Illinois public records
Illinois case records are held by circuit court clerks, and property records by local assessment and recording offices. The Secretary of State handles business searches. For vital records, distinguish IDPH verification from a certified county marriage record or a court's divorce decree.
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Official record sources
Choose the document you need before searching. A case index, parcel assessment, recorded deed and certified certificate are different records. The links below lead to the responsible government service or its official directory.
| Record / custodian | How to access | Costs and coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Court recordsIllinois Courts | Find the circuit court and its clerk for case records and divorce decrees. | County lookup, copy and certification charges vary. A circuit-court directory is not one statewide public docket database. |
| Property and land recordsIllinois Department of Revenue | Follow the official guidance to the local assessment office for property ownership and assessment questions. | Local copy and certification fees vary. Recorded deeds are held locally; state tax guidance does not provide a certified title search. |
| Business recordsIllinois Secretary of State | Choose corporation/LLC or another supported business search. | Basic search and certificates have separate charges. Entity registration does not establish professional licensing, solvency or ownership of a particular property. |
| Birth, death, marriage and divorceIllinois Department of Public Health | Choose the birth, death, marriage or divorce information page. | Certificate and verification fees depend on the service. IDPH marriage/divorce verification is different from a certified marriage record or divorce decree from the county. |
| Criminal-history checksIllinois State Police Bureau of Identification | Select the appropriate conviction-information or fingerprint-based service. | The Bureau publishes service-specific fees. Public conviction information and authorized fingerprint checks have different access and coverage. |
A criminal charge is not a conviction. A name match does not establish identity. Use the official case disposition and the appropriate authorized record-check process when those distinctions matter.
Requesting agency records in Illinois
Use this process for existing government agency records. Court case copies, vital certificates and criminal-history reports use the separate procedures in the table.
- Who can request
- Any person may request existing public records. A written request should describe the records; ordinary requests do not require one mandatory statewide form.
- How to submit
- Identify the Illinois agency, municipality or county that maintains the record, then use its published records-custodian contact or accepted request channel. Describe existing documents, identifiers and dates. Keep the submitted request and acknowledgement; court copies and vital certificates use the separate services above.
- Response and delivery
- An ordinary request generally receives a response within five business days. One additional five-business-day extension is permitted for specified reasons; commercial requests differ.
- Fees and estimates
- The first 50 black-and-white standard pages are free; additional pages may cost 15 cents each. Ordinary non-commercial requests generally do not incur search or review charges.
- If access is denied
- A Request for Review to the Public Access Counselor generally must be submitted within 60 calendar days of denial. Circuit court review is another route.
Illinois records-request example
Replace the brackets, narrow the dates and send this to the agency that holds the records. Use its required form or portal when applicable. This example requests agency documents; it is not a certificate application or court filing.
To: [the agency's designated records custodian] Subject: Illinois public-records request — [record or project identifier] Under the Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 to 140/11), I request electronic copies of the public body's executed contract and payment ledger for [contract number] covering [dates]. Please use existing records in their available electronic format. If any material is withheld, identify the legal basis and provide the non-exempt portions. Before incurring charges above [your limit], please send an itemized estimate. Please confirm receipt and the expected response date. [Name and contact details required by the receiving agency] [Requester eligibility or residency information, where required]
Before sending, check requester eligibility above. Keep the submission confirmation, cost estimate, response and any exemption cited so a follow-up or appeal can refer to the same request.
Illinois public records FAQ
Where can I find Illinois court records?
Find the circuit court and its clerk for case records and divorce decrees. A circuit-court directory is not one statewide public docket database.
Sources: Illinois CourtsAre Illinois public records free?
The first 50 black-and-white standard pages are free; additional pages may cost 15 cents each. Ordinary non-commercial requests generally do not incur search or review charges. Certificate and court-document services follow the separate charges listed above.
Sources: Illinois official public-records guidance; Illinois Courts; Illinois Department of Public HealthHow do I get birth, death, marriage or divorce records in Illinois?
Choose the birth, death, marriage or divorce information page. IDPH marriage/divorce verification is different from a certified marriage record or divorce decree from the county.
Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health; Illinois CourtsIs a Illinois court search a complete criminal-history check?
No. Public conviction information and authorized fingerprint checks have different access and coverage. Select the appropriate conviction-information or fingerprint-based service.
Sources: Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification; Illinois CourtsSources and review
Each link identifies the official custodian or its published directory. Portal coverage and fees can change; confirm the current order details before paying. The date below records the source review, not the date a government record was created.
- Illinois official public-records guidance — checked
- Illinois Courts — checked
- Illinois Department of Revenue — checked
- Illinois Secretary of State — checked
- Illinois Department of Public Health — checked
- Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification — checked
Browse other jurisdictions
Public-records access rules vary by jurisdiction. Continue through the directory or return to the full list to choose the agency location you need.
All public-records jurisdictions