Will County Circuit Court Case Search

In Will County, the 12th Judicial Circuit Court hears and resolves all types of disputes. Its records refer to a compendium of case files in the Circuit Court clerk’s archive relevant to every legal action that has been filed and heard in the different branches of the Court.

Though the details contained in each case file vary depending on the case type, a typical Circuit Court record contains the names of the parties involved in the proceeding, case number, citation, case type, subject of dispute, claims, motions, arguments, allegations, defenses, and judgment or sentencing.

These records are often made available upon request from members of the public who may need them for various purposes. These include verifying a claim, legitimizing a claim to personal or real property, or obtaining precedents to support a legal argument.

What Kinds of cases have been heard in Will Circuit Court?

The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil cases. Accordingly, the court is divided into two separate divisions: Civil and Criminal/Traffic Divisions. The Civil Division handles multiple variations of civil cases. This includes Family/Divorce, Child Support, Adoption, Order of Protection, Probate, Small Claims, Arbitration, Chancery, Tax, Law Magistrate/Law, Miscellaneous Remedy, and Postjudgments. As a result, it presides over injury and damages claims, garnishment actions, and eviction.

For criminal cases, the Criminal Division of the Court hears and decides them. It determines felonies, including capital offenses. It presides over petitions for expungement of arrest and all post-conviction matters, extradition, and all habeas corpus hearings. The Traffic Division handles cases involving the collection of fines on all traffic infractions.

Will County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court has original jurisdiction and is typically the court of first instance in all civil and criminal cases, while cases heard exclusively by the Court of Claims and the Illinois Supreme Court fall outside its scope of authority. The Court is organized into two separate divisions to hear and decide each of its cases, from felonies and heavy monetary compensation claims to traffic infractions and small claims. A civil case is a small claim when the monetary claim is $10,000 or less.

County residents generally view the Circuit Court residents as the primary platform to get redress for injuries suffered and to claim compensation. The Court’s branches are located at:

Will County Circuit Court

Will County Courthouse
14 West Jefferson Street,
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court

River Valley Justice Center
3208 West McDonough Street,
Joliet, IL 60431
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court

Will County Court Annex
57 North Ottawa Street,
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 772-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Bolingbrook Branch Court

Town Hall and Police Department
375 West Briarcliff Road,
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Braidwood Branch Court

Police Department
141 West Main Street,
Braidwood, IL 60408
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Frankfort Branch Court

Frankfort Township Old Hall
11008 West Lincoln Highway,
Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court

Lockport Branch Court
City Hall
222 East 9th Street, Lockport, IL 60441
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Phone: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Peotone Branch Court

Will County Fair Grounds - Will County Atrium
712 West Street, Peotone, IL 60468
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Plainfield Branch Court

Plainfield Law Enforcement Center
14300 South Coil Plus Drive,
Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

Will County Circuit Court - Wilmington Branch Court

City Hall
1165 South Water Street,
Wilmington, IL 60481
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Fax: (815) 740-8074

It is important to note that some branch courts are designated for court proceedings only and do not offer additional services.

Will County Case Lookup

Knowing where to look can spare searchers time and effort when seeking court records. The Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining records of all cases filed and heard in Will County. Individuals wishing to obtain specific records can visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at the main courthouse and use the public access terminals or view physical files during business hours.

The clerk's office is located at:

Office of the Circuit Clerk

Will County Courthouse
100 W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
TTY: (800) 526-0844

Court records are also available online. Individuals can save themselves a trip to the courthouse by visiting the iPublic website on the Circuit Court web page.

To access these records:

• Visit the Court’s website and click on the look-up option.
• Navigate to the email address feed and enter a feedback email.
• Agree to the terms and click on submit.
• Enter the security code sent to the email and click on "proceed" to continue and complete the search.

It is important to note that iPublic does not display images of the record documents. Instead, users are advised to register with i2File, a State-approved third-party vendor, to obtain copies.

Will Circuit Court Case Search by Name

Whether online or in-person, most search platforms require individuals to look up cases by entering case-identifying details such as party names, case numbers, and other relevant information.

For example, iPublic requires users to provide the parties' names, case numbers, business names, and traffic citation numbers. These details are often used to filter and locate specific records among a large number of others. Therefore, searchers must ensure that the information they are providing is accurate. Otherwise, their search may be unsuccessful.

Will Circuit Court Docket Search

Will County Circuit Court docket is a comprehensive record of all documents and proceedings related to a court case. It includes a chronological list of filings such as pleadings, orders, judgments, and court events like appearances and verdicts.

The docket serves as a tool for the court to manage multiple cases by tracking their progress and ensuring fairness in handling each case. It is typically a public record that allows anyone to access information about case schedules, parties involved, and the status of proceedings. Each case is assigned a unique docket number for identification.

Court dockets also can be accessed on the Circuit Court Clerk's website. Visit the website and click on the "court schedule" option. Agree to the terms to proceed.

Lookup Will County Circuit Court Online

The Circuit Court website is the official platform for accessing Circuit Court records online However, third-party sites like Illinoiscourtrecords.us may also provide access to these records. While these websites often expend considerable effort in making sure that the information obtained on their website is complete and error-free, they make no representation that the information will be fit for purpose. Users are advised to corroborate the information received with official resources in order to be certain that it is fit for use.

Supreme Court vs. Circuit Court

The 12th Judicial Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all matters and is the court of first instance for most criminal and civil cases. Cases heard by the court are those filed with the court clerk before coming up to the court for hearing. The judgment of the Court may be appealed to the Appellate Court in its district or, in some cases, directly to the Supreme Court. The Illinois Supreme Court is the court of last resort and the highest court in the state.

As the highest appellate court, a significant amount of the cases it hears come to it on appeal. Though it has its own jurisdiction, it also shares jurisdiction with the Circuit Court over cases related to mandamus, prohibition, and habeas corpus. The Supreme Court typically legislates over perplexing state law and constitutional issues. And its decisions serve as a template for lower courts to follow.

While it has authority over state issues, federal laws fall outside of its jurisdiction. Consequently, issues bordering on the US Constitution and other federal matters can properly be decided only by the Supreme Court of the United States and other federal courts.