Fayette County Court Records Search
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Fayette County, Illinois keeps its court records through the Fourth Judicial Circuit's lone courthouse in Vandalia, the county seat. These files document the full range of legal proceedings — criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, domestic relations cases, probate matters, and more — and the Circuit Clerk's office is the official record keeper for the county's entire court system. Whether you're researching a judgment, verifying a case status, or requesting certified copies of filings, knowing which office handles what and how access works will determine how quickly you get what you need.
Illinois residents and out-of-state requesters can explore publicly available case information through official clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, and web-based tools. IllinoisCourts.us can help orient you to Illinois court structure and point you toward publicly available case information across the state.
Fayette County Courthouse
Fayette County Circuit Court
Address: 221 South 7th Street, Room 112, Vandalia, IL 62471
Phone: (618) 283-5009
Fax: (618) 283-4490
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The courthouse also hosts the Chief Judge's Office of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which covers nine counties — Christian, Clay, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Montgomery, and Shelby — with 19 judges rotating assignments under Chief Judge Martin W. Siemer.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Fayette County?
You have several practical options for searching Fayette County court records, from a free online case portal to direct in-person searches at the clerk's office.
Online Case Search via Judici
The main online tool for Fayette County is Judici, a statewide court records portal used by participating Illinois counties. Through Judici's Fayette County interface, you can search by party name, attorney name, case number, or filing date. Basic case information is free. Premium services — including access to court documents — are available for a fee.
In-Person Search at the Circuit Clerk's Office
Walk-in access to case files is available at the Circuit Clerk's office, Room 112 of the Vandalia courthouse, during regular business hours. Clerk staff can help you locate specific cases and provide copies. A Public Access Computer is available on-site for self-service case lookups. You may be asked to provide identifying details about the case — such as the parties' names, case number, or approximate filing date — to help staff locate the file.
Copy Fees from the Circuit Clerk
| Pages | Fee Per Page |
|---|---|
| 1st page | $1.00 |
| Pages 2–20 | $0.50 each |
| Pages 21 and beyond | $0.25 each |
Emailed records carry a slightly higher cost due to the research time required by clerk deputies. Contact the Circuit Clerk directly at (618) 283-5009 for emailed record fee details.
Electronic Filing
Fayette County accepts electronic filings through the Illinois Courts e-filing system. The clerk's E-File Forms & Filing Fees page links to all approved circuit court forms, including those for civil matters, divorce, small claims, evictions, expungement, motions, name changes, and orders of protection. A 2.85% processing fee applies to credit or debit card payments made online.
Are Court Records Public in Fayette County?
Illinois's Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) gives the public a broad right to inspect and copy government records, including those held by courts and county agencies. Under FOIA, anyone — resident or non-resident — can request to view or obtain copies of court records without stating a reason, subject to specific statutory exemptions.
Under Illinois law, categories of information that may be withheld or restricted include:
- Records of ongoing law enforcement investigations
- Security-sensitive information about governmental facilities
- Trade secrets and proprietary commercial information
- Personal private information such as Social Security numbers and medical records
- Educational records protected under federal law
- Privileged communications, including attorney-client correspondence
Beyond FOIA limitations, the Circuit Clerk maintains certain case-level restrictions. Records not open to public inspection include:
- Juvenile cases — confidential by statute
- Adoption proceedings — sealed from public view
- Impounded or sealed cases — restricted by court order
For all other case types, the presumption is public access. The public body bears the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that a record qualifies for an exemption before withholding it.
Fayette County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Fayette County — including misdemeanors, felonies, traffic offenses, and DUI cases — are prosecuted in the Fayette County Circuit Court. The Fourth Judicial Circuit handles serious felony prosecutions, with assigned judges rotating among the nine-county circuit.
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case records are searchable through Judici's Fayette County portal or in person at the Circuit Clerk's office. The online system shows case status, charge descriptions, court dates, and dispositions for cases that are not sealed, impounded, or juvenile in nature.
Arrest and Inmate Records
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office maintains the county jail and handles arrest-related records. Sheriff Ronnie Stevens leads the office, which shares the courthouse building at 221 S. 7th Street.
Fayette County Sheriff's Office
Address: 221 S. 7th Street, Vandalia, IL 62471
Phone: (618) 283-2141
Fax: (618) 283-5014
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office provides information about the jail and law enforcement operations. Phone and video visitation for inmates is managed through the HomeWav platform.
Statewide Criminal History Records
For background checks and statewide criminal history searches beyond a single county, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification maintains the official Illinois criminal history database. Conviction information is publicly accessible for purposes specified under state law, while arrest-only records may have additional restrictions. Fingerprint-based checks are available through licensed Live Scan vendors statewide.
Expungement and Sealing
If you want to clear your criminal record in Fayette County, the necessary forms are available through the Illinois Courts expungement and sealing forms page. Applications are filed with the Circuit Clerk and ruled upon by a circuit judge.
Fayette County Civil Court Records
The Fayette County Circuit Court handles all civil litigation filed in the county, from small claims through major civil cases. The Circuit Clerk maintains official records of all civil proceedings and collects associated filing fees and costs.
Small Claims
Illinois small claims court covers disputes of $10,000 or less, including breach of contract, money owed, property damage, and landlord-tenant matters. The small claims complaint form is available through the Illinois Courts website and must be filed with the Circuit Clerk. Filing fees in downstate Illinois counties generally range from $87 for claims up to $2,500 and higher for amounts up to the $10,000 limit; confirm current amounts directly with the Circuit Clerk at (618) 283-5009.
Other Civil Matters
Civil filings handled by the Circuit Court include:
- Contract disputes and civil judgments
- Eviction and landlord-tenant actions (use the Illinois Courts eviction forms)
- Mortgage foreclosures
- Civil asset forfeiture proceedings
- Post-judgment collection actions, including garnishments
Fee waiver applications are available for civil filers who cannot afford filing costs via the Fee Waiver for Civil Cases form.
Property Records
Recorded property instruments — deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, UCC filings, and related documents — are maintained by the Fayette County Clerk & Recorder. Online searches can be conducted through the Tapestry Portal for a pay-per-search fee of $8.75, or through Laredo Connect for commercial subscribers requiring ongoing access. Recording fees follow a structured schedule:
| Document Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard fee documents (deeds, mortgages, etc.) | $84.00 |
| RHSP-exempt filings (judgments, UCC, gov. filings) | $65.00 or less |
| Non-standard documents (5+ parcels, legal-size paper) | $112.00 |
| Plat or survey | $98.00 |
For parcel-level property data, ownership details, and tax assessments, the Fayette County Supervisor of Assessments offers a property search portal and links to GIS mapping tools.
Fayette County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Fayette County — including divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence, adoption, and guardianship — are handled by the Fayette County Circuit Court under its general jurisdiction. The Circuit Clerk maintains all family case files, accessible through the same office and online search tools that apply to civil and criminal records.
Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings are filed with the Circuit Clerk at 221 S. 7th Street, Vandalia. Case records are searchable through Judici for cases that are not sealed or impounded. Certified copies of divorce decrees and dissolution documents can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk's office at the standard copy fee schedule. To help with retrieval, provide the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the filing.
Approved forms for initiating or responding to divorce, child support, and maintenance actions are available on the Illinois Courts divorce and family forms page.
Orders of Protection
Domestic violence victims seeking civil orders of protection can file using the Order of Protection forms from the Illinois Courts website. Emergency orders can be issued by a judge without prior notice to the respondent.
Child Support
Court-ordered child support payments in Fayette County are processed through the State Disbursement Unit (SDU). The Circuit Clerk's office maintains active child support case files and collects a $3.00 per month maintenance fee for each file actively disbursing payments.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Fayette County are issued and maintained by the Fayette County Clerk & Recorder, located at the courthouse complex. The Recorder's office provides access to marriage record indexes. Marriage ceremonies may be performed through the Circuit Court; the Fourth Judicial Circuit charges a $10.00 ceremony fee to be paid to the Circuit Clerk before the proceeding, and appointments are required.
Birth and Death Records
Certified copies of birth and death records are available through the Fayette County Clerk & Recorder's office. Current fees are:
- Certified Birth Certificate: $29.00 for the first copy; $9.00 for each additional copy
- Certified Death Certificate: $35.00 for the first copy; $13.00 for each additional copy
- Genealogy search fee: $10.00 per name; genealogy copies $6.00 each
Access is restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a demonstrated legal interest. Photo identification is required.
Fayette County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Fayette County are handled by the Fayette County Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over all probate law proceedings under Illinois law. There is no separate standalone probate court; the Circuit Court's probate division manages all estate and guardianship filings, and the Circuit Clerk maintains all related records.
Scope of Probate Jurisdiction
Fayette County probate proceedings include:
- Probating wills and granting letters testamentary
- Administration of intestate estates (no valid will)
- Appointment of guardians for minors and for adults adjudicated as disabled
- Conservatorship proceedings
- Contested will matters
- Adoptions
- Name change petitions
Searching Probate Records
Probate records are searchable online through Judici using the standard case search tools. Judici also offers a Will Index search as part of its premium services, which is particularly useful for estate research and genealogy purposes. In-person searches at the Circuit Clerk's office remain available during courthouse hours.
Requesting Copies
Certified copies of wills, letters testamentary, guardian orders, and other probate documents can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk's office at 221 S. 7th Street, Room 112, Vandalia. The standard fee schedule applies: $1.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 per page thereafter. Adoption records are sealed and not available to the general public — access requires a court order.
The Fourth Judicial Circuit's self-help and forms resources through the Illinois Courts website include approved forms for name changes and other probate-related petitions that can be filed directly with the Circuit Clerk.