St. Clair County Court Records

Courts in St. Clair collect, produce, and maintain essential documentary data during a legal proceeding. This could be for small claims, felonies, or demeanor offenses within the legal limits of a county court. All official documents created during this process are primarily termed “court records”. Generally, these records are filed and preserved in different formats, like printed paper, audio/video recordings, microfilm, magnetic tapes, and photographs by the local court clerk's offices.

A typical St. Clair County court record provides detailed information on legal cases. This information includes evidentiary materials, trial exhibits, indictments, summons, warrants, subpoenas, orders, petitions, motions, judgments, dockets, pleadings, motions, and legal papers filed by the plaintiff and the defendant or generated by the court during the proceedings.

Further, these records serve as educative tools for the general public, providing insight into the St. Clair County justice system. Also, St. Clair County court records foster public transparency and accountability within the judiciary, guaranteeing the public that justice is served regardless of status and class.

Ultimately, anyone can explore these records as part of the Illinois court record family, to track previous and ongoing cases, research legal precedents, and initiate appeals.

Are Court Records Public in St. Clair County?

Yes. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, St. Clair County court records are presumed publicly accessible. Therefore, members of the public can query the local courthouse for public court records. Moreover, one is not expected to provide a reason for requesting or using court records per the act.

However, the judicial branch is not subject to the provisions of the FOIA. Hence, 705 ILCS 86/5 (Court Record and Document Accessibility Act) covers few exemptions to court records. Per this act, the court clerk may impound or limit access to case documents and information with access codes restricting access. Likewise, the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy controls access to court records remotely.

Confidential St. Clair County court records include:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Expunged or sealed court records
• Personal information including social security numbers, and financial information like credit/debit cards and PINs.
• Records containing mental health evaluations
• Proprietary business data, like trade secrets and business tax returns
• Personal information of potential or sworn jurors in a criminal case
• Drafts, notes, and work products collected by a judge or for a judge by court staff

St. Clair County Court Records Search

People can conduct a St.Clair County court records search at any of these locations:

• The local courthouse where the case was filed and proceeded
• The office of the county court clerk.
• A remote portal managed by the court.
• A third-party public records website.

St. Clair County Court Records Search by Name

To perform a St. Clair County court records search by name, individuals must provide the case party’s first and last name, or company details. Providing the required information aids the search process and retrieval. Further, requesting persons can visit the circuit clerk’s office or file a copy request form to find ongoing and closed cases associated with the name.

Researchers may be required to pay a nominal fee for plain or certified copies of any public record per page or document. Other case details like filling date, and document name may aid easy case record search.

The St. Clair County Circuit Clerk also provides remote access to persons who are unable to visit the courthouse for a name search. Individuals can search the public portals for all case types through the following options:

• Search by Participant or Company Name: The civil case public database provides docket information for all civil cases like small claims, probate cases, and family law, including case participants, case numbers, case filing dates, appearance history, and imaged documents.
• Search by Defendant Name: This public portal provides information regarding most criminal cases filed in the St. Clair Circuit Court.

These portals typically provide limited case information. Thus, researchers may be required to visit the courts in person for extensive case records.

St. Clair County Courts

Court locations in St. Clair County are listed below:

St. Clair County Building
10 Public Square
Belleville, IL 62220
Phone: (618) 825-2334

Juvenile Division
9002 Lebanon Road
Belleville IL 622231503
Phone: (618) 394-1195

Adult Probation Office
11 West Lincoln
Belleville IL 62220
Phone: (618) 277-5690

Detention Center
9006 Lebanon Road.
Belleville IL. 62223
Phone: (618) 397-9546

Juvenile Probation Office
9002 Lebanon Rd.
Belleville, IL 62223
Phone: (618) 394-1195

St. Clair County Superior Court Case Search

There is no Superior Court in St. Clair County. Following the Judicial Article of 1964 “amendment to the Illinois Constitution”, the modern Circuit Court of St. Clair County occupied the legal jurisdiction, and administrative function of the county's superior court. Public members can file all civil, criminal, probate, domestic violence, and traffic cases occurring within the county to the St. Clair County Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

Likewise, researchers can perform court case searches in person, via email, or online. To perform a records search in person, one may email the county's circuit court clerk at CircuitClerk@co.st-clair.il.us or visit:

10 Public Square
Belleville, Il 62220
Phone: (618) 825-2334

Further, the county's circuit court clerk provides an online case search tool where individuals can perform civil and criminal case searches. Through this online database, people may search criminal, civil, probate, traffic, and other case types using a participant/defendant’s name or case number.

St. Clair County District Court Records

St. Clair County does not have a district court. Instead, the St. Clair County 20th Judicial Circuit Court Services and Probation Department oversees all court cases and concerns. The probation department especially handles adult and juvenile probations, supervision of adult and juvenile defendants, drug testing defendants, court investigations, and DNA collection.

St. Clair County Criminal Records

According to the Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) and 5 ILCS 140/2.15, members of the public may query the authorized criminal justice agencies for copies of St.Clair County criminal records. This includes the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, and Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification which are typically in charge of creating, maintaining, and disseminating this criminal history record conviction information.

Generally, conviction information is simply a person’s St. Clair County criminal record which contains one’s judgment of guilt or nolo contendere issued by a judge/magistrate of a reputable court of law. Researchers may submit a Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) request form to the State Police's Bureau of Identification (BOI). The BOI receives inquiries via:

Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification
260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432
Phone: (815) 740-5160
isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification

Further, individuals can obtain rap sheets and St. Clair County arrest records for free by following the Record Access and Review Process. Subjects of records may visit any locally authorized fingerprint vendor to submit a set of fingerprints to their rap sheet. Local vendors are typically the county sheriff’s office or local police departments. Most fingerprint vendors charge nominal processing fees. Notably, members of the public cannot obtain criminal records on behalf of someone. The relevant fees and instructions are available on the ISP's website.

Also, subjects of records can query the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a nationwide rap sheet for $18. Additional directions and ordering guides are published on the ISP website.

St. Clair County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Individuals can visit the local courthouse where the criminal case was filed to perform a St. Clair. County criminal case lookup. Generally, the Circuit Clerk manages and aids interested persons to access important case information.

Alternatively, the circuit court’s Criminal Court Records Search Portal provides online access to criminal court cases, including charges, arraignments, bond, and incarceration information. Individuals can visit the Criminal Court Records Search Page and select any of the provided options:

• Search By Defendant Name
• Search By Case Number
• Search By Ticket Number

The following parameters may be required:

• The defendant’s first and last name
• Date of birth
• Case number
• Case type
• Sequence
• Year
• Ticket number
• Arresting agency

Search results include defendant information, case summary (type of offense, and date filed), case history (date, offense, case disposition history, charge class, defense attorney, complaint type, case status, case appearance history. arrest, and offense date) upcoming appearances and assessment history.

Finally, one can check the daily court docket through the Criminal Court Docket Search Portal for upcoming court proceedings, appearance descriptions, courtroom, hearing dates, and types.

Get St. Clair County Civil Court Records

To get St. Clair County civil court records, interested persons may contact the Circuit Courthouse where the case was filed and proceeded. As the chief custodian of court records, the Circuit Clerk is the first point of call for all court record inquiries. Hence, it is necessary to contact the office to verify availability and understand the proper procedure for making requests.

Often, the office may request a case number for search and retrivial of civil case information. In this case, individuals who do not know their case number may explore the court’s Search by Participant Name Portal.

The Online Case Search Portal is a convenient means for anyone to find civil court records. Access is free for all users. However, the information uploaded on the online portal is presumed, but not guaranteed to be accurate. In this case, users can contact the St. Clair Circuit Clerk’s office at CircuitClerk@co.st-clair.il.us.to verify accuracy and legibility.

Provided options for the search are:

• Search By Participant Name
• Search By Company Name
• Search By Case number

Finally, requesting persons can obtain St. Clair County civil court records by submitting a Court Record Copy Request Form by mail.

St. Clair County Family Court Records

The Domestic Relations and Family Cases unit of the St. Clair County Circuit Court is the only division authorized to handle family law matters like legal separation, protection orders, child support, dissolution of marriage (divorce), dissolution of civil union, child custody and visitation, parentage, and other family law complaints.

Individuals wishing to get St. Clair County family court records can inquire at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. The Circuit Clerk provides online forms for easy record inquiry and retrieval. Alternatively, one can access the online case search portal to retrieve case information regarding ongoing and closed family court cases.

St. Clair Dissolution of Marriage Records

"Dissolution of marriage" is generally interchangeable with "divorce" in St. Clair County. As the only presiding court, records from these proceedings are collected and preserved by the Circuit Clerk who provides different options to access and obtain these documents. Requesters can request a dissolution of marriage records at the office in person, via mail, or online.

St. Clair County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records are often required to establish eligibility for different benefits or services. In St Clair County, the County Clerk's office is the chief custodian of all county vital records, including marriage and divorce records. Hence, anyone wishing to get a copy of these records can submit a request to the office in person, via mail, or online. Members of the public have access to most marriage and divorce records, albeit with certain exemptions.

A St. Clair County marriage certificate can be obtained through any of these means:

Marriage Records

Persons who are married in St. Clair County from 1763 to the present can obtain certified copies of their marriage records through the County Clerk’s office. The St Clair Vital Records department maintains, and issues these records to requesters at any time, in person, or in writing.

To obtain marriage records, requesting parties must provide the groom’s name, the bride's maiden name, and the date of marriage. Generally, the first certified copy of a marriage record costs $15.00, and additional copies may cost $8.00 each.

Marriage Licenses

Aside from marriage records, the County Clerk’s office also issues marriage licenses to couples getting married in St. Clair County. To be eligible, applicants must present satisfactory proof that both parties to the marriage have reached the maturity age of 18 years at the time the license is issued. Application for a marriage license must be obtained and submitted in person, during business hours.

In other cases, if they are still under the age of 16 years, involved parties must obtain the consent of both parents, their legal guardian, or judicial approval. Upon request, parties will be required to present proof of age, parenthood, and legal Guardianship.

Further, legal guardians or parents providing consent for marital ties must visit the County Clerk in person or appear before a Notary Public and swear affidavit stating that they are the legal guardians or parents of such minors. This consent must bear the names and dates of birth of the parties to the marriage application. Finally, consent for the marriage must bear the official signature of the County Clerk or Notary Seal, or else it will not be received.

Note:

• A St. Clair marriage license is valid one day after its issuance.
• The intending parties must perform their marriage in the County where the license was issued.
• The marriage license is null if not used within sixty days.
• Application may require eligible means of identification: a picture identification (valid Driver's License or State I.D., military I.D., or valid passport).
• Blood tests are not needed.
• If any or both applicants have been divorced in the past year, they must submit a copy of the divorce decree to the county clerk.
• Inquirers may pay a fee of $45 for a marriage license.

Divorce Records

St. Clair County's Circuit Court maintains a Family and Domestic Relations Division that is in charge of creating and issuing the records for dissolution (divorce), and declaration of invalidity of marriages and civil unions. Eligible parties may submit a request for record inquiries at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in person, or writing. Notably, only named parties involved in the divorce judgment may request and obtain copies of the divorce record from the circuit clerk.

St. Clair County Birth and Death Records

St. Clair County birth and death records may be requested for specific services and benefits, including getting a passport, a driver's license, school enrollment, insurance, and real estate administration. A St. Clair County birth certificate proves a person’s birthplace and date of parentage. Conversely, death certificates certify a person’s date, place, and cause of death.

Under Illinois state law, subjects of record born in St. Clair County can request their birth record if they are of legal age. Likewise, legal representatives and parents can request their child’s birth certificate provided that they are named on the child’s birth certificate. On the other hand, family members or legal representatives can request and obtain death certificates.

To obtain birth and death records in St. Clair County, inquirers can visit the county clerk’s office in person during business hours. The office provides walk-in services for such requests. The county maintains and issues certified copies of birth and death records for individuals born or deceased in St. Clair County. St. Clair County death records from 1878 to the present and birth records from 1874 to the present are available for inspection and retrivial.

Birth certificate and death certificate requests in St. Clair County can be made online, or by mail by submitting a completed Birth Certificate Request Form, processing fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the document to be returned. All inquiries must be sent to:

St. Clair County Clerk
Attn: Vital Records
10 Public Square
Belleville, Illinois 62220-1632
Phone: (618) 277-6600

The following instructions are important for record inquiry:

• For birth certificate requests, inquirers will be required to provide personal information about the subject of the record, including a full birth name, date of birth, mother's maiden name, and, father's name.
• Inquiries requesting death certificates will be expected to provide the full name of the deceased, date of death, and, place of death.
• Requesters must provide either photo identification or proof of legal claim for a St. Clair County birth record.
• The first certified copy of a birth certificate costs $15 and $8 for additional copies each. On the other hand, the first certified copy of a death certificate costs $20, and $12 for additional copies.
• All payments must be made in money orders or cashier's checks only for mail requests.

St. Clair County Probate Court Records

The St. Clair Circut Court handles all probate cases and petitions related to wills, estates, and letters of testamentary, withdrawal of ward’s deposited fund, oath of guardian, guardianship of disabled persons, guardianship of minors and wards under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, 755 ILCS 5/ et. seq.

As the chief custodian of all court records in St. Clair County, the Circuit Clerk is the first point of visit for all public research during business hours. One can also explore the court’s case search portal with either a case party name or case number to find probate case information.

However, specific probate information and records, like wills filed for security purposes, are not open for public disclosure.

St. Clair County Property Records

In St. Clair County, property records provide essential information regarding property ownership history, valuation, and location. As the chief land record custodian of all real estate situated in the county, the St. Clair County Recorder of Deeds provides different means for accessing property documents.

Requesters can visit the office in person during business hours. Alternatively, the Recorder of Deeds Remote Access Tool allows users to get copies of recorded property documents from 1986 till the present at a nominal fee.

If one cannot find copies of records online, they can submit a Copy Request form to the Recorder of Deeds Archive Access. To obtain documents, one must provide the document number, book, and page number. Non-certified copies under 10 can be made by phone to (618) 825-2481 or (618) 825-2482 or via email to recorder@co.st-clair.il.us.

On the other hand, requests for over 10 certified copies of property records must include checks payable to “Recorder of Deeds” and mailed to:

Recorder of Deeds
Copy Request
P.O. Box 543
Belleville, IL 62222

Or for mailing address overnight mail:

Recorder of Deeds
Copy Request
10 Public Sq 5th Floor
Belleville, IL 62220

Additionally, requestors can look up property records through the St. Clair County Property Assessor's Office, and the Treasurer’s Office for real property assessment, tax, and liens respectively. The offices provide a Parcel and Mobile Home Search tool for interested persons to find comprehensive property data by property parcel number, owner name, address, and mobile home number.

St. Clair County Court Records Online

Members of the public can find St. Clair court records online through government websites. Additionally, third-party websites, like Illinoiscourtrecords.us, are run and maintained by private persons who compile public records, including St. Clair County public records from various sources, including courthouses for public access.

One can conveniently perform court record searches across several counties in Illinois from the comfort of their home with just a first and last name. However, just like government entities, users may be required to pay a nominal fee to obtain detailed documents. The fee and payment methods are dependent on the provider. Still, it is worth mentioning that third-party public records may not be accurate or complete. Thus, users cannot use them for official purposes.