Coles County Court Records

Coles County court records refer to official materials generated during the legal proceedings of the Circuit Court. These include documents and information such as the parties’ names, docket information, hearing details, exhibits, filings, warrants, and court orders. Such Illinois court records play a crucial role in the court system, as litigants may rely on them to determine the position of the state’s courts in previous cases.

Are Court Records Public in Coles County?

Court records are public in Coles County pursuant to the provisions of the Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act. Consequently, official documents in the custody of the court or court clerks are considered public unless a statute declares otherwise. Therefore, in some instances, certain records are deemed confidential and may not be accessed by members of the public. Examples of such records include the following:

• Sealed records
• Juvenile records
• Records of adoption proceedings
• Mental health records
• Personal identity information

Coles County Court Records Search

Coles County court records may be accessed from the relevant court clerks in person or by mail. A typical request should include details about the case record, applicable fees, and, in certain instances, a valid ID of the requester. Requesters also have the option of viewing court records online using third-party websites.

Coles County Courts

Residents of Coles County are served by the Coles County Circuit Court, which is a part of the 5th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over legal disputes arising in the county and is located at:

Coles County Circuit Court
Coles County Courthouse
651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128
Charleston, IL 61920
Phone: (217) 348-0516
Fax: (217) 348-7324

Coles County Criminal Records

Coles County criminal records detail a person’s involvement with the criminal justice system, including arrests, charges, convictions, and paroles. These records are collated at the state level by the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification, though residents may obtain reports like Coles County arrest records provided by the Sheriff’s Office and local police departments.

Below are the steps to obtain criminal records from the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification:

• Open the Uniform Conviction Information Forms webpage page and order a request form (fingerprint or non-fingerprint request form)
• Fill out the request form
• For a fingerprint-based request, complete the fingerprinting process using the service of an approved vendor
• Mail the completed form along with the fingerprinting result and a check or money order for the applicable fees to the State Police at:

Illinois State Police
Bureau of Identification
P.O. Box 88727
Chicago, IL 60680–1727

Get Coles County Civil Court Records

Civil case records of the Coles County Circuit Court, including cases involving property disputes, family matters, contract disputes, and torts, may be accessed by the public. To request civil court records, submit a written request in person or by mail to the clerk’s office at:

Coles County Circuit Court Clerk
651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128
Charleston, IL 61920-0048
Phone: (217) 348-0516
Fax: (217) 348-7324

To facilitate a civil court record search, a requester should include as much relevant information as possible, such as the names of the parties involved, the case number, attorney information, and specific documents requested. The clerk’s office may charge fees for searching and providing copies of case records.

Coles County Marriage Records

In Coles County, a marriage record indicates the existence of a legal union between two people. To obtain marriage records from the Coles County Clerk’s office, take the following steps:

• Fill out and print the Marriage Record Request Form
• Make a check or money order payable to Coles County Clerk for the applicable fees
• Mail the completed form along with the check or money order, a copy of a state-issued photo ID, and a self-addressed and stamped envelope to:

Coles County Clerk/Recorder
651 Jackson Avenue, Room 122
Charleston, IL 61920

Coles County marriage records cost $18 per copy and $5 for each additional copy. Requesters may also order certified copies of Coles County marriage records online.

Coles County Divorce Records

Coles County divorce records include petitions, filings, decrees, and other documents relating to legal proceedings for the dissolution of marriages within the county. Interested persons may obtain these documents by requesting them in person or by mailing a written request to the circuit clerk’s office at:

Coles County Circuit Court Clerk
651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128
Charleston, IL 61920-0048
Phone: (217) 348-0516
Fax: (217) 348-7324

Requesters are encouraged to provide information that can be used to identify the record, including the name of the spouses before the marriage, the date of the marriage, and the place of the marriage.

Similarly, the Illinois Department of Public Health allows individuals to verify marriage dissolution in the county. To obtain a dissolution of marriage verification from the department, submit a completed Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage Form and a valid government-issued photo ID in person, by mail, or via fax to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Fax: (217) 523-2648

Coles County Birth and Death Records

Coles County birth and death records are part of the vital records maintained by the county clerk. Only certain persons may access these records. Birth records may be accessed by the record subjects, parents, legal guardians, and representatives, while death records may be accessed by persons with personal or property interest in the records.

Eligible persons may request the birth or death records online or by mailing a completed Birth Record Request Form or Death Record Request Form along with a check or money order for the applicable fees, a valid photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Coles County Clerk/Recorder
651 Jackson Avenue, Room. 122
Charleston, IL 61920

Coles County birth and death records cost $18 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy.

Coles County Probate Court Records

Coles County probate court records are part of the records maintained by the circuit clerk's office. They contain information about court cases relating to probate matters such as wills and trusts, administration of estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. To obtain Coles County probate records, submit a request including information about the case record at the circuit clerk’s office located at:

Coles County Circuit Court Clerk
651 Jackson Avenue, Room 128
Charleston, IL 61920-0048
Phone: (217) 348-0516
Fax: (217) 348-7324

Coles County Property Records

Coles County Clerk is responsible for recording and maintaining documents relating to real property in the county, including deeds, surveys, plats, mortgages, liens, and judgments. Anyone may access these records by visiting the clerk’s office located at:

Coles County Clerk/Recorder
651 Jackson Avenue, Room. 122
Charleston, IL 61920

These records may also be accessed through third-party services recommended on the clerk’s website.

Coles County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like illinoiscourtrecords.us enable record seekers to search Coles County court records and other public records conveniently. They typically allow users to download documents, thus eliminating the need to visit any records office or clerk. Nevertheless, these websites are not official and may not contain current or accurate information.