Kankakee County Court Records Search
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Kankakee County sits in northeastern Illinois and is part of the state’s 21st Judicial Circuit, which also encompasses Iroquois County. All court operations for Kankakee County are centralized at the Kankakee County Courthouse in the city of Kankakee, where the Circuit Court exercises general jurisdiction over criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic cases. The Clerk of the Circuit Court, currently Sandra M. Cianci, serves as the official custodian of all court records filed within the county.
Individuals seeking court records in Illinois can search through a combination of official clerk resources, in-person visits to the courthouse, public-access computer terminals, and online case-lookup tools. The statewide judicial website at IllinoisCourts.us provides a directory of courts across the state and links to resources such as re:SearchIL, a cross-jurisdictional document repository that covers participating Illinois counties. For Kankakee County specifically, the Circuit Clerk’s office and its CourtView eAccess portal remain the primary starting points for locating publicly available case information.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Kankakee County?
Kankakee County offers multiple methods for searching court case records, whether you need basic docket information or certified copies of court filings.
Online Case Search — CourtView eAccess
The Kankakee County Circuit Clerk maintains an online case-lookup system called CourtView eAccess. To use it:
- Visit the Circuit Clerk’s website and click the “Case Lookup” link, which redirects to the CourtView eAccess page.
- Complete the CAPTCHA verification and accept the terms and conditions.
- Choose a search method — options include Name, Case Type, Case Number, Ticket/Citation Number, or Advanced Search.
- Enter the relevant search criteria and submit your query.
- Review results and click individual entries for more detailed case information, including docket entries and scheduled hearings.
Statewide Search — re:SearchIL
The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts operates re:SearchIL, a statewide electronic records portal. Users can register for re:SearchIL with an email address and then search for court documents filed in Kankakee County and other participating jurisdictions across Illinois.
In-Person Search
Visitors can search for and request court records at the Circuit Clerk’s counter during business hours:
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk’s Office
Address: 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: (815) 936-5700
Fax: (815) 939-8830
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on court holidays)
Public-access terminals are available at the courthouse for self-service case lookups. Staff can also assist with locating records when you provide a case number, party name, or other identifying details.
By Mail
Written record requests can be mailed to:
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk
450 East Court Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
Include the case number or as much identifying information as possible (party names, case type, approximate filing date), specify which documents you need, and enclose payment for applicable copy and certification fees along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Copy and Certification Fees
The Circuit Clerk publishes an official fee schedule that governs all copy, certification, and search charges. Key copy-related fees include:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies — first page | $2.00 |
| Copies — pages 2 through 20 | $0.50 per page |
| Copies — page 21 and after | $0.25 per page |
| Document certification (per stamp/seal) | $10.00 (in addition to copy fees) |
| Document exemplification (per stamp/seal) | $10.00 (in addition to copy fees) |
| Record search | $5.00 per year, per party, per division |
| Statement of charge and disposition (certified) | $8.00 |
| Statement of charge and disposition (not certified) | $2.00 |
| Court docket sheet | $2.00 first page; $0.50 each additional page |
Credit card payments are accepted at the clerk’s counter; a processing surcharge assessed by the card vendor applies per 705 ILCS 105/27.3b.
Are Court Records Public in Kankakee County?
Court records maintained by the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk are presumptively public under Illinois law. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) establishes a broad right of public access to records held by government agencies, including the courts. Any person may inspect or copy public records, and no specific reason or legal interest must be stated when making a request.
However, both state statute and court rule create categories of records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure. Records that are generally not available to the public in Kankakee County include:
- Sealed records — Cases sealed by court order cannot be viewed or copied by the public. A party must successfully petition the court under applicable Illinois statutes to have records sealed.
- Expunged records — When a court grants an expungement, the records are removed from public access and, in many cases, physically destroyed by the arresting agency. The Office of the State Appellate Defender provides information and forms related to sealing and expungement in Illinois.
- Juvenile records — Delinquency and abuse/neglect proceedings involving minors are confidential under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
- Adoption records — Adoption case files are sealed by statute and can only be opened by court order or through the Illinois Confidential Intermediary program.
- Mental health records — Proceedings filed under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code carry statutory confidentiality protections. The Circuit Clerk charges no filing or appearance fees for mental health cases but restricts access to the underlying records.
- Records of ongoing investigations — Law enforcement investigation files may be withheld under FOIA exemptions while a case remains active.
- Trade secrets and attorney-client privileged materials — These are exempt from disclosure under FOIA Section 7.
- Personal identifiers — Financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and certain other sensitive identifiers may be redacted from publicly available documents.
When a record is partially exempt, the clerk’s office will typically redact the exempt portions and release the remainder. If a FOIA request is denied, the requester has the right to appeal the denial to the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor.
Kankakee County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Kankakee County are prosecuted through the Circuit Court at the Kankakee County Courthouse. Felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic offenses are all filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s office. Criminal court records encompass charging documents, arrest information, bond orders, plea records, sentencing orders, and probation conditions.
Searching Criminal Court Records
There are three principal avenues for looking up criminal court cases in Kankakee County:
- CourtView eAccess — Use the Circuit Clerk’s online case lookup to search by defendant name, case number, or citation number. Docket entries, hearing dates, and case dispositions are available through this portal.
- re:SearchIL — The statewide document repository may contain electronically filed criminal case documents from Kankakee County for registered users.
- In-person request — Visit the Circuit Clerk’s counter at 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901, during business hours (8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday).
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Reports
Arrest records, incident reports, and booking information are maintained by the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, not the Circuit Clerk. To obtain these records:
- Online inmate search: The Sheriff’s Office provides a current inmate lookup where you can search by name, booking number, or subject number and find booking dates, bond information, charges, and next court dates.
- FOIA request by email: Send a detailed written request to foiakcso@kankakeecountyil.gov. The request must be contained entirely within the body of the email — the Sheriff’s Office will not open attachments or click hyperlinks due to cybersecurity policy.
- FOIA request by mail or in person: Submit requests to:
Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Freedom of Information Officer
3000 South Justice Way
Kankakee, IL 60901
The Sheriff’s Office provides the first 50 black-and-white letter- or legal-sized copies at no charge. Additional copies cost $0.15 per page. Color copies range from $0.14 to $0.27 per page depending on size and whether they are single- or double-sided.
Statewide Criminal History Checks
For a comprehensive criminal background report that extends beyond Kankakee County, the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification offers name-based background checks through the CHIRP (Criminal History Information Response Process) online portal. Accessing CHIRP requires enrollment with an Illinois Digital ID account. The Sheriff’s Office advises that FOIA is not the appropriate mechanism for obtaining a complete criminal history and directs requesters to the ISP Bureau of Identification at 260 North Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, or by phone at (815) 740-5160.
Kankakee County Civil Court Records
The Kankakee County Circuit Court handles all civil matters, from large-dollar lawsuits to small claims and eviction proceedings. Civil case records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s office. These records include complaints, answers, discovery materials filed with the court, motions, court orders, and final judgments.
Case Types and Filing Fees
Civil filing fees vary significantly depending on the nature of the case. The following table summarizes new case filing fees from the Circuit Clerk’s fee schedule:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Chancery (CH) | $306 |
| Law — Damages over $50,000 (LA) | $306 |
| Law Magistrate — Up to $15,000 (LM) | $256 |
| Law Magistrate — $15,001 to $50,000 (LM) | $306 |
| Small Claims — $0.01 to $2,500 (SC) | $89 |
| Small Claims — $2,500.01 to $10,000 (SC) | $256 |
| Eviction — Possession only (EV) | $89 |
| Eviction — Requesting rent (EV) | $256 |
| Foreclosure (FC) | $462 |
| Miscellaneous Remedy (MR) | $306 ($0 for Unemployment Review) |
| Tax (TX) | $306 |
Appearance or answer fees range from $109 to $181 depending on the associated filing fee tier. Jury demands in civil cases (excluding small claims, guardianship, and probate) carry a $212.50 fee. Small claims jury demands cost $12.50 for a six-person jury or $25.00 for a twelve-person jury.
Searching Civil Court Records
Civil case records can be searched through the same methods available for all case types:
- CourtView eAccess online portal — search by party name, case number, or case type.
- re:SearchIL — access electronically filed civil documents through the statewide repository.
- In person at the Circuit Clerk’s Office, 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901; Phone: (815) 936-5700
The Circuit Clerk’s website also hosts forms and documents commonly used in civil proceedings, and the Illinois Supreme Court maintains a library of statewide approved forms that are accepted in every Illinois courthouse.
Property Records
Civil cases frequently intersect with property records. While court filings involving real estate disputes, liens, and foreclosures are maintained by the Circuit Clerk, underlying property records such as deeds, mortgages, and plat maps are held by the Kankakee County Recorder. The Recorder’s office offers remote access through a web-based application (Laredo) as well as a free direct search tool for land index data. Property tax information is available through the Kankakee County Treasurer’s property tax inquiry page.
Kankakee County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Kankakee County are adjudicated by the Circuit Court — there is no separate family court division with an independent facility. The Circuit Clerk maintains all family case files at the Kankakee County Courthouse.
Types of Family Law Cases
The family law docket includes:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce) — with and without minor children
- Parentage (paternity) actions
- Child custody and parenting time (timesharing) disputes
- Child support establishment, modification, and enforcement
- Adoption proceedings
- Orders of protection (domestic violence, stalking, civil no-contact)
- Name changes
- Guardianship of minors
Filing Fees for Family Cases
Select family case filing fees from the official fee schedule:
| Case Type | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution of marriage/civil union (with or without children) | $306 |
| Adoption | $89 |
| Parentage Act or Confidential Intermediary | $0 |
| All other family cases (FA) | $306 |
| Orders of protection (all types) | No fee |
| Child support annual service fee | $36 |
No fees are charged for filing, modifying, certifying, or copying orders of protection, including emergency, interim, and plenary orders.
Searching Family Court Records
Family case records are accessible through the CourtView eAccess portal using party names or case numbers. Certain family records — particularly those involving adoptions, juvenile matters, and orders of protection — may be restricted from public view under Illinois confidentiality statutes.
Marriage and Divorce Records
Marriage licenses and certificates in Kankakee County are issued and maintained by the Kankakee County Clerk’s Office, not the Circuit Clerk. To obtain a certified marriage certificate:
- In person or by mail: Visit or write to the County Clerk — Vital Statistics, 189 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901. Include a completed marriage certificate request form and payment. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for mail requests.
- Online: Order through VitalChek, the County Clerk’s designated online ordering partner (additional surcharges apply).
- By phone or email: Call (815) 937-2990 or email countyclerk@kankakeecountyil.gov.
The fee for a certified marriage certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy.
Divorce decrees are court records filed with the Circuit Clerk. Copies of dissolution of marriage judgments can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk’s office at the courthouse. Certified copies are subject to the standard copy and certification fees listed in the fee schedule.
Birth and Death Records
Although not court records, birth and death certificates frequently arise in connection with family and probate proceedings. The Kankakee County Clerk’s Vital Records division handles these requests:
- Birth certificates: $10.00 for the first certified copy; $4.00 for each additional copy. Certified copies are restricted to the individual named on the certificate (if 18 or older), a parent named on the certificate, or an authorized legal representative. A birth certificate request form is available for mail orders.
- Death certificates: $14.00 for the first certified copy; $8.00 for each additional copy. Available to individuals with a personal or legal interest in the record. A death certificate request form is available for mail orders.
- Genealogy records: Non-certified copies of birth records 75+ years old, marriage records 50+ years old, and death records 20+ years old are available at $10.00 per record. A genealogy request form can be downloaded from the County Clerk’s site.
All mail requests should include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Online ordering through VitalChek is also available for birth, death, and marriage certificates.
Kankakee County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Kankakee County are handled by the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk maintains all probate case files, which cover estate administration, guardianship of disabled persons and minors, will contests, trust litigation, conservatorships, and certain mental health proceedings.
Probate Filing Fees
The Circuit Clerk’s fee schedule sets the following probate-related charges:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate of a decedent or missing person (PR) — new filing | $356 |
| Guardianship of a minor or disabled person (GR) — new filing | $256 |
| Appearance/answer (general) | $181 |
| Appearance for executor, administrator, guardian, guardian ad litem, or special administrator | No fee |
| Letters of office (each) | $2.00 |
| Letters issued without administration of estate (each) | $2.00 |
| Each accounting (other than final) — decedent or guardian | $25.00 |
| Final accounting — decedent or guardian | No fee |
| Guardian annual report filing | No fee |
| Estate claim — $0 to $149.99 | No fee |
| Estate claim — $150 to $499.99 | $25.00 |
| Estate claim — $500 to $9,999 | $40.00 |
| Estate claim — $10,000 or more | $60.00 |
| Petition to reopen estate (30 days or less after final order) | No fee |
| Petition to reopen estate (31+ days after final order) | $75.00 |
| Jury demand — probate | $137.50 |
| Transfer will (transfer fee + certified mailing) | $56.80 |
Under 755 ILCS 5/6-1, any person in possession of a decedent’s will must file it with the clerk of the appropriate county immediately upon the testator’s death. Filing a will alone incurs no fee, though copy and certification charges apply when requesting copies. Wills cannot be filed electronically in Kankakee County.
Searching Probate Records
Probate cases can be searched through the CourtView eAccess portal by entering the decedent’s or ward’s name, or by case number. Registered users of re:SearchIL may also be able to access electronically filed probate documents.
For in-person requests, visit the Circuit Clerk’s office at:
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk — Probate Division
Address: 450 East Court Street, Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: (815) 936-5700
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Public Access Considerations for Probate Records
Most probate records are public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. However, several categories may be restricted:
- Mental health proceeding records filed under the probate division carry statutory confidentiality protections and are generally not available for public inspection.
- Guardianship records may contain sensitive medical, financial, or personal information about a ward that is exempt from disclosure.
- Minor guardianship files may have portions sealed or redacted to protect the identity and welfare of the minor.
Individuals who need access to restricted probate records typically must demonstrate a legal interest and may need to file a motion with the court. The Circuit Clerk’s staff can advise on which portions of a probate file are available for public review and which require a court order. Court transcripts from probate proceedings are not automatically provided; requests must be directed to the Court Reporter Supervisor at (815) 937-2918, and separate transcript preparation fees apply.