Cook County IL Court Records

This guide explains how court records work in Cook County, Illinois, including the court structure, which office holds which records, and how to search cases or order certified copies. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is the primary custodian of court records for the county.

How Courts Are Organized in Cook County

Unlike states that split trial work across several separate court systems, Illinois uses a single unified trial court: the Circuit Court. Cook County is served by the Circuit Court of Cook County, which is one of the largest unified court systems in the country. Because it is a single circuit, you generally do not need to figure out whether a matter belongs in a "district court" versus a "county court at law" as you would in some other states.

Within the Circuit Court, work is divided into divisions and districts that handle different case types, such as criminal, civil, chancery, county, domestic relations, probate, and traffic. The exact division or district a case falls under depends on where the matter arose and the type of dispute. If you are unsure which division holds your case, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County can direct you.

Which Office Holds Which Records

Knowing the right custodian saves time, because different agencies keep different records:

Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County — maintains court records for the county, including criminal, civil, traffic, family, and probate case files.
Cook County Clerk — handles birth, death, and marriage records, and records and maintains property records including deeds and liens. Vital records and property records are covered on separate sibling pages of this site.
Cook County Sheriff's Office — operates the Cook County Department of Corrections and provides an online inmate locator for people currently in custody.

For anything filed in a case before a judge — pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, dispositions — the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the office to contact.

Using the Online Case Search

The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County provides case information online. In general, you can search by party name or by case number. Searching by case number is the most direct method if you already have it; otherwise a name search will return matching cases you can open for more detail.

Online systems typically show the case caption, filing date, case type, scheduled court dates, and a docket of activity. The specific fields available, whether documents can be viewed online, and any registration or fee requirements can change, so confirm the current features and any charges directly with the Clerk of the Circuit Court before relying on what you see.

Tips for a better search

Have the full legal name and, if possible, the case number ready.
Try name variations and spellings if a first search returns nothing.
Remember an online docket is a summary; the official file may contain more than what displays on screen.

What Is Public and What Is Sealed

Most court records in Illinois are presumed open to the public, but there are important exceptions. Certain categories — such as juvenile matters, adoptions, some mental health proceedings, and records a judge has ordered sealed or expunged — are restricted or removed from public view. Illinois state law governs which records are considered public and which are confidential, including for vital records held by the Cook County Clerk.

Because access rules turn on statute and on individual court orders, do not assume a record is available or unavailable based on general expectations. If a case does not appear or is marked restricted, ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court what applies. Keep in mind that an arrest or a filed charge is not a conviction; a case record may show charges that were later dismissed, reduced, or resolved in the person's favor.

Ordering Certified Copies

Some purposes — such as appeals, immigration filings, or providing official proof of a court outcome — require a certified copy rather than a printout from the online system. Certified copies are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Identify the case number and the specific document or order you need.
Contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court to confirm how to request certification (in person, by mail, or online where available).
Confirm the current fee, accepted payment methods, and processing time before you submit your request.

This site does not publish a fee schedule because those amounts change. Confirm all copy and certification fees with the Clerk of the Circuit Court directly so you have the current figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I get Cook County court records?

From the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, which maintains court records for the county. Birth, death, marriage, and property records come from the Cook County Clerk instead.

Can I look up a case for free online?

The Clerk of the Circuit Court offers online case information. Whether all features are free and whether documents are viewable online can vary, so confirm current access and any fees with the Clerk.

How much does a certified copy cost?

Certified copy and certification fees are set by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and are not listed here. Contact the Clerk to confirm the current amount and accepted payment methods.

Why can't I find a case online?

The case may be sealed, expunged, restricted by Illinois law, filed under a different name or number, or simply not indexed the way you searched. Ask the Clerk of the Circuit Court for help before concluding no record exists.

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Cook County IL Court Records

How Courts Are Organized in Cook County

Which Office Holds Which Records