LaSalle County Court Records Search
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LaSalle County is situated in north-central Illinois with its county seat in Ottawa. The county’s trial-level court system operates within the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which also serves Bureau and Grundy Counties. All case types—criminal, civil, family, traffic, and probate—fall under the jurisdiction of the LaSalle County Circuit Court, administered by Circuit Clerk Greg Vaccaro. The Circuit Clerk’s office maintains two physical locations in Ottawa: the Civil Division at the LaSalle County Courthouse downtown and the Traffic/Criminal Division at the Criminal Justice Center on Etna Road.
Residents and members of the public seeking court case information in Illinois can begin by using the resources available through the Circuit Clerk’s office, county government websites, and public access terminals at both courthouse locations. The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk’s website provides an online case lookup tool, and IllinoisCourts.us may also help users locate publicly available court case information across the state. Additional record types, including land documents, vital records, and law enforcement files, are maintained by separate county offices detailed throughout this guide.
How to Look Up a Court Case in LaSalle County?
Finding a specific case requires identifying the correct division and then choosing a search method. The Circuit Clerk operates a computerized case management system dating back to 1989, with public access terminals available at both courthouse locations during business hours.
Online search. The Circuit Clerk’s online court records portal allows searches by participant name or case number at no charge. Results display docket entries, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions for cases filed since computerization began.
In-person search. Public access terminals are available at both the Courthouse (119 W. Madison Street) and the Criminal Justice Center (707 Etna Road) during regular office hours. Pre-1989 case records may require a manual search through index books maintained digitally within the Clerk’s office. A record search fee of $6.00 per year searched applies.
Mail, fax, or email requests. Written requests should include your name, daytime phone number, mailing address, and the case number if known. Direct civil requests to the Civil Division and criminal requests to the Criminal Division at the addresses below.
Circuit Clerk Office Locations
| Division | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Division | 119 W. Madison St, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350 | (815) 434-8671 | (815) 433-9198 |
| Child Support Division | 119 W. Madison St, Room 200, Ottawa, IL 61350 | (815) 433-0774 | (815) 433-9198 |
| Traffic/Criminal Division | 707 Etna Road, Room 141, Ottawa, IL 61350 | (815) 434-8271 | (815) 434-8299 |
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Both locations are closed on weekends and legal holidays.
Copy fees are established under 705 ILCS 105/27.1a and apply to all divisions:
- Certified copy: $6.00 per document
- First page (uncertified): $2.00
- Next 19 pages: $0.50 each
- All remaining pages: $0.25 each
Payments by check or money order should be made payable to “LaSalle County Circuit Clerk”. Fees must be paid in advance before copies are processed. Typical turnaround on copy requests is one to two business days, though requests received after 3:00 PM on Friday are treated as received the following Monday.
Court fees and traffic fines can also be paid electronically through the Circuit Clerk’s ePayment portal.
Are Court Records Public in LaSalle County?
Court records filed with the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk are generally open to public inspection during regular business hours. This access is grounded in Illinois law and the administrative policies of the Circuit Court. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) broadly provides for public access to government records, though its direct application to the judicial branch in Illinois involves certain nuances.
The Circuit Clerk’s office follows the principle that all records are open to the public except those impounded by statute or court order. Specific categories of restricted records include:
- Juvenile cases (JA, JD, JV designations): Records involving minors in delinquency, abuse, neglect, or supervision proceedings are not available for public inspection.
- Adoption records (AD designation): Adoption case files are sealed and cannot be accessed without a court order.
- Mental health proceedings (MH designation): Petitions for involuntary hospitalization, treatment orders, and related filings are confidential.
- Sealed or expunged records: Cases sealed or expunged by court order under applicable Illinois statutes are removed from public view.
- Records involving ongoing investigations: Documents that could compromise an active investigation may be withheld.
- Orders of protection: Certain details within civil no-contact orders, stalking no-contact orders, and firearms restraining orders may carry access limitations to protect petitioner safety.
Individuals seeking records that fall into restricted categories must generally demonstrate eligibility—such as being a party to the case, a legal representative, or an authorized government agency—or obtain a court order. The LaSalle County local court rules and the 13th Judicial Circuit rules of practice govern additional procedural requirements for accessing impounded files.
LaSalle County Criminal Court Records
The Traffic/Criminal Division of the Circuit Clerk’s office at the Criminal Justice Center handles all criminal case filings. LaSalle County criminal cases carry specific two-letter designations under the Illinois Supreme Court uniform record-keeping system: CF for felonies, CM for misdemeanors, DT for driving under the influence, DV for domestic violence, and MX for miscellaneous criminal matters including expungements, asset forfeitures, and extraditions. The District Criminal docket also covers conservation violations (CV), ordinance violations (OV), and Alcoholic Beverage Control Board cases.
How to search criminal records:
- Use the Circuit Clerk’s online court records portal to look up cases by defendant name or case number.
- Visit the Criminal Justice Center in person and use the public access terminal.
- Submit a written request by mail, fax, or email to the Criminal Division. Include your name, address, date of birth, daytime phone number, and the case number. Only certified copies are provided for criminal record requests.
Criminal Division contact for copy requests:
LaSalle County Circuit Clerk
707 Etna Road, Ottawa, IL 61350
Fax: (815) 434-8299
Copy fees follow the standard schedule: $6.00 per certified document, $2.00 for the first page of uncertified copies, $0.50 for the next 19 pages, and $0.25 for each remaining page.
Arrest records and law enforcement files. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and related law enforcement documentation separately from court records. The Sheriff operates an online inmate search portal where users can view current jail roster information. To request copies of incident or accident reports, email records@lasallecountyil.gov. The first 50 pages of an incident report are provided at no charge; a self-addressed stamped return envelope must be included. Accident reports from 2017 forward are available through the Crashdocs website, while reports from 2010 through 2016 can be retrieved from LexisNexis Buy Crash.
Sheriff’s Office contact:
LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office
707 E. Etna Road, Ottawa, IL 61350
Phone: (815) 433-2161
Criminal filing fees (selected):
- Criminal felony and misdemeanor case fees are assessed upon conviction or grant of supervision rather than at filing.
- Expungement petitions (MX designation): filed at no charge for the filing itself, though the petition process may involve other costs.
- Statutory summary suspension hearings and other miscellaneous criminal matters carry no initial filing fee.
LaSalle County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in LaSalle County is handled by the Civil Division of the Circuit Court at 119 W. Madison Street. The court uses case designations to categorize filings: LA for law cases exceeding $50,000 in damages, LM for law cases at or under $50,000, CH for chancery matters, FC for foreclosures, EV for evictions, SC for small claims, ED for eminent domain, and MR for miscellaneous remedies such as administrative review, name changes, declaratory judgments, and nuisance abatement.
Searching civil records. The same online court records tool used for criminal cases also covers civil filings. In-person searches can be conducted at the Courthouse public access terminal. Written requests for civil copies should be mailed or faxed to the Civil Division, with an email option also available.
Civil Division contact for copy requests:
LaSalle County Circuit Clerk
119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350
Fax: (815) 433-9198
Phone: (815) 434-8671
New case filing fees (effective January 1, 2022):
| Case Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Law (LA) – damages over $50,000 | $319.00 |
| Law (LM) – damages $15,001–$50,000 | $319.00 |
| Law (LM) – damages under $15,000 | $269.00 |
| Chancery (CH) | $319.00 |
| Eviction (EV) – residential/commercial | $269.00 |
| Eviction – possession only | $102.00 |
| Foreclosure (FC) – residential | $469.00 |
| Foreclosure (FC) – commercial | $319.00 |
| Small Claims (SC) – up to $2,500 | $102.00 |
| Small Claims (SC) – $2,501 to $10,000 | $269.00 |
| Miscellaneous Remedy (MR) | $319.00 |
| Eminent Domain (ED) | $319.00 |
Additional costs include appearance fees ($194.00 for most civil cases), jury demand fees ($212.50 for a 12-person civil jury), garnishment fees ($15.00 to $50.00 depending on the amount), and service fees when using certified mail ($15.33) or the Sheriff ($25.00 per paper). The full filing fee schedule is published on the Circuit Clerk’s website.
All civil filings are submitted electronically pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Order M.R. 18368. Self-represented litigants can find approved court forms through the Circuit Clerk’s website and Illinois Court Help.
Property records. Land transaction documents such as deeds, mortgages, and liens are filed with the LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds at 707 E. Etna Road, Ottawa, IL 61350, Phone: (815) 434-8226 Available records date back to the early 1830s. The Recorder’s office provides three online search options through its Records Online page: Laredo (subscription-based with document images), Tapestry EON (pay-per-search with images), and DirectSearch (free index-only search for records back to July 1982). Property assessment data can be searched through the LaSalle County online property search tool maintained by the Assessor’s Office, Phone: (815) 434-8233
LaSalle County Family Court Records
Family law cases in LaSalle County are adjudicated within the Civil Division of the Circuit Court. Case designations include DC for dissolution with children, DN for dissolution without children, FA for family matters (parentage, custody petitions, visitation, delayed birth records, and gestational surrogacy), OP for orders of protection, and AD for adoptions.
Divorce proceedings. Dissolution of marriage filings carry a $319.00 filing fee regardless of whether children are involved. Illinois requires that all filings be submitted electronically, but the Self-Help Center at the Circuit Clerk’s website provides resources for unrepresented parties, including forms for dissolution, modification of child support, motions for contempt, emancipation, pauper petitions (fee waivers), and name changes.
Child support. The Child Support Division operates from 119 W. Madison Street, Room 200, and can be reached at (815) 433-0774. Child support payments and related inquiries are processed through this division. The child support enforcement page provides additional resources for parties involved in support orders.
Orders of protection. Petitions for civil orders of protection, civil no-contact orders, stalking no-contact orders, and firearms restraining orders are filed at no charge. Applications can be submitted through the Illinois Online Order of Protection system or in person at the Civil Division. The Family Violence Coordinating Council offers additional assistance for domestic violence situations.
Guardianship. Guardianship of a minor or of a person with a disability is filed under the GR designation. The filing fee is $269.00.
Access restrictions. Adoption records are sealed and not available to the public. Juvenile case files (JA, JD, JV) are similarly restricted. Other family records—including divorce decrees, custody orders, and child support records—are generally accessible, though portions containing sensitive personal information about minors or protected parties may be redacted or require proof of eligibility.
Marriage records. Marriage licenses in LaSalle County are issued by the LaSalle County Clerk’s Office at 707 E. Etna Road, Ottawa, IL 61350, Phone: (815) 434-8202 The license fee is $35.00. Both parties must appear in person with photo identification. Illinois law requires a one-day waiting period between issuance and the ceremony, and the license remains valid for 60 days. Certified copies of marriage certificates may be obtained from the County Clerk for $18.00, with additional copies issued at the same time costing $5.00 each. A marriage license application form is available for download.
Birth and death records. The LaSalle County Clerk also issues vital records for events that occurred within the county. Birth records date back to 1877, though filings before 1916 may be incomplete. Birth records become publicly accessible 75 years after the date of birth; death records become public 20 years after the date of death. Prior to those thresholds, access is limited to the registrant, immediate family members, legal representatives, and authorized agencies.
- Birth certificate search fee: $18.00 (includes one copy if found); additional copies at the same time: $5.00 each. Application form (PDF).
- Death certificate search fee: $22.00 (includes one copy if found); additional copies at the same time: $9.00 each. Application form (PDF).
Requests should be mailed to the LaSalle County Clerk at P.O. Box 430, Ottawa, IL 61350, with payment by check or money order made payable to Jennifer Ebner, LaSalle County Clerk. A copy of the requester’s identification must accompany all vital record applications.
LaSalle County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in LaSalle County are heard by the Circuit Court and administered through the Civil Division at the Courthouse. The probate docket covers decedent estate administration (PR designation), guardianship of minors and persons with disabilities (GR), and trust-related proceedings arising after a probate case has been disposed.
Types of probate records on file include:
- Petitions for probate of a will and issuance of letters of office
- Inventories, accountings, and claims against estates
- Court orders and decrees concerning distribution of assets
- Guardianship petitions, reports, and termination orders
- Missing person estate petitions
- Wrongful death judgment collection filings
Filing fees for probate cases:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Administration of decedent’s estate | $369.00 |
| Missing person petition | $369.00 |
| Wrongful death / collection of judgment | $269.00 |
| Certified copy of letters of office | $2.00 |
| Contest of will | $60.00 |
| Filing an estate claim ($0–$149.99) | No charge |
| Filing an estate claim ($150–$499.99) | $25.00 |
| Filing an estate claim ($500–$9,999.99) | $40.00 |
| Filing an estate claim ($10,000+) | $60.00 |
How to search probate records. The Circuit Clerk’s online court records portal includes probate cases filed since 1989. Older estate records may require an in-person search using index books at the Civil Division. Written requests for probate copies follow the same procedures and fee schedule as other civil matters—submit by mail, fax, or email to the Civil Division at 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350, Fax: (815) 433-9198 Proof of eligibility may be required for access to guardianship files or other sensitive estate documents.
Probate cases often intersect with land records when real property is transferred as part of estate administration. The LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds maintains deed transfers, executor’s deeds, and related conveyance documents. Searchers involved in title work should consult both the Circuit Clerk’s probate records and the Recorder’s land records to obtain a complete picture of estate-related property transactions.