Will County, Illinois Divorce Records
Will County divorce records are extensive court documents created and maintained by the Will County Circuit Clerk when a marriage or civil union is legally dissolved through the county’s Circuit Court. Will divorce records may include the divorce petition, case docket, court orders, settlement terms, parenting or support orders (where necessary).
Requesters may need Will divorce records for remarriage or updating a name on financial accounts, or passports. They may also seek these documents for estate administration, genealogy research, background checks, or other legal and financial matters.
Will County Divorce Stats: According to the 2024 American Community Survey marital status estimates, about 7.7% of Will County males aged 15 or older were divorced, and 9.7% of females were. In comparison, the statewide divorce share was 8.2% for males aged 15 and older and 10.7% for females aged 15 or older.
Are Divorce Records Public in Will County?
Yes. Under the Illinois Clerk of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105/16), almost all court documents filed with the court clerk, including divorce records, are public. This means anyone can visit a courthouse or log onto an online portal to look up someone’s case file and read their court filings. Some of the documents requesters may view include the initial petition for dissolution of marriage and responses, written court motions and temporary orders, and final judgments and decrees.
Despite the presumed openness of court records, the Illinois Supreme Court shields litigants’ personal and financial data from public exposure through automatic redaction rules. Supreme Court Rule 138 (Mandatory Redactions) prevents personal identity information, such as Social Security and taxpayer-identification numbers, driver’s license, passport, and financial account numbers, from being filed in the open record without redaction. Rule 201(m) expressly bars discovery documents (e.g., tax returns and bank statements) from being filed with the county clerk.
Divorcing parties may also file a formal motion to seal personal narratives, text messages, or allegations (e.g., domestic abuse) inside court documents. Since Illinois courts strongly favor public access to court records, the petitioner must prove a “compelling interest” that outweighs public transparency.
How to Find Divorce Records in Will County
Individuals seeking Will County divorce records should begin with the Will County Circuit Clerk. The Clerk is the custodian of court cases filed and heard in the county, including those in the Dissolution/Family category (e.g., dissolution of marriage, legal separation, custody matters, parentage, visitation, and support).
The following section outlines the steps for locating divorce records in Will County:
Step 1: Identify useful information on the parties involved for the search.
Before searching, requesters should gather as much basic information about the case as possible. Providing useful information, such as both spouses’ names, the case number, the approximate date or year, and the date of birth of either party (may be useful for verification), often expedites the search process.
Step 2: Search for the case using the statewide case search tool first.
Before requesting copies from the Circuit Clerk’s Office, use the Clerk's free court case lookup tool, provided through the 12th Judicial Circuit Court Public Access System to look up basic case information. Using this search tool may direct the requester towards official or the complete document. However, they are expected to order copies through the Clerk’s document-copy process or visit the Circuit Clerk’s office at the courthouse to access physical files.
Step 3: Request copies of case documents if needed.
Requesters cannot access images of filed court documents directly through the Clerk’s public website. Instead, the Circuit Clerk provides public access to court documents through a state-authorized third-party vendor. To obtain copies of court documents, including disclosable divorce files, you must register on the vendor’s platform and submit the request. The Clerk staff typically uploads the requested copies onto the vendor’s platform within 2 business days.
Step 4: Visit the courthouse for public terminals or physical files.
Requesters may also visit the Will County Courthouse to use public access terminals or view physical files during business hours.
Will County Courthouse
100 West Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Step 5: Understand copy and certification fees.
Whether you are ordering copies online, in-person, or through the U.S. Mail, the Clerk’s copy fees are as follows:
- $2.00 for the first page
- $0.50 per page from page 2 - 20
- $0.25 per page thereafter
- $6.00 per document certification
Step 6: Request a certified dissolution of marriage certificate through the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Requesters may verify the facts of a dissolution of marriage in person, by fax, or by mail through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records for a fee of $5.00. The facts of a dissolution of marriage include the parties’ names, dates of birth, date of event, and city/county of event.
Please note that the IDPH does not issue certified copies of dissolution-of-marriage records. Certified copies are available from the Will County Circuit Court Clerk's Office.
The contact details of the IDPH are as follows:
Illinois Department of Public Health — Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737
| Method | Where to Go | Info Needed | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online case search | Will County Circuit Clerk Court Case Lookup | Party names, case number if known, approximate filing year | Free for basic lookup | Immediate for available case information |
| Online document-copy request | State-authorized third-party vendor through the Will County Circuit Clerk copy-request page | Parties' names, case number, document requested, registered third-party vendor account | $2.00 first page; $0.50 pages 2–20; $0.25 thereafter; $6 certification | Copies usually uploaded in about 2 business days |
| In-person search/request | Will County Courthouse, 100 W. Jefferson St., Joliet, IL 60432 | Case number or party names; document needed | Copy/certification fees apply | Varies; available during courthouse hours |
| Public access terminals | Main courthouse public access terminals | Case details or party names | Viewing may be free; printing/copy fees apply | Same day if record is available |
| State verification | Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records | Names, dates of birth, date/place of divorce, ID, application | $5.00 verification fee | Regular mail averages 4–6 weeks |
Overview of the Will County Court System
In Will County, the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit handles dissolution of marriage cases under its Dissolution/Family case category. Cases covered by this division include dissolution of marriage, legal separation, custody matters, parentage, visitation, and support matters. Individuals seeking Will family court divorce filings typically search for divorce petitions, family law case records, custody matters, parenting plans, support orders, and final judgments filed through the Dissolution/Family case category of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court.
In practice, a Will County divorce case starts when a spouse (or domestic partner) files a petition for dissolution of marriage with the Will County Circuit Clerk, and the case proceeds through the Dissolution/Family process of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk’s Office is responsible for maintaining records of civil, criminal, and traffic cases filed and heard in Will County, including recording filed documents and court proceedings.
The Will County Courthouse is the primary location for divorce and family-law matters. The contact and locational addresses of the Will County Courthouse and the County Clerk are as follows:
Will County Courthouse
100 West Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Will County Circuit Clerk’s Office
Will County Courthouse
100 West Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Online Access to Will County Divorce Records
Requesters may find Will divorce records online using the free case lookup system on the website of the 12th Judicial Circuit Court (Illinois Public Access System). Users may search the portal using details, such as a party’s full or partial name, case number (if known), approximate filing year, case type (e.g., dissolution/family, and court location (if applicable). In most instances, visitors may view docket information, filing dates, case status, hearing dates, and indexes of filed documents.
Requesters may also request copies of filed court documents online through a state-approved third-party vendor. They must, however, register on the vendor’s platform to submit their request for document copies, which the Clerk staff usually uploads within two business days.
Interested parties may also visit the Circuit Clerk’s office at the Will County Courthouse to access terminals or view publicly available court records. The courthouse is located at:
Will County Courthouse
100 West Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: (815) 727-8592
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Interested parties may look up Will County divorce records through third-party websites that offer access to free divorce records for a fee. However, it is worth noting that government agencies do not regulate these websites. Therefore, the information they provide may be incomplete, outdated, or unreliable.
What’s Typically Included in a Will Divorce Record
In Will County, the components of a divorce record often depend on the type of documents (e.g., certificate, decree, or case file) being viewed. However, typical components of a publicly disclosable Will County divorce record typically include:
- Parties’ names
- Case number
- Case type (e.g., dissolution/family)
- Filing date
- Case status
A public Will County divorce record may also include court dates and docket activity, motions, orders, judgment entries, attorney information (where applicable), final judgment or dissolution of marriage, spousal support determinations, child custody and visitation rulings, child support obligations, and property or maintenance-related orders (where public).
However, not all information in a divorce record is accessible online or to the general public. For instance, the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy permits the exclusion of certain documents from online access, even when courthouse access is permitted. Access to sensitive divorce materials may also be restricted under Illinois’s record access categories, including public, impounded, confidential, sealed, and expunged records. Sensitive information that may fall into these categories includes child-related records, information concerning abuse, financial details, protected identifiers, sealed filings, or court order-restricted records.
| Information | Available to the Public? |
|---|---|
| Names of spouses | Yes, generally available in public case information |
| Case number | Yes |
| Filing date | Yes, generally available |
| Case status | Yes |
| Case type/division | Yes, such as dissolution/family |
| Court dates and docket activity | Yes, generally available in case lookup or docket records |
| Final judgment of dissolution | Often available or requestable unless sealed or restricted |
| Property or maintenance orders | Often available, but sensitive details may be restricted |
| Child support orders | Sometimes available, but sensitive child or financial information may be restricted |
| Custody, visitation, or parenting arrangements | Sometimes available, but child-related details may be restricted |
| Financial records or protected identifiers | Often restricted, redacted, or unavailable remotely |
| Abuse-related or sealed filings | Often restricted, sealed, or impounded |
How to Get Certified Copies of Will Divorce Records
In Will County, an applicant looking for a certified divorce decree or another official divorce record copy for legal purposes may request such documents from the Will County Circuit Clerk. On the other hand, those seeking the verification of a marriage dissolution may approach the Illinois Department of Public Health for such documents. Please note that the Department of Public Health does not issue certified copies of dissolution of marriage records; requesters must obtain such records from the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.
Individuals seeking divorce records should note the difference between a certified and an informational copy. A certified copy often bears a stamp or seal and the official signature of the issuing agency (e.g., Will County Circuit Clerk) stating that the document is a true and complete copy of the original court record. Applicants often require certified copies when remarrying, updating passports, filing court documents, making insurance claims, for immigration, and other legal matters.
On the other hand, informational copies are usually used for genealogy or personal records. Requesters cannot use them for legal identification as they do not carry the same legal weight as certified copies.
| Type of Copy | Use Case | Who Can Request | Legally Valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Copy | Remarriage, immigration, court filings, legal name changes, official benefits, legal proceedings | Generally any requester if the record is public; sealed or restricted records may require authorization or a court order | Yes |
| Informational / Plain Copy | Personal reference, genealogy, background research, general review | Generally anyone if the record is public | No, not usually accepted as official proof |
Requesting a Certified Divorce Record in Whatcom County
Step 1. Determine the type of divorce record required.
The type of record a requester is looking for usually determines which office to approach. Applicants who wish to obtain a complete divorce decree, final judgment, or documents from the divorce court file may request them from the Will County Circuit Court Clerk. On the other hand, requesters may verify the facts of a dissolution of marriage through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records. The IDPH maintains divorce certificates from 1962 through the current index date available
Step 2. Identify and collate necessary information.
To expedite the search process, you must provide relevant record-identifying information, like the spouses' full names, divorce case number (if available), approximate filing or judgment date, type of document requested (e.g., Final Judgment of Dissolution), and your (requester) contact details. Users who do not have the case number of the record they seek may conduct an initial search for the information through the Will County Circuit Clerk Case Lookup system.
Step 3. Submit the request.
For divorces granted in Will County, applicants may request copies of disclosable divorce records through a state-authorized third-party vendor. To request copies of court documents online, they must register and submit their request via the third-party vendor’s site. The Clerk staff usually uploads the relevant documents to the vendor’s site within two business days.
Individuals seeking to verify the facts of a dissolution of marriage in person, by fax, or by mail may submit their request to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records. The IDPH charges a $5.00 fee for the verification of facts of a dissolution of marriage.
Step 4: Present identification if required
Individuals requesting sealed or restricted records or conducting further record inquiries in-person should be prepared to provide a valid government-issued ID.
Step 5: Pay the required fees
For certified divorce records, the Will County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office charges $6.00 per certified document. Whether requesting copies online, in-person, or by mail, the Clerk’s Office charges the following fees as copy costs:
- $2.00 for page 1
- $0.50 per page from page 2 - 20
- $0.25 per page thereafter
- $6.00 per document certification
The Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, charges a $5.00 fee for the verification of facts of a dissolution of marriage. Please note that regular mail processing averages 4 to 6 weeks, excluding mailing time.
Will Divorce Records Summary
| Custodian | Available Record Type | Access Method | Fees & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will County Circuit Clerk | Full divorce case records, dissolution filings, court orders, judgments of dissolution, docket records, and certified copies | Online document-copy request through state-authorized third-party vendor, in person at the courthouse, or public-access terminals | Copy fees: $2.00 for page 1, $0.50 per page for pages 2–20, $0.25 per page thereafter; certification: $6.00 per document. The Clerk's staff usually uploads copies requested through the state-authorized third-party vendor in about 2 business days. |
| Will County Circuit Clerk Court Case Lookup | Basic case information, case number, party names, case type, filing date, docket activity, and case status | Free online case search | Useful for locating divorce case information, but the Clerk states that online lookup is not the official court record and is a limited version of case data. |
| Will County Courthouse/Public Access Terminals | More complete case access and document images where publicly available | In person at the courthouse | Users may visit the Circuit Clerk’s Office at the main courthouse to use public access terminals or view physical files during business hours. |
| Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records | Dissolution-of-marriage verification only; not certified divorce decrees | Mail, fax, or in-person request | IDPH does not issue certified divorce records. It verifies dissolution facts from 1962 through the current available index date. Verification costs $5, and regular mail requests average 4–6 weeks, excluding delivery time. |
| Third-party record search websites | Aggregated divorce and public-record information | Online search, often paid | Convenient but unofficial; information may be incomplete, outdated, or less accurate than records from the Will County Circuit Clerk. |