Rock Island County Court Records
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Rock Island County sits in northwestern Illinois along the Mississippi River, with the city of Rock Island as its county seat. The county's trial court operates within the 14th Judicial Circuit, and the Circuit Clerk's Office—currently led by Circuit Clerk Tammy R. Weikert—keeps all official court records. The Rock Island County Circuit Court hears the full range of case types: felony and misdemeanor criminal matters, civil litigation, family law proceedings, juvenile cases, probate, and mental health cases. Court operations run out of two locations, the Rock Island County Courthouse and the Rock Island County Justice Center, both along Third Avenue in downtown Rock Island.
If you're searching for court records in Illinois, IllinoisCourts.us can help you identify publicly available case information and find court directories across the state. The Rock Island County Circuit Clerk also runs an online case search system and takes record requests by email, phone, and mail.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Rock Island County?
The Circuit Clerk's Office gives you several ways to find court case records—online, in person, or through a written request.
Online Case Search
The Circuit Clerk offers a free Judici case search system you can access from any internet-connected device. Search by case number, party name, or attorney name. Results show case numbers, party names, record-sheet entries, hearing dates, and case status. The daily court docket is also published through this system. No account registration is needed for a basic search.
In-Person Access
The Circuit Clerk's Office has a public-access computer terminal where you can view publicly available case information and documents at no charge. Staff are on hand to help with searches. A dedicated Legal Self-Help Center within the office provides computers for self-represented litigants to view electronic court files, submit e-filings, and make credit card payments.
Rock Island County Justice Center (Circuit Clerk's Office)
Address: 1317 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (309) 558-3538
Fax: (309) 786-3029
Email: riccecopy@co.rock-island.il.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Rock Island County Administration Building (County Clerk)
Address: 1504 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (309) 558-3569
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Requesting Copies by Email or Mail
You can request both certified and standard copies of court documents by emailing riccecopy@co.rock-island.il.us. Include the case number, the parties' names, the approximate year, and the case type. Standard (non-certified) copies can be emailed back to you. Certified copies require a raised seal and must either be picked up in person or mailed. Mail requests go to the Circuit Clerk at 1317 Third Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201.
Copy and Service Fees
The following fees apply under the schedule effective July 15, 2024:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| First page of copies | $2.00 |
| Next 19 pages | $0.50 per page |
| All remaining pages | $0.25 per page |
| Hard copy from automated system | $6.00 per page |
| Record search | $6.00 per year searched |
| Clerk's certification | $6.00 |
| Exemplified/authenticated/triple certificate | $8.00 |
| Fax first page | $6.00 |
| Fax each additional page | $0.50 |
| Mailing fee (without postage) | $10.00 |
| Mailing fee (with postage) | $10.73 |
| Certified mailing with postage | $19.68 |
A complete filing fees PDF is available on the Circuit Clerk's website. If you can't afford the filing fees, you can petition the court for a waiver using approved forms from the Illinois Courts website.
Are Court Records Public in Rock Island County?
Court records in Rock Island County are presumptively public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). This law gives any person the right to inspect and copy records created or maintained by public bodies—including court records—upon request. You can view publicly available case documents for free using the Circuit Clerk's in-person terminal or the online search tool.
Restrictions on Access
Several categories of court records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure under Illinois law:
- Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect case files
- Adoption proceedings and related records
- Mental health case files (proceedings under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code)
- Sealed and expunged criminal records
- Records restricted by the court to protect procedural fairness or individual safety
- Orders of protection filings, which may contain restricted personal information
- Impounded files or records subject to a protective order
Under 20 ILCS 2635 (the Criminal Identification Act), criminal conviction information is generally available to the public, but arrest information that did not result in a conviction may be restricted.
Vital Records Distinction
Birth, death, and marriage certificates held by the County Clerk are not considered public records and fall outside the Freedom of Information Act. Under the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), only authorized individuals can obtain certified copies of these documents.
Rock Island County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Rock Island County go before the Circuit Court. Felony matters, including preliminary hearings, are handled through the Criminal Division. Misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases also fall within the Circuit Court's jurisdiction. The Circuit Clerk's Criminal/Traffic Division is located at the Justice Center.
Rock Island County Justice Center – Criminal Division
Address: 1317 Third Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (309) 558-3538
Searching Criminal Case Records
- Go to the Judici case search and enter the defendant's name or case number to find criminal case information, hearing dates, and record-sheet entries.
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office during business hours to view criminal case files on the public-access terminal.
- Email riccecopy@co.rock-island.il.us with the defendant's name, approximate year, and case type to request copies.
Criminal History Background Checks
For statewide criminal record checks, the Illinois State Police runs the Criminal History Information Response Portal (CHIRP). Online searches through CHIRP cost $10 per inquiry; mail-in requests cost $16 per search and go to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification.
The Rock Island County Sheriff's Office handles local law enforcement records, including arrest reports and booking information. Current inmate information may be available through the county's online jail roster.
Expungement and Sealing
Petitions for expungement or sealing of criminal records are filed through the Circuit Clerk's Office. The filing fee for expungement is $60.00, plus $4.00 for each certified copy needed to process the petition. When no underlying criminal case exists, these petitions are filed as Miscellaneous Criminal (MX) cases with a filing fee of $334.00.
Rock Island County Civil Court Records
The Circuit Court's Civil Division handles all civil litigation in Rock Island County—contract disputes, personal injury claims, property actions, mortgage foreclosures, evictions, administrative review, small claims, and mechanics lien proceedings. The Circuit Clerk keeps all civil filings, from the initial complaint through final judgments and any post-judgment proceedings.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records are available through the same Judici online case search system and at the public-access terminal in the Circuit Clerk's Office. Written copy requests should include the case number or party names, the approximate year, and the case type.
Selected Civil Filing Fees (Effective October 1, 2025)
Fees are organized into tiers based on case type and amount in controversy:
| Case Category | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Schedule 1 cases (Chancery, Dissolution, Foreclosure, Law over $50,000, Family, Tax, etc.) | $334.00 |
| Non-contested dissolution | $543.00 |
| Schedule 2 cases (Eviction, Small Claims $2,501–$10,000, Guardianship, Probate, Law Minor $10,001–$15,000) | $284.00 |
| Adoption | $89.00 |
| Eviction possession only | $109.00 |
| Small Claims $2,500 or less | $109.00 |
| Appearance fee (Schedule 1 cases) | $209.00 |
| Appearance fee (Schedule 2 Eviction possession only / Small Claims $2,500 or less) | $129.00 |
| 12-person jury demand | $212.50 |
| 6-person jury demand | $106.25 |
| Counterclaim or third-party complaint | Same as original filing fee |
| Petition to vacate/reopen (within 30 days) | $50.00 |
| Petition to vacate/reopen (after 30 days) | $75.00 |
Cases filed by units of local government or school districts are exempt from filing fees under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b(z)(1)(A-5). Orders of protection, juvenile, mental health, and will-deposit proceedings carry no filing fee.
All civil filings must be submitted electronically through approved e-filing service providers. Illinois has mandated e-filing for all civil case types. If you need help with electronic submissions, the Circuit Clerk's Legal Self-Help Center provides computer access for that purpose.
The Municipal Code Enforcement System (MUNICES) handles administrative hearings for municipal ordinance violations, including building, fire code, and pet violations. MUNICES operates from 1504 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201, and can be reached at (309) 793-6302, extension 149.
Rock Island County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Rock Island County are heard within the Circuit Court's domestic relations division. Case types include dissolution of marriage (with and without minor children), child custody and parenting time, child support, paternity, emancipation, domestic violence, and spousal support. The Circuit Clerk keeps all family court records filed in the county.
Searching Family Court Records
Family case records can be searched through the Judici case search tool by entering a party's name or case number. In-person viewing is free on the public-access terminal. Copy requests can be emailed to riccecopy@co.rock-island.il.us or mailed to the Circuit Clerk at 1317 Third Avenue, Suite 101, Rock Island, IL 61201.
Confidentiality Restrictions
Most family court records are public, but Illinois law restricts access to juvenile abuse, neglect, and delinquency records, as well as adoption case files. Orders of protection filings may also contain restricted personal information.
Family Law Filing Fees
| Description | Fee |
|---|---|
| Dissolution with children (DC) | $334.00 |
| Dissolution without children (DN) | $334.00 |
| Non-contested dissolution | $543.00 |
| Family law cases (FA) | $334.00 |
| Voluntary parentage petitions | No fee |
| Orders of protection (OP) | No fee |
| Adoption (AD) | $89.00 |
| Appearance fee (family cases) | $209.00 |
Marriage Records
The Rock Island County Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses and holds marriage records dating from 1834 to the present. The marriage license fee is $35.00; personal checks are not accepted. Marriage records are not public records under Illinois law and may only be obtained by the parties listed on the record, immediate family members, or persons with written authorized consent from one of the parties. A certified copy costs $15.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy of the same record.
Dissolution of Marriage Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records verifies facts of dissolutions of marriage from 1962 to the present. The verification fee is $5.00. Submit requests by mail using the Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage to the Division of Vital Records at 925 East Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702-2737.
Birth and Death Records
The Rock Island County Clerk keeps birth records from 1877 and death records from 1878 to the present. Under the Illinois Vital Records Act, only authorized individuals may obtain certified copies. You must be at least 18 years old (or an emancipated minor) and either the record subject, an immediate family member, a legal guardian, or someone with written authorized consent. A valid government-issued photo ID is required.
| Vital Record | First Copy | Additional Copies |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $15.00 | $8.00 each |
| Death certificate | $20.00 | $14.00 each |
Download the application forms from the County Clerk's website: Birth Certificate Application and Death Record Application. Submit requests in person, by mail, or by express mail to:
Rock Island County Clerk – Vital Records Division
Address: 1504 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
Phone: (309) 558-3569
Rock Island County Probate Court Records
All probate matters in Rock Island County go before the Circuit Court. That includes administration of decedents' estates, probate of wills, appointment of executors and administrators, guardianship proceedings for minors and persons with disabilities, and determination of heirship. The Circuit Clerk maintains all probate filings—wills, bonds, petitions, orders, decrees, accounts, distributions, and inventories.
Searching Probate Records
Current probate cases can be searched through the Judici online case search. Historical records from 1834 to 1899 are available through the Probate Case Files Index maintained by the Illinois Secretary of State, which lists the estate name, year of filing, case type, and individual names. Records not housed within the Illinois Regional Archives Depository system remain with the Circuit Clerk. Direct copy requests to the Circuit Clerk's Office at (309) 558-3538 or by email.
Probate Filing Fees
| Description | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estates of decedents or missing persons | $384.00 |
| Wrongful death or collection of judgment | $284.00 |
| Guardianship (minor, person with disability, or estate) | $284.00 |
| Filing of account (other than one final account) | $25.00 |
| Claim up to $149.99 | No fee |
| Claim $150–$500 | $25.00 |
| Claim $500.01–$10,000 | $40.00 |
| Claim over $10,000.01 | $60.00 |
| Filing claim/petition based on equitable relief (will contest, trust construction, etc.) | $60.00 |
| Certified copy of letters (per page) | $2.00 |
| Exemplification (includes certification) | $8.00 |
| 12-person jury demand | $137.50 |
| 6-person jury demand | $68.75 |
Executors, administrators, guardians, and petitioners are responsible for paying newspaper publication costs, postage to the Clerk, and any charges for witnesses, court reporters, or appraisers directly. Will deposits are accepted for safekeeping at a fee of $1.00. Notices of Trust and Caveats carry a filing fee of $41.00 (assessed at the county civil level). The Clerk can provide certified copies of letters of office, testamentary letters, and other probate documents on request, with applicable copy and certification fees.
For questions about filing fees or probate procedures, contact the Circuit Clerk's Office at (309) 558-3538 or email riccecopy@co.rock-island.il.us. The local court rules and forms for the 14th Judicial Circuit are published on the county's website and include the complete Rules of Practice covering all divisions, including probate.