Vermilion County Court Records

Parties involved in a criminal or civil court case in Vermilion County, Illinois, facilitate the legal process by filing complaints, petitions, motions, evidence, and other relevant documents that assert their positions. These documents, along with the court's orders, transcripts of proceedings, and other court-generated documents, are compiled into individual case files by the clerk of the court. Specifically, these documents are referred to as Vermilion County court records, form a part of Illinois Court records, and are preserved for numerous purposes, including:

• Transparency and accountability
• Legal compliance
• Legal education and research
• Policy making
• Facilitation of appeals to higher courts
• Efficient court administration

In summary, Vermilion County court records are essential for promoting fairness and justice in the judicial system.

Are Court Records Public in Vermilion County?

Yes. Vermilion County court records are open to the public for inspection and copying at will in accordance with Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS). Per 720 ILCS 5/32-8 (C5), public records include court records and other court filings received by the clerk of court as official court records, whether in criminal or civil proceedings. However, certain limitations to the accessibility of court documents exist. For example, adoption and juvenile records are not open for public inspection. Some records may be sealed if a court determines that there is good reason to limit the public's access to them. Other records or information that are not open to the public include:

• Personal information
• Preliminary research, notes, and drafts
• Law enforcement case and open investigation files

Vermilion County Court Records Search

The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Vermilion County offers interested parties physical and remote access to public court records in its possession. Members of the public can also take advantage of several third-party websites to obtain Vermilion County court records.

Vermilion County Courts

Vermilion County falls within the jurisdiction of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois and is served by a circuit court. The Vermilion County Circuit Court exercises original jurisdiction, handling all matters brought before it except those pertaining to:

• Redistricting of the General Assembly and
• Ruling on a governor's ability to serve and resume office

Below is a list of the courts in Vermilion County:

Vermilion County Circuit Court
Vermilion County Courthouse
7 North Vermilion Street, Danville, IL 61832
Phone: (217) 554-7700
Fax: (217) 554-7728

Danville Municipal Court
Robert E. Jones Municipal Building
17 West Main Street, Danville, IL 61832
Phone: (217) 431-2296

Hoopeston Municipal Court
301 West Main Street, Hoopeston, IL 60942
Phone: (217) 283-7645

Vermilion County Criminal Records

Criminal records refer to a detailed history of a person's criminal interactions with law enforcement agents and include notations of arrests, prosecutions, and convictions. Generally, based on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), these records are public information. However, the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA), which became law in Illinois on January 1, 1991, permits the public dissemination of conviction information alone. Only the record owner and specific criminal justice agencies/stakeholders are permitted to access RAP (Records of Arrest and Prosecution) Sheets and exhaustive criminal record history information.

That said, individuals may conduct criminal background checks from the relevant local arresting agency or the Vermilion County Sheriff's Office. Specific information on obtaining these records may be found on the official website of the record custodian. For example, details on how to conduct a criminal background check with the Danville Police Department can be accessed on its FAQs page. This will require the requester to prevent a picture ID and social security card and pay a service fee of $1 in cash. Another way individuals can access their Vermilion criminal records is to query the Illinois State Police (ISP) through its Bureau of Identification (BOI). Members of the public and non-criminal entities, such as employers, will need the subject's fingerprint impression to access available records via a fingerprint-based background check. Name-based searches through the state's Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) are limited to law enforcement agencies and persons with a user's agreement with the ISP.

Meanwhile, members of the public can obtain information about individuals arrested in Vermilion County and incarcerated in a state correctional facility through the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) 's "Individuals in Custody" online search tool. This tool allows interested parties to search inmates by last name, IDOC number, and birthdate.

Note: Interested parties may approach the Vermilion County Circuit Court Clerk's Office for court dispositions of arrests that led to a court case and a guilty verdict. They may also send a FOIA request to the appropriate custodian to access publicly accessible criminal records.

Get Vermilion County Civil Court Records

Vermilion County civil court records are documents relating to non-criminal legal proceedings presided over by a court in Vermilion County. They are maintained by the circuit court clerk's office and are generally accessible to members of society.

To access Vermilion County civil court records, individuals should visit the Circuit Clerk's Office during regular office hours at the address below:

7 North Vermilion Street
1st Floor
Danville, IL 61832
Phone: (217) 554-7700

Another option is to send a records search request via email to allrecordrequest@vercounty.org or conduct an online search using the online case search platform on the clerk's website.

Vermilion County Marriage Records

Vermilion County marriage records are classified as vital records by the Vital Records Act and kept by the Vermilion County Clerk. They are not public records and, therefore, not subject to the FOIA. Instead, certified copies of marriage licenses are only accessible to the subjects of the record and a few authorized individuals.

To obtain copies of a marriage or civil union license, eligible requesters should visit the Vermilion County Clerk's Office at:

201 North Vermilion Street
1st Floor
Danville, IL 61832

Requesters are to provide the couple's names at the time of marriage and the date of the marriage to facilitate the record search. It costs. $15 to obtain a certified copy of a marriage license and $8 per additional copy requested at the same time.

However, members of the public can verify the facts of a marriage (including names, dates of birth, and event dates) that took place in 1962 by querying the Illinois Department of Public Health's Division of Vital Records. This service costs $5, and applications for verification can be sent in person, via mail, or by fax. More information on obtaining marriage verifications is available on the Division's Marriage Records page.

Vermilion County Divorce Records

The Vermilion County Circuit Court Clerk's Office maintains records of marriages dissolved within its jurisdiction. To obtain Vermilion County divorce records, requesting parties can visit the courthouse where the divorce was finalized or conduct an online search through the available online case search platform. Record requests can also be sent via email to allrecordrequest@vercounty.org.

Similar to Vermilion County marriage records, individuals can also verify the facts of a dissolution of marriage by mail, fax, or in person from the Department of Public Health's Division of Vital Records. More information on this can be obtained from the Division's Dissolution of Marriage Records page.

Vermilion Birth and Death Records

Vermilion County birth records are not open to public inspection and can only be accessed by:

• The subject of the record (if they are at least 18 years old)
• Parents, legal guardians, or legal representatives of the subject

On the other hand, Vermilion death records can only be issued when a person with a personal property right interest in the record (or his duly authorized agent) requests a certified copy in writing.

To obtain copies of birth and death records in Vermilion County, eligible parties should attach a valid picture ID and a check or money order for the required amount to a duly completed application and send it via mail to:

Vermilion County Health Department
ATTN: Vital Records

Alternatively, they can fax the application and a picture ID to (217) 431-7483 and pay the required fees by debit or credit card. A schedule of fees is viewable on the Service Fees page. A first and initial copy of a birth or death record costs $19 and $23, respectively. Individuals are to pay $8 and $12 for each additional copy of birth and death records.

Eligible parties can also obtain birth and death records from the Department of Public Health's Division of Vital Records by mail, fax, or in person. The process is highlighted on the Department's birth and death records page.

Vermilion County Probate Court Records

The Probate Division of Vermilion County's Circuit Court handles probate matters filed in the court. Examples of such matters include:

• Administration of a decedent's estate
• Administration of the estates of living persons deemed by law to be incapacitated or unable to handle their own affairs (for instance, individuals suffering from mental illnesses and minors)

Vermilion County probate records are filed and handled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. The process for obtaining these records is the same as "Vermilion County Civil Court Records" above.

Vermilion County Property Records

Vermilion County property records are legal documents that contain essential information about a piece of real estate. They include:

• Deeds
• Subdivision plats
• Mortgages
• Releases and assignments
• Liens
• Judgements

The Vermilion County Recorder's Office is the county's official custodian of land records. Subsequently, individuals can access Vermilion County property records by visiting the Recorder's Office at:

201 North Vermilion Street
Danville, Illinois 61832

For detailed information about online access to land records, requesters are advised to visit the County Recorder's Land Records Search page. There, they can access a free tool for searching land indexes by several criteria, including name and document number. Requesters can also access other remote products to obtain Vermilion County land records.

Individuals should query the Vermilion County treasurer for property tax bills and information. However, requests for delinquent property tax information should be sent to the Vermilion County Clerk.

Members of the public can navigate to the Vermilion County Property Tax Inquiry page to perform a search via any of these criteria:

• Parcel Number
• Site address
• Sales price
• Advanced

Individuals can also conduct a Mobile Home Search using the mobile home number, owner's name, or site address as a criterion.

Vermilion County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources for accessing Vermilion County court records are readily available on various search platforms. An example is the Illinoiscourtrecords.us, which offers convenient public access to court records from various jurisdictions. However, individuals should note that most private online resources charge subscription-based fees.