Iroquois County Court Records Search

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    Iroquois County, Illinois is the third-largest county in the state by area, with Watseka serving as the county seat. The county's courts operate under the 21st Judicial Circuit, which covers both Iroquois and Kankakee counties. Criminal, civil, family, and probate case files generated by that circuit are kept primarily by the Iroquois County Circuit Clerk's Office at the Watseka courthouse. Vital records and land documents, however, are the responsibility of the County Clerk and Recorder — a separate office located nearby.

    If you're researching a case filed in Iroquois County, you have a few routes available: visiting the courthouse in person, searching online dockets, or submitting a written request by mail. Whether you're an Illinois resident or out of state, a good starting point is IllinoisCourts.us, which maintains a statewide directory of circuit courts, clerks, and public case search tools across all 102 Illinois counties.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Iroquois County?

    The Iroquois County Circuit Clerk's Office is the central repository for all Circuit Court case files, docket entries, and court-related fines and fees. It connects the public to the judiciary and can help with searches across civil, criminal, domestic relations, and probate matters.

    Here are the main ways to search for a case:

    • Online case search: Iroquois County uses Judici.com, the Illinois e-Access portal used by many downstate counties. You can search remotely by party name, case number, or date range. Most civil and traffic case records are available through this platform.
    • In-person access: The Circuit Clerk's Office has a public access terminal inside the courthouse at 550 South 10th Street, Watseka, IL 60970. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call the legal division at (815) 432-6991 if you have questions before visiting.
    • Mail requests: You can submit a written request by mail — include the relevant case details and any applicable copy fees.
    • FOIA requests: Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), anyone may submit a written public records request to a county office. Iroquois County provides an online FOIA request form through its official website.

    Before you start searching, try to have the full legal names of the parties involved, the approximate filing date or year, the case number if you have it, and the type of case you're looking for. That information will significantly speed things up.

    Iroquois County Courts — Contact Directory

    OfficeAddressPhoneHours
    Circuit Clerk (Legal Division)550 S. 10th Street, Watseka, IL 60970(815) 432-6991Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
    21st Judicial Circuit (Courthouse)550 S. 10th Street, Watseka, IL 60970(815) 432-6950Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
    County Clerk & Recorder1001 E. Grant St., Room 104, Watseka, IL 60970(815) 432-6960Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
    Sheriff's Office550 S. 10th Street, P.O. Box 67, Watseka, IL 60970(815) 432-6992Contact office

    Are Court Records Public in Iroquois County?

    Illinois law broadly presumes that court records are open to the public. Three main legal authorities shape access to Iroquois County court records:

    • Illinois Supreme Court Rule 8 — sets the framework for public access to court records and documents, including electronic records.
    • Court Record and Document Accessibility Act (705 ILCS 86/5) — confirms that court records are presumed accessible, with online and remote access governed by the Illinois Supreme Court's Remote Access Policy.
    • Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) — applies to public agencies, including clerk offices, and entitles anyone to inspect or copy records upon written request. The first 50 pages are provided at no charge; additional pages are $0.15 each.

    Certain records are restricted by statute or court order and are not available to the general public. Those include:

    • Juvenile court records — sealed under state law to protect minors
    • Adoption records — confidential and accessible only to authorized parties
    • Mental health proceedings — subject to heightened privacy protections
    • Sealed and expunged records — removed from public view by court order
    • Private name change petitions — restricted to protect personal safety in qualifying cases

    When a record contains a mix of public and confidential information, clerks are required to redact the restricted portions and release what remains.

    Iroquois County Criminal Court Records

    Felony criminal cases in Iroquois County are prosecuted in the Circuit Court and presided over by Judge Sabol and Judge Bartucci, both stationed at 550 S. 10th Street, Watseka, and reachable at (815) 432-6965 and (815) 432-6991, respectively. The Circuit Clerk's Office maintains the official case files for all felony indictments, arraignments, motions, verdicts, and sentencing orders.

    To search criminal case records remotely, start with the Judici online case lookup, which provides docket access for cases filed in Iroquois County. You can also visit the Circuit Clerk in person during regular business hours and use the public access terminal at the courthouse. Basic case information — party names, case status, and hearing dates — is generally available to the public.

    If you need certified copies of court documents, the Circuit Clerk charges the following:

    • Standard copies: $1.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 for each additional page
    • Certification fee: $6.00 per document

    The Circuit Clerk also accepts online court fine payments through Court Money for traffic tickets and certain ordinance violations that don't require a court appearance.

    For complete criminal history records — including statewide conviction data — you'll need to contact the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification (BOI) directly, not the county courthouse. The BOI charges the following fees:

    • Name-based inquiry: $16.00
    • Fingerprint card submission: $20.00
    • Electronic/live scan submission: $15.00

    The Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) governs access to statewide criminal history records. Fingerprinting is required for those submissions. The ISP fee schedule lists all current charges for BOI requests.

    For arrest-level records kept locally, the Iroquois County Sheriff's Office at 550 S. 10th Street (P.O. Box 67, Watseka, IL 60970) handles public records requests under the Illinois FOIA. Sheriff Clinton J. Perzee can be reached at (815) 432-6992. Written requests should include the subject's name, the approximate incident date, and a description of the specific records you need.

    Iroquois County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Iroquois County — contract disputes, property matters, small claims, personal injury actions, and similar proceedings — are filed with the Circuit Clerk's Office and heard in the 21st Judicial Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk keeps all civil docket entries, pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments.

    The current filing fee schedule, effective January 1, 2022, applies to all civil case filings. If you can't afford court fees, you may apply for an indigency waiver under 735 ILCS 5/5-105. The Illinois Supreme Court's standardized fee waiver forms are available for download and accepted statewide.

    You can search civil case records remotely through the Judici portal, or review them in person at the courthouse during office hours. Standardized court forms for civil proceedings — complaints, motions, and related documents — are available on the Illinois Courts approved forms page.

    Property records connected to civil disputes — deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats — are maintained by the County Clerk and Recorder under the Illinois Conveyances Act (765 ILCS 5). Two online platforms offer remote access to recorded documents:

    • Tapestry — pay-per-search access at $8.75 per search, with print copies at $1.00 per page; records available from July 1, 1996, forward
    • Laredo — subscription-based platform for title companies and legal professionals; monthly plans range from $100 (up to 250 minutes) to $320 (1,001–2,000 minutes) per month

    The County Clerk and Recorder's office also offers a free Property Fraud Alert subscription service that notifies property owners whenever a new document is recorded against their property.

    Iroquois County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Iroquois County run through the Circuit Court's general and domestic relations dockets. Cases include divorce and dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal maintenance, orders of protection, and paternity proceedings.

    The Circuit Clerk at 550 S. 10th Street is the official keeper of all family court filings. These records are searchable through the Judici portal and can be reviewed in person at the courthouse. Certified copies follow the same fee structure as general civil records: $1.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2–20, $0.25 for pages beyond 20, and a $6.00 certification fee per document.

    Standardized forms for divorce, child support, and maintenance proceedings are available through the Illinois Supreme Court's approved forms library.

    Marriage records are held by the County Clerk and Recorder's Office, not the Circuit Clerk. Certified copies are available to the couple, their parents, or authorized representatives. To request a certified copy by mail, complete and submit the marriage record application along with a copy of your photo ID and the required fee — $18.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy requested at the same time. Mail your request to: Iroquois County Clerk, 1001 E. Grant St., Watseka, IL 60970. You can also submit requests online through Official Records Online, though a convenience fee applies. Genealogical copies of marriage records older than 50 years may be requested under broader eligibility criteria.

    Divorce records, unlike marriage records, are held by the Circuit Clerk. The Illinois Department of Public Health provides verification — not certified copies — of dissolution of marriage events recorded since 1962 for $5.00. For the official certified divorce decree or full case documents, contact the Circuit Clerk directly with the case number, party names, and year of filing.

    Iroquois County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Iroquois County are heard in the Circuit Court under the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5), which covers estate administration, guardianships of adults with disabilities, guardianships of minors, conservatorships, and related proceedings. The Circuit Clerk's Office keeps all probate filings — wills admitted to probate, letters of administration, inventory reports, accountings, and final court orders.

    Common probate case types heard in the Circuit Court include:

    • Administration of estates (both testate and intestate)
    • Petition to admit a will for probate
    • Guardianship of persons with disabilities (adults and minors)
    • Conservatorship proceedings
    • Minor settlements
    • Supervised estate distributions

    To obtain probate records, visit the Circuit Clerk's Office in person at the Iroquois County Courthouse, 550 S. 10th Street, Watseka, IL 60970, Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM. Written mail requests are also accepted. Either way, bring or include the decedent's or ward's full legal name, the approximate year the case was filed, and the case number if you have it.

    Copy fees for probate documents follow the standard Circuit Clerk schedule: $1.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 for each page beyond 20, plus a $6.00 fee to certify any document. If you qualify for a fee waiver under 735 ILCS 5/5-105, you can use the Illinois Supreme Court's standardized fee waiver application.

    Probate case dockets for cases indexed in the electronic system are searchable through the Judici portal. If you're a genealogical researcher looking for older probate filings — such as will indexes or early estate inventories — the Illinois State Archives holds historical county court records and is a useful resource for those earlier materials.