Randolph County Court Records Search
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Randolph County, Illinois holds a substantial body of court records covering every area of civil and criminal law — from misdemeanor traffic violations to felony prosecutions, domestic relations cases, estate matters, and more. These records include case filings, hearings, judgments, court orders, and related documentation. They are managed by the Circuit Court Clerk and, in some cases, the County Clerk and Recorder. Knowing which office holds the type of record you need — and how to ask for it — can save you a lot of time.
Locating Court Records in Illinois:
If you're searching for court records in Illinois, you have a few practical options: visiting the clerk's office in person, sending a written mail request, or using online search tools. Public access terminals may be available at the courthouse for on-site searches. IllinoisCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information across the state. For verified, complete record information, the most reliable sources are official clerk offices, state judicial portals, and county websites.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Randolph County?
All trial-level court records in Randolph County originate from a single trial court — the Circuit Court of the 24th Judicial Circuit — which handles the full range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters filed in the county. The clerk responsible for maintaining these records is Julie Carnahan, Clerk of the Circuit Courts.
Randolph County Circuit Court
Address: 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, Illinois 62233
Phone: (618) 826-5000, ext. 194
Fax: (618) 826-3761
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Start with the Randolph County Circuit Clerk's Office for most records requests. You can search for records in the following ways:
- In person: Visit Room 302 of the Randolph County Courthouse during regular business hours. Staff can help you locate case files by party name or case number.
- By mail: Send a written request to the Circuit Clerk's Office at the address above. Include the case party's name, approximate case year, and case type if known.
- Online via Judici.com: The court participates in Judici.com, a state-authorized platform that lets you search Randolph County court cases by name, case number, or other identifying details. The system offers both free public access and premium subscription services.
- Online via re:SearchIL: The re:SearchIL portal gives registered users cross-jurisdictional access to electronic court records and documents filed through the state's eFile system.
- Online via the Illinois Courts portal: The Illinois Courts website links directly to approved court forms, the Randolph County Courthouse directory, and additional case information resources.
The court also allows online payment of traffic fines and fees through Judici's ePay system.
The County Clerk and Recorder's Office, located at 1 Taylor Street, Room 202, Chester, Illinois 62233 (Phone: (618) 826-5000, ext. 191; Fax: (618) 826-3750), handles vital records and land records separately from the Circuit Clerk.
Are Court Records Public in Randolph County?
Illinois law establishes a broad presumption of public access to government records. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), public bodies — including court offices — are required to make public records available for inspection and copying upon request. This means most civil and criminal court records filed in Randolph County are generally accessible to any person, regardless of residency.
That said, certain categories of records are restricted or unavailable to the general public:
- Juvenile court records, which are confidential by statute and not open to public inspection
- Adoption case files
- Records sealed by court order, including certain family law matters or cases involving protected victims
- Criminal investigative records prior to formal court filing
- Cases containing confidential medical or financial information protected under applicable law
FOIA requests directed to the county government (rather than the Circuit Court itself) can be submitted through the Randolph County FOIA portal or by emailing foia79@randolphcountyil.gov. The Circuit Court, as a judicial body, operates under Illinois Supreme Court rules and judicial records policies in addition to FOIA.
Copies obtained from the Circuit Clerk's Office carry fees set by the court's fee schedule. Basic document searches through Judici.com are free to the public, with subscription services available for expanded access.
Randolph County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Randolph County — including misdemeanor charges, felony prosecutions, and criminal traffic matters — are all heard in the Circuit Court and maintained by the Circuit Clerk. The court's sitting judges include Circuit Judge Jeremy R. Walker and Associate Judges Daniel R. Janowski, Lucas Liefer, and Jennifer Becker-Roscow.
Searching Criminal Records:
The Judici.com case search provides online access to Randolph County criminal case records, including misdemeanor and felony case details, court orders, and judgments. Sealed records — such as those involving juveniles or expunged matters — do not appear in public-facing search results.
If you need to expunge or seal a criminal record in Illinois, you can access the appropriate forms through the Illinois Courts Expungement and Sealing forms page. Eligibility for expungement or sealing is governed by the Criminal Identification Act (20 ILCS 2630/5.2).
Arrest Records and the Sheriff's Office:
Arrest records and jail information for Randolph County are maintained by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, located at 200 W. Buena Vista Street, Chester, Illinois 62233.
| Contact Method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | (618) 826-5484 |
| Fax | (618) 826-4732 |
| General Line | (618) 826-5000, ext. 501 |
| rcso@randolphcountyil.gov |
The Sheriff's Office publishes a current inmate listing on the county's official website, updated regularly and searchable by name. The Randolph County Sheriff's Office inmate roster is also available online. Keep in mind that an arrest record on its own does not constitute a finding of guilt or reflect a final criminal disposition.
Historical court case archives — including civil and criminal cases dating to 1809 — are indexed and available through the Circuit Clerk's Forms and Publications page. Researchers can consult the Index to Randolph County Civil and Criminal Court Cases 1809–1860, as well as supplemental indexes organized by box, by defendant, and by plaintiff.
Randolph County Civil Court Records
Civil court matters in Randolph County — including contract disputes, property litigation, landlord-tenant proceedings, and small claims actions — are filed and maintained in the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk's Office holds all civil case records.
How to Access Civil Records:
- Search civil case records online through Judici.com by entering a party name, case number, or other search criteria
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office in person at 1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday)
- Submit a written mail request to the Circuit Clerk's Office describing the case with reasonable specificity
Court Forms:
The Circuit Clerk's Office provides access to several civil court forms, including a Certificate of Dissolution and a Small Estate Affidavit (for estates $100,000 and under). Statewide standardized forms approved by the Illinois Supreme Court are available through IllinoisCourts.gov's Approved Forms page.
Filing fees and copy fees are set according to the court's published fee schedule. The e-filing fee schedule is also listed on the Randolph County Courthouse directory page. Civil cases must generally be filed electronically through eFileIL, the mandatory e-filing system for Illinois circuit courts.
Property Records:
Land records — including deeds, mortgages, liens, and other recorded documents — are maintained by the County Clerk and Recorder's Office rather than the Circuit Clerk. The Recorder's Office offers 24/7 online access to Randolph County land records through Fidlar Technologies, with document images dating back to 1828. Public terminals are also available in the Clerk's record room during business hours for on-site land record searches.
Randolph County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Randolph County are heard in the Circuit Court and include divorce and dissolution of marriage, child custody and parenting time, child support, orders of protection, and adoption proceedings. All such case records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk.
Divorce and Dissolution Records:
Divorce decrees and dissolution of marriage records are filed with the Circuit Clerk. Parties to a divorce may request copies of their decree directly from the Circuit Clerk's Office by contacting the office in person or by mail. A Certificate of Dissolution form is available for download from the Circuit Clerk's Forms and Publications page.
For verification of dissolution of marriage or civil union records (from 1962 to the present), you can submit a dissolution of marriage verification request form to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The request package must include a non-refundable $5.00 fee, a copy of valid government-issued photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, mailed to:
Illinois Department of Public Health — Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
Marriage Records:
Marriage certificates for marriages occurring in Randolph County from 1809 to the present are available from the Randolph County Clerk's Office using the marriage certificate request form. Requests may be submitted in person or by mail. The Illinois Department of Public Health also provides marriage verification letters for Randolph County marriages from January 1, 1962, to the present, and civil unions from January 1, 2012, to the present, upon submission of a marriage verification application form with a $5.00 non-refundable fee.
Birth and Death Records:
Birth records for Randolph County are available from both the County Clerk's Office and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Fees are as follows:
| Record Type | IDPH Fee | County Clerk Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate (long-form, first copy) | $15.00 | $14.00 + $1.00 mailing |
| Birth certificate (short-form) | $10.00 | — |
| Each additional birth copy (same order) | $2.00 | — |
| Death certificate (first copy) | $19.00 | $18.00 + $1.00 mailing |
| Each additional death copy (same order) | $4.00 | — |
The County Clerk maintains death records from 1916 to the present. You may mail the Randolph County birth request form or the state's Application for Illinois Birth Record form to either office. All requests should include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and payment in the form of a check or money order.
Confidentiality of Adoption and Juvenile Records:
Adoption files and juvenile case records are not available for public inspection. These records are restricted under Illinois statute, and access is limited to directly involved parties and their authorized legal representatives.
Randolph County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Randolph County are handled through the Circuit Court, with the Circuit Clerk holding all probate case records. These records cover the administration of decedents' estates, the probate of wills, guardianships for minors, conservatorships for incapacitated adults, estate inventories, distributions, and executor and administrator bonds.
What Probate Records Contain:
- Wills admitted to probate
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration issued to estate representatives
- Inventories of estate assets
- Claims filed against the estate
- Final accountings and orders of distribution
- Guardianship and conservatorship appointments and ongoing filings
How to Request Probate Records:
Probate records can be requested in person at the Circuit Clerk's Office (1 Taylor Street, Room 302, Chester, IL 62233) during regular business hours, or by submitting a written mail request. To help staff locate the file quickly, include the decedent's full name and an approximate date of death or case filing.
For smaller estates, the Circuit Clerk provides a Small Estate Affidavit form for estates valued at $100,000 or less, which can often be used in lieu of full probate proceedings.
Historical Probate Records:
If you're looking for older Randolph County probate records — including historical wills and estate documents — you may also want to consult the Illinois State Archives, which maintains records transferred from county courts. The Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system holds county-level historical records that may not be accessible through the Circuit Clerk's current filing system. Genealogy platforms may also provide indexes to early Randolph County estate records, though original documents remain with the Circuit Clerk's Office.
For questions about the probate process or to obtain specific estate records, contact the Randolph County Circuit Clerk's Office directly at (618) 826-5000, ext. 194, or visit the Circuit Clerk's website for additional guidance on court procedures and available forms.