Waukegan Civil Court Records

Waukegan civil court records are maintained by the Lake County Circuit Clerk under the 19th Judicial Circuit. Waukegan is the county seat of Lake County, and all civil court filings for the city go to the clerk's office at 18 N. County Street. Lake County operates the JournalTech eCourt public portal for online access to civil court records. Clerk Erin Cartwright Weinstein leads the office. This page explains how to find Waukegan civil court records, what they contain, and where to get help.

Which County Handles Waukegan Civil Court Filings

All Waukegan civil court filings go to the Lake County Circuit Clerk. Waukegan is the county seat of Lake County, so the courthouse is right in the city. The clerk's office is at 18 N. County St., Waukegan, IL 60085. Phone is (847) 377-3380. The clerk is Erin Cartwright Weinstein. The court operates under the 19th Judicial Circuit. For full information on the Lake County court system and all available resources, see the Lake County Civil Court Records page.

The Lake County public portal provides access to civil, criminal, and traffic court records. The portal describes itself as giving access to "certain civil, criminal, and traffic public records of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois. The court record summaries viewed here are all public records under Illinois open records law." Attorneys and parties of record can also access case documents through the portal after registering an account in accordance with the Illinois Remote Access Policy.

Searching Waukegan Civil Court Records Online

Lake County operates the JournalTech eCourt public portal for online access to Waukegan civil court records. You can reach it at the Lake County eCourt portal. The portal covers civil, criminal, and traffic cases for the 19th Judicial Circuit. Services available through the portal include searching cases, submitting proposed orders, paying fines and fees, and requesting traffic school. Basic public searches do not require an account. Attorneys and parties of record need to register to access their case documents.

The Lake County Circuit Clerk website at lakecountyil.gov/circuitclerk is the official starting point for finding Waukegan civil court records online. The statewide re:SearchIL tool at researchil.tylerhost.net is also available for broader searches across multiple Illinois counties at once.

The screenshot above shows the Lake County eCourt portal, which is the main tool for searching Waukegan civil court records online. The portal is free to use for public records access. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Rule 313, effective May 1, 2025, so online searches cost nothing.

What Waukegan Civil Court Records Contain

Civil court records in Waukegan cover all cases filed with the Lake County Circuit Court. Each record lists the case number, names of all parties, case type, filing date, and assigned judge. The docket shows every event in the case: filings, hearings, motions, and orders. The docket is a useful tool for tracking where a case stands at any point in time.

The paper file at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan holds the actual case documents. You will find the complaint or petition, responses from other parties, motions, and all court orders. Final judgments are part of the file. Some records are not open to the public. Sealed orders, juvenile records, and adoption files are closed. Personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and bank account numbers are redacted from public copies under Illinois Supreme Court rules. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), standard civil court records are public and open for inspection during office hours. The Lake County portal itself notes that records "are all public records under Illinois open records law."

Filing a Civil Case in Waukegan

Civil filings in Waukegan must go through eFileIL at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This is the mandatory electronic filing system for all civil case types in Lake County. You create an account and submit documents through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider. The portal is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Lake County eCourt portal also allows attorneys and self-represented parties to submit proposed orders through the portal. This is an added feature beyond what most county systems offer. Exemptions from eFiling apply in certain cases. People who are incarcerated cannot be required to efile. Will filings are exempt. People with disabilities that prevent electronic filing may qualify for an exemption. Good cause exemptions are also available. To file in person at the Lake County Courthouse at 18 N. County St. in Waukegan, call (847) 377-3380 first to confirm what you need to bring and what hours are available. Illinois Supreme Court approved forms are free at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms.

Fees for Waukegan Civil Court Records

Lake County follows the standard Illinois fee schedule for civil court record copies under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. The fee for the first page of a copy is $2.00. Pages 2 through 20 cost $0.50 each. Pages after 20 cost $0.25 each. A record search costs up to $6.00 per year searched. These fees apply to paper copies obtained in person at the courthouse or by mail. The Lake County eCourt portal also offers a pay service for document copies, which you can use from home. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.

Online access to civil court records through the Lake County eCourt portal and the re:SearchIL statewide system is free. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Rule 313, effective May 1, 2025. The Lake County portal also allows you to pay outstanding fines, fees, and costs online, separate from the cost of getting civil court record copies. Call (847) 377-3380 to confirm current copy fees before visiting the courthouse.

Legal Help in Waukegan

Waukegan residents can turn to several free and low-cost resources for help with civil court matters. The Lake County Circuit Clerk's office can find records and answer procedure questions, but it cannot give legal advice.

Illinois Court Help is a free statewide phone service at (833) 411-1121, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff speak over 200 languages and can help Waukegan residents understand civil court procedures, navigate the Lake County eCourt portal, and find legal aid in the area. The website is at ilcourthelp.gov. Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has a guide on getting copies of your civil court records at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. The Illinois Courts self-help center at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help has forms and step-by-step instructions for people who handle their own civil cases in Waukegan and across Lake County.

Nearby Cities

These qualifying Illinois cities are near Waukegan and each has its own civil court records page.