Des Plaines Civil Court Records
Des Plaines civil court records are filed with and kept by the Circuit Court of Cook County, the 1st Judicial District. Des Plaines is a city in the northwest suburbs of Cook County with about 60,000 residents. All civil cases from Des Plaines go through Cook County's court system, and the clerk's free online portal lets anyone search civil case information without an account.
Des Plaines Quick Facts
Which County Handles Des Plaines Civil Court Filings
Des Plaines is in Cook County, so all civil cases from the city go to the Circuit Court of Cook County. The clerk is Mariyana T. Spyropoulos. Her main office is at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602. Mailing: Suite 1001 at the same address. Phone: (312) 603-5030. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Cook County runs suburban district courthouses in addition to the main Daley Center. Cases from northwest Cook County communities like Des Plaines may be routed to a nearby district courthouse depending on case type. The clerk's website at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org lists all courthouse locations. The site also offers live chat Monday through Friday during business hours, which can help you confirm which location handles your type of Des Plaines civil case.
The clerk is prohibited by statute and rule from giving legal advice or accepting filings by phone or email. For the full Cook County court system overview, see the Cook County civil court records page.
| Court | Circuit Court of Cook County, 1st Judicial District |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Mariyana T. Spyropoulos |
| Address | 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602 |
| Phone | (312) 603-5030 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | cookcountyclerkofcourt.org |
Searching Des Plaines Civil Court Records Online
The Cook County public case search is at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/online-case-information. It is free and open to anyone. Search by name or case number. The portal covers civil, chancery, law, domestic relations, probate, and county division cases. You can also search the Court Call to see which cases have upcoming hearings in the next five business days.
The online system is the electronic docket. The clerk states it is "intended to be used as a resource to determine the general status of historical and active court cases." It is not the official court record. Updates may take a few days after a filing or hearing. For a copy of the actual file or a certified copy of a document, you visit the clerk's office in person or call (312) 603-5030 to ask about mail requests.
The statewide re:SearchIL at researchil.tylerhost.net covers many Illinois counties and is free to use. For Des Plaines civil court records specifically, the Cook County portal is your best tool. The Illinois Courts site at illinoiscourts.gov has a "Find Your Court" feature if you need to confirm which court handled a particular case.
What Civil Court Records in Des Plaines Contain
A civil court record for a Des Plaines case starts with the case number, names of all parties, case type, and filing date. The docket records everything that happened in the case. Hearings, filings, motions, and orders each get logged with a date and a brief description. You can trace the whole life of a case through the docket from the day it was filed to the day it closed.
The physical case file at the courthouse holds all the actual documents. This includes the complaint or petition that opened the case, any responses from the other party, motions, court orders, and the final judgment. Some files also include exhibits and attachments. For most people who search Des Plaines civil court records, the goal is to find a judgment, an eviction order, or the status of an ongoing civil matter.
Sealed cases are not open to the public. Juvenile and adoption records are closed by law. Personal financial information is redacted from copies. Expunged records are also restricted. Standard civil cases in Cook County are public record under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), which makes court records available for public inspection during office hours.
Filing a Civil Case in Des Plaines
All civil filings from Des Plaines must go through eFileIL at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. Electronic filing is mandatory in Cook County for all civil cases. This covers new case openings, motions, and other court documents. eFileIL is available around the clock, so you can file at any time without waiting for business hours.
To file, you create an account on eFileIL and select an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider (EFSP). The EFSP transmits your documents to the Cook County Circuit Court. The clerk reviews the submission. If accepted, you receive a notification and an electronic timestamp. Rejections come with a reason, and you can resubmit after fixing the issue.
Some filers are exempt from the eFiling requirement. These include people who are incarcerated, those with qualifying disabilities, will filers, and anyone a judge grants a good cause exemption. Juvenile case filings are also exempt. If you qualify, you can file paper documents at the clerk's office. Cook County court forms are at services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms. Statewide approved forms are at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms.
Fees for Des Plaines Civil Court Records
Cook County charges up to $10 per page for paper copies of civil court records. Illinois law allows this higher rate for counties with populations over three million, and Cook County qualifies. All other Illinois counties are capped at $6 per page. The first page of any copy is $2.00. Pages two through twenty are $0.50 each. Pages after twenty drop to $0.25. A name search costs up to $6.00 per year searched. The fee schedule is at 705 ILCS 105/27.1b.
Certified copies of Des Plaines civil court records carry a higher fee than plain copies. Call the clerk at (312) 603-5030 to confirm the current certified copy rate before you visit. Fees may change.
Online access to Des Plaines civil court records is free. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Rule 313 starting May 1, 2025. Searching the Cook County online portal and re:SearchIL no longer costs anything. You can view docket entries and basic case information for free. This makes it practical to check Des Plaines civil court records regularly without paying a search fee each time.
Legal Help in Des Plaines
The Cook County Circuit Clerk can help you locate Des Plaines civil court records and explain how to request copies. Legal advice is not something the clerk provides. For help with a civil case, these free resources serve Des Plaines residents.
Illinois Court Help is a free statewide service. Call (833) 411-1121, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The website is at ilcourthelp.gov. Staff can walk you through forms, explain how civil cases work, and point you to resources in Cook County. More than 200 languages are supported. This service is run by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and is open to all residents, not just those with low income.
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has guides on many civil legal topics and a specific guide on getting court record copies at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. ILAO connects people to legal aid organizations serving Cook County. For self-help tools, the Illinois Courts self-help page at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help has forms and guides for people handling their own civil matters in Cook County court.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Des Plaines also file civil cases in Cook County court.