McHenry County Court Records

McHenry County court records are official documents and materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, received, created, or used by a court during a civil or criminal court proceeding. Court record documents may exist in various forms, such as papers, recordings, tapes, and microfilm. Court records include, but are not limited to, transcripts, judgments, orders, dockets, case files, memoranda, minutes, exhibits and evidence, warrants, and subpoenas.

In McHenry County, Illinois, court records may be inspected or copied by any interested party, including case parties, the media, and other members of the public. While access to records is typically free, a record seeker may be required to pay a nominal fee to obtain copies.

Are Court Records Public in McHenry County?

Yes, McHenry County court records are public. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), court clerks can make copies of non-confidential court case records/information available to interested individuals upon request. Furthermore, they are required to provide efficient and reasonable means to access records in adherence to the deadline policies established by the FOIA. Notable methods of accessing Mchenry County court records are online and in-person at the office of the clerk of the courthouse where a case was filed.

The provisions for disclosure under this act do not include private information and other unique identifiers, such as driver's license numbers, social security numbers, personal financial information, and medical records. More so, most records on juveniles, mental health, and adoption court cases are non-public in McHenry County. A record-seeking party may access records by submitting a public record request without necessarily stating the reason for the request, except where it involves confidential records.

McHenry County Court Records Search

Residents of McHenry County and other members of the public can access court records via any of the following methods:

• At the courthouse that presided over the case
• Online search platforms provided by the court of the presiding courthouse
• Third-party court case search websites.

McHenry County Court Records Search by Name

To find a McHenry County court record using this method, the searching party must possess the name of any party named on the court record of interest. With the name of a record party, a record seeker may find any court record on them either online or at the courthouse where the case of interest was filed (if known). It is also possible to find court records by searching online databases maintained by the county judiciary system.

McHenry County Courts

The McHenry County court system consists of the McHenry County Circuit Court, administrative adjudications, and courts of claims. Their addresses and contact information are as follows:

McHenry County Circuit Court
McHenry County Government Center
2200 North Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: (815) 334-4310 (Civil/Probate/Divorce)
Phone: (815) 334-4313 (Felony/Misdemeanor)
Phone: (815) 334-4190 (Traffic/Misdemeanor/Juvenile).

Algonquin Office of Adjudication
Ganek Municipal Center
2200 Harnish Drive,
Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: (847) 658-2700
Fax: (847) 658-4564

Cary Administrative Adjudication
Cary Village Hall
655 Village Hall Drive,
Cary, IL 60013
Phone: (847) 639-2341

Crystal Lake Administrative Adjudication Division
City Hall
100 West Woodstock Street
P.O. Box 597
Crystal Lake, IL 60039
Phone: (815) 459-2020 ext. 4273.

Spring Grove Administrative Adjudication Court
Village Board Room
7401 Meyer Road,
Spring Grove, IL 60081
Phone: (815) 675-2596 ext. 104
Fax: (815) 675-2320

Woodstock Administrative Adjudication
121 West Calhoun Street,
Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: (815) 338-4300

McHenry County Circuit Court Case Search

The McHenry County Circuit Court has general jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and traffic cases. Court records associated with these cases are available to the public at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office.

To find records online, visit the Court Search website provided by the court clerk. On the search page, input the name of any of the parties named on the sought record, the case number assigned to the case, or the case's ticket number. This method enables you to access only basic case information, including a case's status, number, type, title, and filing date. A paid subscription grants you online access to more in-depth information.

For a detailed report, use public access terminals at the first and third floors of the McHenry County Government Center in Woodstock or query the clerk's office during official hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday at:

McHenry County Courthouse
2200 North Seminary Avenue (Route 47)
Woodstock, IL 60098
Rooms 136 & 353
Phone: (815) 334-4385
Fax: (815) 334-2054

Record seekers may also request records via mail and email. Record requests must be sent to CircuitClerk@mchenrycountyil.gov and must include:

• The name, email address, and phone number of the record requester
• Party names, document title, case number, and file date
• The kind of record sought (plain or certified)
• Mode of receipt (email or mail).

Persons who don't have all the details mentioned above must pay a $6 search fee to expedite the search. The applicable fees are emailed to the requester via the email provided in the request. In any case, a record seeker must pay $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 per page for the next 19 pages, and $0.25 per page for additional pages. A $6.00 fee is applicable per page of a certified document. Payment options include mail, online, and credit cards.

McHenry County District Court Records

There is no district court in McHenry County. Matters handled by district courts in other jurisdictions fall under the purview of the McHenry County Circuit Court.

McHenry County Criminal Records

McHenry County criminal records are public information. The county sheriff and local police departments typically maintain them. The Illinois police department also maintains these records and facilitates public searches via its Bureau of Identification. Available search criteria include name-based and fingerprint-based. Name-based searches are performed on the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) web portal. The required digital ID for using this portal is obtainable online.

Interested individuals should contact the McHenry County Sheriff's Office for Mchenry County arrest reports and information on inmates held at the McHenry County jail. The Corrections Division of the sheriff's office provides an online inmate roster that is searchable by an inmate's name or their booking date at:

McHenry County Sheriff's Office
2200 N. Seminary Avenue
Woodstock, IL 60098.
Phone: (815) 338-2144

McHenry County Criminal Court Case Lookup

McHenry County criminal court cases fall under the purview of the county's circuit court. Criminal court case lookups may be performed in person at the court clerk's office or public access terminals at the court building. A record seeker must furnish the clerk's office with case specifics, including the case number, a defendant's name, or a case's filing date, to aid in identifying and retrieving the sought records.

Remote access to criminal case records is available and can be performed using the Case Search portal provided by the court clerk's office. This database is searchable by party name, case number, and ticket number. Information obtained via this method includes case status, type, party names, filing dates, charges/sentences, summons, and judgments.

Get McHenry County Civil Court Records

The Civil Division of the Circuit Court Clerk's Office handles all civil case records, including divorce, chancery, guardianship, probate, eviction, small claims, tax, mental health, and guardianship proceedings. To view copies of civil court records, visit the Civil Division Customer Service office in Room 136 on the first floor of the McHenry County Government Center.

Other lookup options include in-person at the clerk's office, mail, email, online, and self-service computers at the courthouse. To find information on any civil case, a record seeker must possess the case number, party names, document title, and file date of the case of interest. Charges apply for online, mail, and email methods.

McHenry County Family Court Records

McHenry County family court cases are handled by the Civil Division of the county's circuit court. As such, the McHenry County court clerk maintains records and facilitates public access to non-confidential records. Interested parties can inspect publicly available family court records online (remotely and at public terminals at the court), physically at the clerk's office, and by mail.

Most documents that constitute family court case records, such as those pertaining to child abuse and domestic violence, are confidential and may not be available online. For information on record availability and access procedures, contact the Circuit Court clerk's office.

McHenry Dissolution of Marriage Records

McHenry County dissolution of marriage records comprises case documents filed or generated in any court proceeding that results in a marriage termination, such as marriage annulments and divorces. All such cases are handled by the McHenry County Circuit Court's Civil Division. The clerk of this court keeps certified copies of dissolution of marriage records.

Since all marriage dissolutions are filed at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), record seekers may query their office for records. Such queries should be directed to the agency's Vital Records Division. Certified copies of records are not available at this office. However, record seekers may obtain information about a marriage dissolution, including the parties' names and dates of birth, as well as the date and county/city where the dissolution occurred.

Access to this service costs $5.00. Depending on the method of query, other charges may apply. In addition, record seekers must complete and submit an Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Record Files to the vital records office. Furthermore, they must present a valid, readable government-issued photo identification. Interested parties can request records by fax, in person, or by mail.

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL. 62702-2737

McHenry County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage records in McHenry County are generally classified as public records. A person may look up information about a marriage or verify that a marriage took place at the circuit court clerk's office, the county clerk's office, or at the Illinois Department of Public Health. To verify a marriage with the IDPH, a $5.00 verification fee (excluding other charges) applies. Available methods include fax, mail, and in-person.

A requester must also complete and submit the Application for Verification of Marriage Record Files form. To query the office of the McHenry court or county clerk, a record seeker must possess the names and other case specifics, such as the names of the record parties and the place/date of marriage. A record seeker may be required to present a means of identification.

The county's circuit court hears divorce proceedings in McHenry County. Related records are handled by the court clerk and are classified as dissolution of marriage records.

McHenry County Birth and Death Records

Birth and death records are classified under McHenry County vital records. The IDPH maintains both. McHenry County birth records are not public. As such, certified record copies are only available to the person named in the record (age 18 or older), parent(s) whose name appears on the record, and legal representative or guardian (with proof of guardianship or legal representation) of underaged record subjects.

Death records are also non-public in McHenry County and are only available to relatives of deceased persons and other third parties who may have a personal or property right interest with the decedent who shows proof that a death certificate is required for claiming such rights. Requesters must complete and submit the Application for Search of Death Record File form, which is available at the office. Access charges apply for both death and birth records. Forward all queries and submissions to:

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62702-2737.

McHenry County Probate Court Records

McHenry County does not have a probate court. Probate court cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court's Civil Division. Cases handled by this court fall into three general categories:

• The administration of estate for persons with severe physical and/or mental disabilities
• Administration of the property of a deceased person
• Supervision of financial and personal affairs of minors

Most probate court records are non-public. Images of publicly available records are viewable at public terminals in Rooms 136 and 353 of the court building. To confirm their public availability or view case files, query the Civil Division of the Circuit Clerk for copies of records not found online. Probate court records remain generally accessible to case parties and their attorneys.

McHenry County Property Records

The McHenry County Recorder is responsible for filing and maintaining records for all properties located in McHenry County. The office also helps members of the public retrieve and inspect property records, including plats, estate records, and other property documents.

The McHenry County Assessor maintains property assessment records, which the same office also makes available for public view. To find records on any party, a requesting party must possess the name of a property owner, address, or parcel number. The McHenry County Recorder’s online search portal allows for online access to property searches.

McHenry County Court Records Online

Online access to McHenry County court records is not limited to official court websites. Record seekers can also use third-party websites like Illinoiscourtrecords.us, provided by private companies and containing information gathered from official sources. For most third-party websites, users must pay a fee to access records. However, some websites display basic case information for free.

Searches on these websites are typically name-based but may sometimes include an option for searching by case number. Third-party websites usually cover multiple jurisdictions and courts, making them suitable for searches when a record seeker does not know the exact court that handled a case. Many possess additional functionalities, such as filters allowing users to streamline their search using criteria such as a filing date range. Confirm the accuracy of obtained information against verified sources before official usage.