Cook County, Illinois State Court Records
Cook County court records are official, permanent documents that hold information about legal cases decided by a court within the county. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is typically responsible for filing, processing, and maintaining these documents in individual court case files for easy tracking and dissemination. This recordkeeping process is supported by courtroom clerks employed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Office. Courtroom clerks are assigned to courtrooms throughout the county to document legal proceedings and preserve complete records of every case.
Interestingly, court records are sometimes connected to other official documents as record custodians often share information with each other. For example, criminal court cases are typically initiated from arrest and booking records from law enforcement, and vital records (such as divorce certificates) emanate from court orders or decrees.
Are Cook County Court Records Public?
Yes. Cook County court records are public information by virtue of 720 ILCS 5/32-8 (c-5), which expressly defines public records to include court documents and other records filed with a clerk of court. This means any interested party may view court records at the courthouse, and sometimes online, subject to the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy.
The law, however, also categorizes court records into impounded, confidential, sealed, and expunged documents, for the purpose of restricting public access to specific private or sensitive information.
Impounded records refer to documents that may only be accessible by the parties listed in the case, while confidential documents are open to the filing party, both of which are otherwise only accessible by court order. Sealed records generally refer to documents that are only obtainable by court order, while expunged documents are those made inaccessible by virtue of a court order based on subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.
Examples of records that are generally inaccessible to the public include
- Juvenile court case files
- Adoption records
- Mental health records
- Personal identifiers (financial account numbers, social security numbers, etc)
What Information is Available in Cook County Court Records?
Information available in Cook County court records includes
- Basic case details/party information (case number, filing date, names of plaintiffs and defendants, etc.)
- Dockets
- Charges
- Motions
- Petitions
- Orders, rulings, verdicts, and sentences
Note: The specific documents found in a court case file depend on the case type. For example, plea agreements can only be found in criminal case files, while counterclaims are specific to civil matters.
Cook County Court Records Search
Cook County court record searches are officially conducted through the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The office generally accepts public records requests through the main access points below:
Online Access
Remote access to Cook County court records is available through the Online Case Search portal on the Clerk of the Circuit Court's official website. This platform allows requesters access to full electronic docket information and general information about the status of old and active cases. It is noteworthy, however, that online case information is considered an unofficial court record, and complete case documents are generally not available through online case searches.
To obtain available information from the search portal, parties may look through the sections highlighted and start a search (by clicking "start search") on the section related to their query. Next, individuals may select a division and search by case number or name.
Note: Parties may also chat live with a clerk using the real-time chat function accessible via the online case information page. This function is available during official office hours.
In-Person Access
Individuals can obtain official Cook County court case information by visiting the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County physically within normal business hours. The address is highlighted below.
Richard J. Daley Center
50 West Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Parties may choose to conduct a free search for documents by looking in case files or utilizing the data access terminals located on site. Alternatively, they may fill out and submit a record search request form (CCG 0026) and pay the applicable fees to have an official conduct the search on their behalf. Once the search is completed, the requested documents may be collected in person.
Individuals are generally required to provide sufficient known details about the records they are seeking to enable efficient and accurate searches. These include the case number, plaintiffs/defendants' names, or filing date.
Note: Requesters may need to submit their requests to different offices or addresses, depending on the type and age of the document sought. The various addresses and guidelines are available on the last page of the record search request form.
Mail and Phone Requests
Parties may also send a court records request via mail to the same addresses listed on the record search request form (linked above). Mail requests require payment of a record search fee to the Clerk of the Circuit Court by check or money order. Individuals will also need to include the face of the check or money order, a driver's license number, telephone number, and case or ticket number in the request. Full payment of all other costs, including the postage fee, is due upon completion of the search.
Furthermore, requesters may dial (312) 603-5030 during official business hours for questions regarding obtaining a court record.
Fees for Court Records in Cook County
The Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County does not charge a fee for in-person record searches. However, a record search fee of $6 per year is charged when a search is conducted on behalf of the requester. Other fees payable to the clerk of the circuit court include
- Copying fees ($2 for the first page, 50 cents for pages 2-19, and 25 cents for the remaining pages)
- Certification fees ($6 per certification)
- Postage costs
Cook County Courthouse Locations
There are 20 courthouse locations under the single unified Circuit Court of Cook County system. They comprise 6 municipal district courthouses, 6 specialized courthouses, 3 branch court locations, and a restorative justice community court. The addresses of these courts are highlighted below:
District Courthouses
50 West Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: (312) 603-5030
5600 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, Illinois 60077
Phone: (847) 470-7250
2121 Euclid Avenue
Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008
Phone: (847) 818-3000
1500 Maybrook Drive
Maywood, Illinois 60153
Phone: (708) 865-6040
10220 South 76th Avenue
Bridgeview, Illinois 60455
Phone: (708) 974-6500
16501 South Kedzie Parkway
Markham, Illinois 60428
Phone: (708) 232-4551
Specialized Courthouses
George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse
2600 California Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608
Phone: (773) 674-3140
555 West Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Phone: (312) 325-9500
2245 West Ogden Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Phone: (312) 433-4756
Juvenile Temporary Detention Center
1100 South Hamilton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Phone: (312) 433-7102
Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Center
13th Floor
222 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: (312) 793-0125
Fax: (312) 793-0146
119 West Randolph Street
Lower Level
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: (312) 603-5660
Fax: (312) 603-3988
Branch Court Locations
Branch 23 and 29 (Grand and Central)
5555 West Grand Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60639
Branch 23 Phone: (773) 804-6154
Branch 29 Phone: (773) 804-6140
727 East 111th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60628
Branch 35 Phone: (773) 982-3055
Branch 38 Phone: (773) 982-3006
Branch 43 and 44 (Harrison and Kedzie)
3150 West Flournoy Street
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Branch 43 Phone: (773) 265-8927
Branch 44 Phone: (773) 265-8915
Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCCs)
Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court
3647 West George Street
Chicago, Illinois 60618
Englewood Restorative Justice Community Court
845 West 69th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60621
North Lawndale Restorative Justice Community Court
3605 West Fillmore Street
Chicago, Illinois 60624
Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court
2700 Kalvelage Drive
Sauk Village, Illinois 60411
Criminal Records Access in Cook County
Individuals can query the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County for criminal court case records in person or via mail by completing and submitting the records search request form discussed above.
Members of the public may also request a name-based criminal background check from the Illinois Bureau of Identification using the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP), an electronic portal that returns UCIA (Uniform Conviction Information Act) conviction search results to public users. However, full criminal history information is accessible only to the subject of the record, law enforcement agencies, or licensed employers in specific fields, per 20 ILCS 2635/1 et seq.
Cook County Probate Records
Probate records in Cook County comprise documentation contained within case files pertaining to the administration of decedent estates, guardianships, minor estates, and trust proceedings. Probate matters are generally public in nature, and any individual may request documents on such cases. Exceptions, however, exist with respect to matters involving minors and other sensitive information as prescribed by the Illinois Probate Act of 1975, 720 ILCS 5/32-8 (C5), and other applicable statutes.
Like other court records, probate court records in Cook County are accessible through the Clerk of the Circuit Court in person, via mail, and online using the online case search portal discussed above. The online case search has a dedicated category for probate docket searches, through which individuals can search by name or case number.
Cook County Family Court Records
In Cook County, family court records refer to documents pertaining to cases heard by the domestic relations, domestic violence, and child protection divisions of the Circuit Court. Put differently, family court records involve cases regarding marriage, divorce, parentage, child support, and other domestic matters.
Family court records are public details in Cook County and can be obtained physically, via mail, or online by utilizing the online case search portal already discussed. The online portal is searchable by a plaintiff/defendant's name or a case number.
Note: Certain information, particularly information pertaining to underage individuals, is protected by confidentiality laws and may not be subject to public disclosure.
Federal Court Records in Cook County
Federal court records refer to court filings, transcripts, evidence, exhibits, and other documents generated and maintained by the federal court system. In Cook County, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois maintains such records in connection with matters conducted within its jurisdiction. These records are public documents per the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552). Consequently, individuals can send an FOIA request to the U.S District Court for publicly available case files. Interested parties can refer to the Court's Certified Copies and Other Service Requests page for detailed information on sending search requests for certified copies of documents.
Other alternatives for conducting a federal court record search in Cook County include
- In person at the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Illinois' Clerk's Office, particularly the Chicago location
- The Federal Lookup Tool (individuals should select the Chicago location, appropriate year, case type, and case number to search)
- The PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) service: This service is particularly useful for searching online case and docket information of matters filed in federal courts, including recently filed cases.
