St. Clair County, Illinois State Court Records
St. Clair County court records refer to the official documentation of court proceedings in St.Clair County judicial system. The main custodian of St. Clair County court records is the St. Clair Circuit Clerk's office, responsible for holding files for all civil, criminal, probate, and family matters heard in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court.
It is important to note that court records differ from other county-level records such as vital records and property records. However, they intersect on various occasions. For example, as arrest records reflect on the Sheriff's Office records, they also reflect on the court case file generated by the Circuit Clerk. In the same vein, vital records can be referenced in a probate court record.
Are St. Clair County Court Records Public?
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) grants the public the right to access government records. However, understand that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to St. Clair County Circuit Clerk, who is not an executive branch, but a judicial branch agency of the state. Therefore, access to court records particularly, is granted by the Illinois Supreme Court Rules. It provides the presumption that judicial proceedings and case files are open to the public.
Individuals interested in inspecting St.Clair County court records can do so for free through the St. Clair Circuit Clerk's office, but document copying costs a fee (705 ILCS 105/27.1b). Not all court records are available for public view. 705 ILCS 405/1-7 establishes the confidentiality of juvenile records. Sealed and expunged records, adoption matters, and information on ongoing investigations are all restricted in St. Clair County.
What Information is Available in St. Clair County Court Records?
A regular court record generally covers a plethora of information about legal proceedings, and St. Clair County's court record is no different. Court records vary by case type, so their content is not the same. Hence, the following displays the common information persons would usually find in a court record:
- Case type
- Case date and case number
- Court name and division
- Name of parties involved
- Name of judge assigned
- Charges
- Motion and pleadings
- Sentencing information and court orders
- Hearing dates
St. Clair County Court Records Search
There are multiple ways available to search for St. Clair County. The main ways are online, in-person, and via mail and phone.
Online Access
An online search portal to find St. Clair County court records are available through the Court Record Search on the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office website. It allows users to search for civil and criminal case information by the defendant's name or case number. Withheld records like juvenile records are not available on the website. The Illinois Courts website also provides statewide access to case information and hearing schedules.
In-Person Access
The St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office operates a public counter where persons can visit to inspect court records. All the staff require is the party's name or case number to locate records and make copies if needed. Certified copies come at a statutory fee. The office is located at:
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office
10 Public Square,
Belleville, IL, 62220
Phone: (618) 277-6600
Email: circuitclerk@co.st-clair.il.us
Mail and Phone Access
Court record inspection of copying can be done via phone and mail to the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office. However, the mailing address vary by case:
Child Support:
P.O. Box 8447,
Belleville, IL 62222
Civil, Small Claims, or Felony:
P.O. Box 8445,
Belleville, IL 62222
Traffic:
P.O. Box 0691,
Belleville, IL 62222
Requesters must always ensure the full name and case number of the court record is clearly stated in their request. Processing and return time varies. Some requests take five to ten business days to process depending on how complex the document is.
Accepted payment methods for in-person and mail transactions include cash, money order, and business checks. Credit and debit cards are accepted in person with a 2.25% usage fee (minimum $1.00) at the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office. Electronic payments for tickets and court fees can also be made through the Circuit Clerk's Payment Site.
Fees for Court Records in St. Clair County
Under 5 ILCS 140/4, individuals can access and inspect public court records free of charge. Anyone may visit the Circuit Court Clerk's office during business hours and review unrestricted case files at no cost. Fees are only imposed when physical copies or certified documents are requested, which is established by state law 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. Interested persons can look up the Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule on the county official website.
However, civil filing fees are determined by Supreme Court order and must be paid at the time of filing. Criminal and traffic fees are assessed upon case disposition under the Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act. Note that there is a DNA Analysis fee of $250. In-person credit or debit card payments attract a 2.25% convenience fee. Requesters who cannot afford filing fees may apply for a civil fee waiver through the Circuit Clerk's Office.
St. Clair County Courthouse Locations
The 20th Judicial Circuit Court serves St. Clair County. All court divisions are centralized at this courthouse, and below is its contact details:
|
Court |
Address |
Phone |
|---|---|---|
|
St. Clair County Circuit Court (20th Judicial Circuit) |
10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220 |
(618) 277-6600 |
|
St. Clair County Sheriff's Office |
700 N. 5th St., Belleville, IL 62220 |
(618) 277-3505 |
Criminal Records Access in St. Clair County
Local criminal case records are very distinct from criminal history background checks. The former is maintained by the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk and accessible through the Court Record Search portal or through in-person visits to the Clerk's Office. It often contains charging documents, plea deals, sentences, and the overall dispositions.
The latter is administered by the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Identification. Under the Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635/), the Illinois State Police is authorized to make criminal conviction information available to the public. Criminal history checks usually come at a cost. Name-based inquiries cost $10 electronically or $16 for paper records, while fingerprint-based checks cost $15 electronically or $20 for paper records. Residents can request records through the ISP's CHIRP system. The state police is only mandated to
St. Clair County Probate Records
Probate records in St. Clair County are concerned with how an individual chooses to administer their estate after their passing. Filed probate records usually contain information such as wills, letters of administration, estate assets, guardian appointments, conservatorships, and trust administration.
The St. Clair County Probate Court handles three main categories of cases:
- Decedent's estates and trust supervision
- Guardianships and conservatorships of minors and adults
- Matters involving persons with mental illness
St. Clair County Family Court Records
In St. Clair County, domestic legal matters involving divorce proceedings, child custody and visitation, legal separation, spousal and child support, and adoption. Custodian of family court records in St. Clair County is the St. Clair County Circuit Clerk's Office, responsible for maintaining and attending to records requests.
Persons must note that records involving adoption, minors, or abuse are often kept exempt from public view. Also, obtaining certified copies of family court records requires submitting a request letter and paying the associated certification and copying fees. Adoption and juvenile records are confidential per 705 ILCS 405/1-7; however, other family records are usually partially sealed or redacted to protect children's identities
Federal Court Records in St. Clair County
Federal court records are distinct from state records, because they fall under federal jurisdiction and are governed by federal law. St. Clair County falls within the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, which is headquartered in East St. Louis and Benton. Federal criminal prosecutions, civil rights cases, bankruptcy proceedings, and other federal matters are heard before this court.
Federal court records are accessible through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records), the federal judiciary's electronic access system. Users must register for a free PACER account. Access to full case documents costs $0.10 per page, capped at $3.00 per document. Fees are waived if quarterly charges do not exceed $15. PACER is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
