at the final hearing. The Easy Form tool helps you prepare dissolution paperwork without a lawyer. This is especially helpful in Pulaski County, where attorney access may be limited.

For help with getting court records, the Illinois Legal Aid guide at illinoislegalaid.org explains the steps clearly. If you need a lawyer and cannot pay, legal aid programs serving southern Illinois and the 1st Judicial Circuit area may help. Contact Illinois Legal Aid Online for a referral. The Pulaski County Circuit Clerk office can also tell you if any local self-help resources are available in Mound City.

Cities in Pulaski County

Mound City is the county seat and the main community in Pulaski County. All dissolution of marriage filings in the county go to the Circuit Clerk at 500 Illinois Ave. in Mound City. Other communities in Pulaski County include Mounds, Cairo (which borders Alexander County), and Grand Chain. Pulaski County has a small population, and no city in the county reaches the threshold for a dedicated page. All residents file at the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk in Mound City.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pulaski County in the far southern tip of Illinois. Each county has its own circuit clerk. File in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.