St. Clair County Court Records Search
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St. Clair County sits in southwestern Illinois within the 20th Judicial Circuit and the Fifth Appellate District. The Circuit Court of St. Clair County, headquartered in Belleville, is the sole trial court with general jurisdiction over all criminal, civil, family, probate, and traffic matters arising in the county. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the official custodian of all case records generated by the court, while the County Clerk separately maintains vital records such as birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and civil union records. A third office, the Recorder of Deeds, holds land and property instruments. Knowing which office holds the document you need is essential before beginning any records search.
Court records in Illinois can be located through multiple channels, including local clerk offices, computerized public-access terminals at the courthouse, and state-operated online databases. The Circuit Clerk’s website provides free case search tools for both criminal and civil matters, and the Illinois Courts directory lists contact details and resources for every county. For a broader starting point when researching case information across the state, IllinoisCourts.us may assist users in identifying the correct court and locating publicly available case data.
How to Look Up a Court Case in St. Clair County?
Researchers have three primary methods for finding a court case in St. Clair County: an online search, an in-person visit to the Circuit Clerk’s office, or a written copy request by mail or email.
Online Case Search — Step by Step
- Go to the Circuit Clerk’s Courts page, which offers separate search portals for criminal and civil records.
- For a criminal case, select the Criminal Records search and choose one of three options: search by defendant name, case number, or ticket number. Provide at minimum the defendant’s last and first name; adding a date of birth or arresting agency narrows the results.
- For a civil case (including probate, family, small claims, and chancery matters), select the Civil Records search and search by participant name, company name, or case number.
- Results display case summaries, filing dates, case types, appearance histories, charge or claim information, and — where available — imaged documents.
- To view upcoming hearings, use the Court Dockets search for daily schedules, courtroom assignments, and hearing types.
In-Person Search
The Circuit Clerk maintains computerized public-access information terminals on the 3rd Floor of the St. Clair County Building. These terminals are available during regular business hours and provide access to the same case records available online.
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk’s Office
Address: 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 0691, Belleville, IL 62222
Phone: (618) 277-6600
Email: CircuitClerk@co.st-clair.il.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Copy Request by Mail or Online
Individuals who cannot visit in person may submit a copy request form through the Circuit Clerk’s website. The form requires the requester’s name, contact information, case year, case type, case number, style of case (party names), and a description of the specific documents needed. The clerk’s office will calculate the cost and notify the requester before completing the order. Copies can also be emailed. Accepted payment methods for copy requests include business checks, money orders, and cash (no personal checks).
Copy Fee Schedule (per 705 ILCS 105/27.1b)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| First page | $2.00 |
| Pages 2–19 | $0.50 each |
| Pages 20+ | $0.25 each |
| Certification or authentication (seal) | $6.00 |
| Record search (per year, per individual) | $6.00 |
| Hard-copy computer printout (per page) | $6.00 |
Additional Court Locations
| Facility | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County Building (main courthouse) | 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220 | (618) 277-6600 |
| Juvenile Division | 9002 Lebanon Road, Belleville, IL 62223 | (618) 394-1195 |
| Probation & Court Services (Adult) | 11 West Lincoln, Belleville, IL 62220 | (618) 277-5690 |
| Detention Center | 9006 Lebanon Road, Belleville, IL 62223 | (618) 397-9546 |
Are Court Records Public in St. Clair County?
Court records filed with the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk are presumptively open to the public. Two principal statutes govern access. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) grants the public a right to inspect and copy government records, though the judiciary itself is not directly subject to FOIA. Instead, the Court Record and Document Accessibility Act (705 ILCS 86) and the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy specifically control how court records are disclosed both in person and remotely.
Under 705 ILCS 86/5, the Circuit Clerk may impound or restrict access to specific case documents using access codes when authorized by statute or court order. The Circuit Clerk’s fee book confirms that “all records except those impounded by statute or order of the court are open to the public during business hours”.
Records categories that are confidential or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect records
- Adoption case files
- Expunged or sealed criminal records
- Mental health proceeding documents
- Personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and PINs
- Proprietary business information including trade secrets and tax returns
- Juror personal information in criminal cases
- Judicial notes, drafts, and work product created by or for a judge
When a record contains both public and restricted information, the clerk may redact the protected portions before releasing the remainder. Individuals whose records have been improperly withheld may petition the presiding judge for relief. Fee-waiver applications are available under 735 ILCS 5/5-105 for those unable to pay the costs of accessing civil records, and under 725 ILCS 5/124A-20 for criminal assessment waivers.
St. Clair County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in St. Clair County — felonies, misdemeanors, DUI offenses, traffic violations, and ordinance violations — are filed in the Circuit Court and maintained by the Circuit Clerk. The clerk’s Criminal Records Search portal is the primary online tool for looking up criminal case information.
Online criminal case search options:
- By defendant name — enter first and last name; date of birth improves accuracy
- By case number — enter the case year, type code (e.g., CF for criminal felony, CM for criminal misdemeanor, DT for DUI), and sequence number
- By ticket number — useful for traffic citations; include the arresting agency if known
Search results display the defendant’s information, charges, offense dates, case disposition history, charge class, defense attorney, complaint type, case status, appearance schedule, and assessment history.
Arrest records and criminal history checks. Arrest records are maintained by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, located at 700 N. 5th Street, Belleville, IL 62220, Phone: (618) 277-3505 The Sheriff’s website publishes a current inmate roster with booking details and bond information.
For a formal criminal conviction history, the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635) allows public access to conviction records through the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. UCIA requests may be submitted as follows:
| Request Type | Paper/Manual Fee | Electronic/Live Scan Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Name-based inquiry | $16.00 | $10.00 |
| Fingerprint-based inquiry | $20.00 | $15.00 |
UCIA request forms and instructions are available on the ISP website. Inquiries may be mailed to the Illinois State Police, Bureau of Identification, 260 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432, Phone: (815) 740-5160
Subjects of criminal records may review their own rap sheet at no charge through the ISP’s Access and Review process, which requires fingerprint submission at a locally authorized vendor such as the county sheriff’s office. Vendors typically charge a separate processing fee.
Expungement and sealing. The Circuit Clerk charges $62.00 to file an adult petition to expunge. If an expungement or sealing order is granted, a $60.00 per order fee is payable to the Illinois State Police for processing, plus $40.00 for mailing the order to the four required agencies.
St. Clair County Civil Court Records
The civil division of the 20th Judicial Circuit Court processes a broad range of non-criminal matters. All civil case categories handled at the St. Clair County Building (3rd Floor) include law cases over $50,000, law-magistrate cases, chancery, foreclosure, eviction, small claims, eminent domain, governmental corporation, miscellaneous remedy, and tax cases.
How to search civil case records. The Circuit Clerk’s civil case search portal allows free online lookups by participant name, company name, or case number. Results include docket entries, filing dates, case participants, appearance history, and any imaged documents. The portal provides limited information; for complete case files, an in-person visit or a copy request is necessary.
Civil filing fees (revised October 1, 2025; set by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b):
| Case Category | Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Schedule 1 (law cases, chancery, foreclosure, dissolution, family, tax, etc.) | $316.00 |
| Schedule 2 (small claims over $2,500, eviction, guardianship, probate, law-magistrate ≤$15,000) | $266.00 |
| Schedule 3 (adoption, small claims ≤$2,500, possession-only eviction) | $91.00 |
| Schedule 4 (orders of protection, mental health, guardianship of a minor, will filing) | $0 |
Residential foreclosure and eviction cases include an additional $100 mediation fee. Civil appearance fees range from $189.00 (Schedule 1) to $109.00 (Schedule 2), with certain categories carrying no appearance fee.
Small claims. Small claims cases in St. Clair County are filed at the Circuit Clerk’s office on the 3rd Floor of the county building. Claims of $2,500 or less carry a $91.00 filing fee; claims above $2,500 carry a $266.00 filing fee. Downloadable court forms are available on the Circuit Clerk’s documents and forms page. All civil filings must be submitted electronically through the Illinois eFiling system pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9, which applies to both attorneys and self-represented litigants.
Payment methods. The Circuit Clerk accepts cash, money orders, business checks, and credit or debit cards for in-person transactions. A 2.25% card-usage fee (minimum $1.00) applies to all card payments. Only one payment type is permitted per transaction.
St. Clair County Family Court Records
Domestic relations and family law matters in St. Clair County are heard by the Circuit Court and managed under the court’s local rules for family court. Case types include dissolution of marriage with children (DC), dissolution without children (DN), family (FA), domestic violence (DV), orders of protection (OP), child support, custody, visitation, parentage actions, and legal separation. These cases are assigned to the Family division on the 3rd Floor of the county building.
Searching family case records. Family cases can be searched through the civil case search portal on the Circuit Clerk’s Courts page using a participant name or case number. Docket information, hearing schedules, and case status are viewable online. For copies of pleadings, decrees, or orders, submit a copy request through the clerk’s office.
Dissolution of marriage (divorce) records. The Circuit Clerk maintains all records related to divorce proceedings. Only named parties in a divorce judgment may request and obtain copies of the divorce record from the clerk. Filing fees for a dissolution with children are $316.00 (Schedule 1); dissolution without children also falls under Schedule 1 at $316.00. Orders of protection carry no filing fee.
Marriage licenses and records. Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk’s office, not the Circuit Clerk. Applications must be made in person during business hours (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday–Friday) at:
St. Clair County Clerk
Address: 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220
Phone: (618) 277-6600
Key marriage license requirements and fees:
- License fee: $45.00
- Both applicants must be 18 or older; applicants aged 16–17 require parental/guardian consent
- Two forms of identification required, one of which must be a photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or passport)
- If either applicant was divorced within the past year, a copy of the divorce decree must be presented
- The license becomes effective one day after issuance, must be used in St. Clair County, and is void after 60 days
- Blood tests are not required
Certified copies of marriage records (from 1763 to present) cost $15.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy. Requests can be made in person or by mail using the County Clerk’s vital records request form. Mail requests must be accompanied by a money order or cashier’s check — no personal checks or cash.
Birth and death records. While not court records, birth and death certificates are frequently needed alongside family case filings. The County Clerk issues certified copies of birth records (from 1874) and death records (from 1878) for events that occurred in St. Clair County.
| Record Type | First Certified Copy | Additional Copies |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $15.00 | $8.00 each |
| Death certificate | $20.00 | $12.00 each |
Requests require the subject’s full name, date of birth or death, and parental information (for birth certificates) or place of death (for death certificates). Photo identification or proof of legal claim is required. Mail requests should be sent to: St. Clair County Clerk, Attn: Vital Records, 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220-1632. Online ordering is also available through VitalChek, the County Clerk’s authorized internet ordering partner, which charges an additional processing fee.
St. Clair County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in St. Clair County are heard within the Circuit Court under the authority of the Illinois Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5). The Circuit Clerk files and preserves all probate case records, including petitions for administration of estates, wills admitted to probate, letters of office, guardianship petitions, and conservatorship filings. The probate forms page on the Circuit Clerk’s website offers downloadable forms for common filings such as petitions for guardianship of a minor estate, petitions for guardianship of a disabled person, and small estate affidavits.
How to search probate records. Probate cases can be searched through the same civil case search portal used for other civil matters. Select “PR” (Probate) or “GR” (Guardianship) as the case type, or search by a party name or case number. Results provide docket information, hearing dates, and case status. For full documents, submit a copy request to the Circuit Clerk.
Probate filing fees:
- Probate case (PR) — general filing: $266.00 (Schedule 2)
- Administration of a decedent’s estate (intestate or testate): $366.00 (includes $100.00 Guardianship and Advocacy fee)
- Guardianship of a minor: $0 (Schedule 4)
- Guardianship of a disabled adult: $266.00 (Schedule 2)
- Filing of a will for safekeeping (under 755 ILCS 5/6-1): $0 (Schedule 4)
- Petition to reopen estate: $25.00
- Claims against an estate: $25.00 (under $500), $40.00 ($500–$9,999), $60.00 ($10,000+)
- Each non-final accounting: $25.00
- Certified copy of letters of office: $2.00 (original letters issued at no charge)
Restricted probate records. Wills filed solely for safekeeping — as opposed to wills submitted for probate — are not open to public inspection. Mental health case files (MH) are confidential. Guardianship records for minors or disabled persons may contain sealed evaluations or medical reports that are not publicly accessible.
Requesting copies. Probate record copies follow the same fee schedule as other court documents ($2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages 2–19, $0.25 thereafter, plus $6.00 for certification). Requests can be submitted in person at the 3rd Floor of the county building, by mail to P.O. Box 0691, Belleville, IL 62222, or through the Circuit Clerk’s online copy request form. The clerk’s office accepts business checks, money orders, cash, and credit/debit cards (2.25% surcharge applies).