St. Clair County Dissolution of Marriage Records
St. Clair County dissolution of marriage records are held at the Circuit Clerk office in Belleville, the county seat. The 20th Judicial Circuit serves St. Clair County, one of the most populous counties in southern Illinois with over 251,000 residents. All dissolution of marriage cases filed by St. Clair County residents go through this court. Whether you need to search for an existing case, get a certified copy of a final decree, or learn how to file a new dissolution petition in Belleville, this page covers what you need to know about accessing St. Clair County dissolution records.
St. Clair County Quick Facts
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk
Kinnis Williams serves as Circuit Clerk for St. Clair County. The clerk office at 10 Public Square in Belleville maintains all dissolution of marriage records filed in the 20th Judicial Circuit. Every petition, temporary order, settlement agreement, and final decree from a St. Clair County dissolution case is stored and maintained here. Staff can search the case index by party name or case number and provide copies of documents from any dissolution file.
St. Clair County is a large county in the Metro East area of Illinois, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. Its size means the clerk's office handles a high volume of dissolution filings each year. Call 618/277-6832 before visiting to confirm current hours and ask whether your records are immediately accessible. For older cases, some files may require additional retrieval time. The clerk's office fax is 618/277-1562 for written requests. The county website at co.st-clair.il.us has additional information on court services in Belleville.
| Circuit Clerk | Kinnis Williams |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 Public Square Belleville, IL 62220-1623 |
| Phone | 618/277-6832 |
| Fax | 618/277-1562 |
| Judicial Circuit | 20th Judicial Circuit |
| Website | co.st-clair.il.us |
The St. Clair County Circuit Clerk website provides contact information and details for all court services handled out of the Belleville courthouse, including dissolution of marriage filings and record requests.
Search St. Clair County Dissolution Records Online
The St. Clair County Circuit Clerk website at co.st-clair.il.us/departments/circuit-clerk/courts/civil-records covers the civil records division, which handles dissolution of marriage filings. The page explains the types of civil cases processed in Belleville and provides guidance on accessing court documents. Check there for any online search tools the county makes available for public access.
Judici provides free public access to circuit court records in many Illinois counties, including St. Clair County. You can search dissolution of marriage cases by party name or case number. The system shows case status, filing dates, and scheduled hearing dates. Judici is a convenient first stop when you want to confirm a case was filed before contacting the clerk in Belleville for certified copies. Visit judici.com and select St. Clair County to begin your search.
The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory lists current contact information for all 102 Illinois counties, including St. Clair. Use it to verify the current phone number and address for the Belleville clerk before making a records request.
The St. Clair County civil records section of the county website covers access to dissolution of marriage case records and the services provided at the Belleville courthouse.
St. Clair County Dissolution of Marriage Fees
Filing fees for dissolution of marriage cases in St. Clair County follow the fee schedule set by the 20th Judicial Circuit under the Illinois Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105/). The base filing fee for a dissolution petition varies by case type and whether minor children are involved. Call the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk at 618/277-6832 to confirm current filing costs before you go to the Belleville courthouse.
Copy fees for existing dissolution records in St. Clair County are charged per page. Plain copies and certified copies are available. Certified copies of dissolution decrees carry the court seal and are required for most legal and official purposes. If you need multiple documents, ask the clerk for the full cost before you submit payment. A fee waiver is available for people who cannot afford court costs. Submit an Application to Sue or Defend as an Indigent Person with your dissolution petition, and a judge will review your financial situation to determine if fees should be reduced or waived in your St. Clair County case.
Note: Call the St. Clair County clerk at 618/277-6832 to confirm current fees, as amounts can change and local surcharges may apply.
Dissolution of Marriage Law in St. Clair County
All dissolution of marriage cases in St. Clair County are governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/). The 20th Judicial Circuit applies this law. Under 750 ILCS 5/401, at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing a dissolution petition. St. Clair County residents file at the courthouse in Belleville. Illinois uses irreconcilable differences as the only ground for dissolution of marriage. No fault needs to be proven.
Once a petition is filed with the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk and the other spouse is served, both parties exchange financial disclosures. If children are part of the case, a parenting plan is required. For cases where both spouses agree on all terms, the court can move fairly quickly to a final hearing. Contested dissolution cases may require mediation or a trial. The 20th Judicial Circuit handles both types. Property is divided under 750 ILCS 5/503, which calls for equitable distribution of marital assets based on factors like income, contributions, and length of the marriage.
Child support in St. Clair County dissolution cases follows the income shares formula in 750 ILCS 5/505. Both parents' gross incomes factor into the support calculation. Qualifying couples with no children, a short marriage, and limited shared property may use the Joint Simplified Dissolution process under 750 ILCS 5/452. This is faster and cheaper than a standard dissolution case. Free standardized dissolution forms accepted by St. Clair County courts are available at illinoiscourts.gov.
What St. Clair County Dissolution Records Contain
A dissolution of marriage case file in St. Clair County includes every document filed from the opening petition to the final decree. The petition names both parties, states the date and place of marriage, and sets out what the filing spouse is requesting. The other party's response is filed next if they choose to contest anything. Both sides submit financial disclosure affidavits listing income, assets, and debts. Temporary orders issued while the case is open for things like child support or use of the family home are also part of the file.
The final judgment of dissolution of marriage is what most people need from the St. Clair County clerk. It ends the marriage and contains all of the judge's final orders: property and debt division under 750 ILCS 5/503, maintenance if any was awarded, the full parenting schedule, and child support amounts if children were part of the case. Banks, title companies, and state agencies regularly ask for certified copies of this judgment. The St. Clair County Circuit Clerk issues certified copies upon request at the Belleville courthouse.
- Petition for dissolution of marriage
- Summons and proof of service
- Financial disclosure affidavits
- Temporary orders for support or custody
- Parenting plan (if applicable)
- Marital settlement agreement
- Final judgment of dissolution
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 requires that Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive identifiers be redacted from public copies of court documents. Most of the St. Clair County dissolution file is accessible to anyone under 5 ILCS 140/, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
IDPH Dissolution Verification for St. Clair County
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records from 1962 to the present. St. Clair County cases from that period are included. IDPH can confirm that a dissolution took place and verify basic facts: the names of both parties, their dates of birth, and the date and county of the dissolution. IDPH does not issue certified copies of court decrees or case documents. For certified copies from a St. Clair County dissolution case, contact Kinnis Williams at the Circuit Clerk office in Belleville.
To request a verification from IDPH, write to 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include both parties' full names and the approximate year of the dissolution. Send $5 per search as a check or money order payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health." Mail requests take four to six weeks to process. Call (217) 782-6554 for assistance. Full instructions and the current request form are at dph.illinois.gov.
The IDPH statewide index includes St. Clair County dissolution records back to 1962 and provides a low-cost way to confirm a dissolution without requesting the full court file from Belleville.
Legal Help for St. Clair County Dissolution Cases
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org is a free resource for St. Clair County residents dealing with dissolution of marriage. The site explains the full Illinois dissolution process in plain language and includes guides on property division, custody, child support, and maintenance. Their Easy Form tool helps you complete the standard Illinois court forms needed to file in St. Clair County without requiring an attorney for the paperwork.
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid serves St. Clair County and may be able to provide free legal representation or advice to residents who qualify based on income. They handle family law matters including dissolution of marriage. Call their intake line to ask about eligibility and what services are available in the Belleville area. For those who do not qualify for free legal aid, the St. Clair County Bar Association can refer you to a local family law attorney. Many private attorneys in Belleville handle dissolution cases in the 20th Judicial Circuit regularly.
Free approved dissolution forms for Illinois courts are available at illinoiscourts.gov. These forms are accepted at the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk office in Belleville. Using the standardized forms avoids the risk of having your filing returned for format issues.
The Illinois Legal Aid Easy Form tool helps St. Clair County residents prepare dissolution paperwork step by step before submitting it to the Belleville courthouse.
Cities in St. Clair County
St. Clair County includes Belleville, O'Fallon, Swansea, Fairview Heights, Shiloh, and other communities. No city in St. Clair County reaches the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All dissolution of marriage cases for residents of any St. Clair County community are filed at the Circuit Clerk office at 10 Public Square in Belleville. St. Clair County sits in the Metro East region just east of St. Louis and is among the most populous counties in southern Illinois.
Nearby Counties
These counties border St. Clair County in southwestern Illinois. Each has its own Circuit Clerk office for dissolution of marriage cases. File your petition in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.