Will County Dissolution of Marriage Records

Will County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained by the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, with the Circuit Clerk office based in Joliet. Will County is one of the most populous counties in Illinois, with over 708,000 residents spread across cities like Joliet, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Frankfort, and dozens of other communities. The Circuit Clerk for Will County offers free online public access to case records as well as branch courthouse locations to serve residents across this large county. This page explains how to search for Will County dissolution of marriage records, how to file a petition, what the fees are, what the case files contain, and where to get help.

Will County Circuit Clerk Office

Clerk Andrea Chasteen leads the Will County Circuit Clerk office. The main courthouse is at 100 West Jefferson Street in Joliet. This is the primary location for all dissolution of marriage filings and records in Will County. Given the county's large population, this is a high-volume office. The clerk's office is open during regular courthouse hours Monday through Friday. For specific hours and current fees, call 815/727-8592 or visit circuitclerkofwillcounty.com.

Will County has multiple branch courthouse locations to serve the wide geography of the county. The Plainfield Branch is at 14300 S. Coil Plus Drive, Plainfield, IL 60544. The Frankfort Branch is at 11008 W. Lincoln Hwy., Frankfort, IL 60423, reachable at 815-469-7315. The Bolingbrook Branch is at 375 West Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440, at 630-226-8660. Residents of Joliet and Bolingbrook, as well as those in Plainfield and Frankfort, can use the nearest branch for filings and certain services. Not all branches handle every service, so call ahead to confirm what each location offers for dissolution of marriage records.

Online Dissolution of Marriage Records in Will County

Will County offers one of the more robust free online access tools among Illinois county clerk offices. The public access portal at circuitclerkofwillcounty.com/public-access lets you search for dissolution of marriage cases by name or case number. The portal includes a free court case lookup tool, an availability calendar, and court schedules. Residents of Joliet, Bolingbrook, and other Will County communities can use this tool from home to check case status, see filing dates, and review the docket without a courthouse visit.

The image below shows the Will County Circuit Clerk public access portal used to search dissolution of marriage records online.

The Will County public access tool gives free online access to dissolution case records, case status, and court schedule information.

For document copies or certified copies of dissolution decrees, you still need to contact the clerk's office directly. Visit the main courthouse in Joliet or one of the branch locations. Judici at Judici.com may also have Will County dissolution case data. Illinois Legal Aid Online has a guide on requesting court records at illinoislegalaid.org.

The Will County Circuit Clerk website provides information on services, branch locations, and how to request dissolution records in Will County.

Will County Dissolution of Marriage Fees

Filing a dissolution of marriage petition in Will County comes with fees set by the 12th Judicial Circuit and state law. Will County is a large circuit and fees tend to reflect that. Call the clerk at 815/727-8592 or check the Will County Circuit Clerk website at circuitclerkofwillcounty.com for the current fee schedule before filing. Fees can change each year as the court updates its schedule.

For copy fees, Will County charges a per-page rate for plain copies. Certified copies of the final dissolution decree cost more. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and signature and are required for name changes, property transactions, and most official legal uses. If you qualify as low income, ask the clerk for an Application to Sue or Defend as an Indigent Person. A Will County judge reviews the application and may waive fees based on your financial situation.

Note: Will County may also charge fees for court reporter services, motion filings, and other court actions tied to your dissolution case. Always confirm the full fee at the time of filing.

Filing Dissolution of Marriage in Will County

Illinois law at 750 ILCS 5/401 requires at least one spouse to have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing for dissolution. In Will County, you file at the main courthouse in Joliet or at a branch location. File in the circuit where you or your spouse lives. If you live in Joliet or Bolingbrook, you file in Will County. If you live in Cook County or DuPage County, you file there instead, even if you work in Will County.

The process starts when you file the petition for dissolution of marriage with the Will County Circuit Clerk. You pay the filing fee and get a case number. Then you serve your spouse with the summons and petition through an approved method such as the Will County Sheriff or a private process server. The respondent has 30 days to respond. If both parties agree on all issues including property, children, and support, you can schedule a prove-up hearing. For contested cases, Will County courts may order mediation or schedule a hearing before a judge.

Property is divided equitably under 750 ILCS 5/503. This does not always mean equal, but equitable based on the circumstances of the case. Child support in Will County follows the income shares formula under 750 ILCS 5/505. Couples who meet specific requirements, including no children and limited assets, may qualify for a joint simplified dissolution under 750 ILCS 5/452. Standard forms for all dissolution proceedings in Will County are available at illinoiscourts.gov.

What Will County Dissolution of Marriage Files Contain

A dissolution case file in Will County holds all documents from the time of filing to case closure. The petition is first. After service, proof of service on the other spouse is filed. Any temporary orders for custody, support, or protection of assets are added during the case. If the parties settle, a written marital settlement agreement is filed. The case ends with the final judgment for dissolution of marriage signed by a Will County judge.

The final judgment is the document most people need from Will County dissolution records. It states the marriage is dissolved and lays out all the terms. Property division, any spousal support, allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time, and child support are all part of the final judgment. Certified copies of the judgment are available from the Circuit Clerk at the Joliet courthouse or branch locations. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, the clerk must redact sensitive personal data from public copies, including Social Security numbers and financial account numbers.

• Petition for dissolution of marriage
• Summons and return of service
• Response or appearance by respondent spouse
• Marital settlement agreement
• Allocation judgment for parental responsibilities
• Parenting plan and time schedule
• Final judgment for dissolution of marriage
• Post-decree modification orders if any

IDPH Verification for Will County Dissolutions

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolution records that includes Will County. An IDPH search can confirm that a dissolution was recorded in Will County and provide the date. IDPH records do not include the court file, the settlement terms, or the parenting plan. They are a verification service only.

Contact IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave, Springfield, IL 62702-2737 or call (217) 782-6554. The search fee is $5 per name. Mail requests take 4 to 6 weeks. For certified copies of the actual Will County court record, contact the Circuit Clerk in Joliet or at a branch office. Full details on the IDPH dissolution records process are at dph.illinois.gov.

IDPH dissolution verification covers Will County and can confirm whether a dissolution was recorded for just $5 per name searched.

Legal Help in Will County

Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has free guides and an easy form tool for dissolution cases in Will County. Their resources cover every step of the process in plain language. The site also has information on finding attorneys and legal aid organizations near Joliet and across Will County.

Prairie State Legal Services serves Will County and may offer free legal help to qualifying low-income residents who need assistance with dissolution cases. Contact them to check eligibility and services available in the Joliet area. The Will County Bar Association can refer you to a local licensed attorney. The Illinois State Bar Association's referral program is another option. For self-represented parties, the clerk's office in Joliet can direct you to the correct forms, but staff cannot give legal advice on your case strategy.

Cities in Will County

Will County includes many cities and villages. Two qualify for individual city pages based on population. All residents of Will County, including those in smaller towns and unincorporated areas, file dissolution of marriage cases at the Circuit Clerk office in Joliet or at a branch courthouse location.

Other communities in Will County include Plainfield, Romeoville, Lockport, New Lenox, Frankfort, Mokena, Homer Glen, Manhattan, Crest Hill, and Channahon. All of these file dissolution of marriage cases through the Will County Circuit Clerk.

Nearby Counties

Will County borders these counties. File your dissolution case in the county where you or your spouse currently lives.