Knox County Court Records

Knox County court records are documents, files, and information on legal proceedings in the county. They comprise case filings, warrants, docket entries, motions, petitions, transcripts, orders, fines, and judgments.

Knox County court records are obtained from criminal, civil, juvenile, probate, and family law cases. Information that may be found in Knox County court records includes court names, names of parties, type of case, attorney names, witnesses, and sentences. When combined with other Illinois court records, these documents can be used for historical record-keeping, legal research, case preparation, genealogical research, verification of court decisions, and journalism research. Access to these records deepens the confidence of residents in the county’s and state’s judicial systems.

Are Court Records Public in Knox County?

Yes, Knox County court records are accessible to the public. According to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, members of the public may request court records from the courts. However, certain court records are exempted from public view for privacy or security or reasons by court orders or Illinois laws. These records may only be accessed by authorized persons. Knox County confidential court records include:

• Medical and mental health records
• Most juvenile records
• Academic records
• Adoption records
• Records containing proprietary information or trade secrets
• Records containing personally identifiable information such as social security numbers and driver’s license numbers
• Records related to public safety
• Grand jury proceedings
• Records of confidential informants

Knox County Court Records Search

Record seekers can search for Knox County court records in multiple ways. Anyone can visit the court clerks to search for public court records originating from the county’s courts. In addition, the county provides a means for remotely accessing court records. Furthermore, there are third-party websites that can be used to search for Knox County non-confidential court records.

Knox County Courts

Residents of Knox County are served by a Circuit Court and an Administrative Adjudication Body. The County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. Its different divisions handle misdemeanors, felonies, traffic offenses, parking infractions, all civil cases, domestic relations, juvenile matters, and all probate matters. The Galesburg Administrative Adjudication primarily handles municipal ordinance violations. Below are the locations and contact details of the courts in the county:

Knox County Circuit Court
Knox County Courthouse
200 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: (309) 345-3859
Fax: (309) 345-0098 (Civil)
Fax: (309) 345-6729 (Small Claims)
Fax: (309) 345-3896 (Felony)
Fax: (309) 345-6722 (Traffic)

Galesburg Administrative Adjudication
Galesburg City Hall
55 West Tompkins Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
Phone: (309) 345-3636

Knox County Criminal Records

In Knox County, criminal records document an individual's crimes, trial, sentencing, and imprisonment within the county. These records include Knox County arrest records, criminal court records, probation records, imprisonment records, and release records, providing a comprehensive overview of a person's criminal history. The county’s criminal records are created by law enforcement agencies operating within the county, including the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and the Illinois State Police.

Knox County criminal records are available to the public and may be accessed by anyone. Record seekers can contact the Illinois Bureau of Identification under the Illinois State Police at:

Illinois State Police
Bureau of Identification
260 North Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60432–4072

Get Knox County Civil Court Records

Knox County civil court records are records obtained from civil cases such as business torts, professional malpractices, domestic relations, contract breaches, probate, employment disputes, slander, and libel. These records originate from the county’s Circuit Court. Most Knox County civil court records are public records and may be accessed by anyone.

The Knox County Circuit Clerk manages the county’s civil court records. Record seekers can search online for the county’s civil court records. They may also visit the county’s Circuit Clerk to view or request the county’s public civil court records.

Knox County Marriage Records

Marriage records in Knox County are documentation of the legal unions between two persons in the county. They are confidential records that may only be accessed by authorized persons such as those named on it, their immediate family members, and their legal representatives. Knox County marriage records are kept by the Knox County Clerk. Eligible record seekers may obtain the county’s marriage records by contacting the Knox County Clerk’s Office at:

Knox County Clerk
Knox County Courthouse
200 South Cherry Street
Galesburg IL 61401
Phone: (309) 345-3815
Fax: (309) 345-3801

They can mail, fax, or submit in person a completed Marriage Record Form to the county Clerk with a valid ID and a fee of $15 for the first certified copy and $5 for each additional copy.

Knox County Divorce Records

The Knox County Circuit Clerk maintains the county’s divorce records and makes them available to the public upon request. Knox County divorce records are files, documents, and information about divorces in the county. Unless sealed by court order, the county’s divorce records are public and may be accessed by anyone. Record seekers can contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office to view or request divorce records.

Knox Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records in Knox County are official documents and files of births and deaths of persons in the county. Birth and death records form parts of the county’s vital statistics and are maintained by the County Clerk and the Illinois Office of Vital Records under the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Knox County birth and death records may be used for the following purposes:

• Identity verification
• Family history and connections
• Genealogical research
• Demographic and statistical studies
• Medical research and epidemiology
• Social Security and benefits
• Estate settlement and inheritance

Per the Illinois Vital Records Act, Knox County birth and death records are not available to the public and may only be accessed by persons with personal or property interests, such as individuals named on the birth records, the subject’s family members, their heirs, and their legal representatives. Eligible record seekers can contact the Knox County Clerk’s office with completed Birth Forms or Death Record Forms to request the county’s birth or death records. They can also contact the IDPH at:

IDPH Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Knox County Probate Court Records

Probate court records in Knox County comprise records of the county’s probate matters such as wills, trusts, estates, guardianships, and conservatorships. They are generated by the county’s Circuit Court and maintained by the Circuit Clerk. Knox County probate court records are public and available to anyone unless sealed by the court. Records seekers may contact the county’s Circuit Clerk’s Office to request probate court records from the county.

Knox County Property Records

Knox County Property records contain information about real estate in the county. The County Recorder is the county’s custodian of property records. Property records in Knox County include deeds, mortgages, maps, plats, liens, tax valuation, zoning, and property description. These records can be used for mortgage application, tax assessment, property evaluation, and zoning planning. Record seekers can contact the County Recorder at:

Knox County Recorder
200 South Cherry Street
Galesburg IL 61401
Phone: (309) 345-6718
Fax: (309) 345-3842

Knox County Court Records Online

Knox County court records are available through third-party online resources such as illinoiscourtrecords.us. These resources may be accessed from anywhere, making it a great alternative for those unable to visit the courthouses in person. Users may look up specific cases by providing relevant information such as party names, case numbers, or dates. However, information obtained from these resources may be incomplete, as they are run independently of official government sources.