Cook County Civil Court Records

Cook County civil court records cover millions of cases filed at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago. The Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court maintains these records and makes many of them available online. You can search civil, law, chancery, and domestic relations cases using the clerk's free online portal. This guide walks you through how to find civil court records in Cook County, what they contain, and who to call when you need help.

Circuit Court Clerk of Cook County

Mariyana T. Spyropoulos serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Her office describes itself as "Cook County's Front Door to the Justice System." The clerk maintains all civil court records filed in Cook County, processes new case filings, stores the official case files, and issues copies to the public. With over five million residents, this is the largest court clerk operation in Illinois and one of the busiest in the country.

The main office sits at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602. The mailing address is 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602-1305. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding court holidays. The main phone line is (312) 603-5030. Staff can help you find cases, request copies, and understand how the office works. They cannot give legal advice, though. The clerk's office is prohibited by statute and rule from giving legal guidance or accepting filings by phone or email.

The clerk's website is at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. From there you can search case records, download forms, pay fines, and contact staff. The screenshot below shows the clerk's homepage.

The site gives access to civil court records, court forms, eFiling tools, and payment options all in one place. It is the first stop for anyone who needs to work with Cook County civil court records.

Note: The clerk is prohibited by statute and rule from taking any action such as accepting filings or other official communications via email or telephone, and from rendering legal advice.

Online Civil Court Records Search in Cook County

Cook County offers free online access to civil court records through its public case search portal. You can reach it at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/online-case-information. The portal lets you search by name, case number, or court call. It covers a wide range of case types, and it is available to anyone with internet access. No account is required to search most case types.

The screenshot below shows the online case search portal for Cook County civil court records.

The clerk's office describes the service this way: "The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County provides on-line case information as a public service. This service is intended to be used as a resource to determine the general status of historical and active court cases. The information is not the official record of the court." In other words, what you see online is the electronic docket, not the actual court file. The clerk states that "the case data available on-line is the electronic docket which contains brief summaries of court documents and court events in a particular case." The official court records are in paper form at the courthouse or in other official clerk repositories.

Keep in mind that updates are not always instant. The clerk notes that "based on the procedures used to update the electronic docket search databases, it may sometimes take a few days before updated information is available through the on-line electronic docket search function." If you need the most current status, call the clerk's office directly or visit in person. For deeper professional access, attorneys and legal staff can use the Justice Partners Portal at cccportal.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org.

The re:SearchIL statewide database is another option. It covers many Illinois courts and is free to use at researchil.tylerhost.net. This tool can be helpful if you are looking for records across multiple Illinois counties at once.

Note: Criminal case files in Cook County are not available through the online portal and must be viewed in person at the clerk's office.

What Cook County Civil Court Records Contain

Civil court records in Cook County hold a lot of information about a case. Each file has the case number, the names of all parties, the case type, and the date it was filed. The docket shows a list of events: hearings, filings, orders, and other key dates. Each entry notes what happened in the case and when. These entries build a timeline of the entire case from start to finish.

Beyond the docket, the paper file contains the actual documents. You will find the complaint or petition that started the case, any answers filed by the other side, motions, and court orders. Judgments entered by the judge are part of the file too. Exhibits and evidence introduced during hearings may be kept there as well. For cases that went to trial, transcripts may be available through the court reporter. Copies of judgments and orders are what most people need when they search Cook County civil court records for legal or personal reasons.

Not everything in the court system is public. Some records are sealed by court order. Juvenile cases and adoption records are not open to the public. Confidential items like Social Security numbers, bank account details, and medical records are redacted from public copies. Expunged records are also off limits. But for standard civil matters, the file is open to anyone who asks.

Note: Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), court records in Illinois are public and open for inspection at all times during office hours.

Cook County Court Divisions

The Circuit Court of Cook County is divided into several departments and divisions. Each one handles a different type of case. Knowing which division holds your records helps when you search or request copies. The clerk's divisions page at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/divisions lists all divisions with contact details.

The Law Division handles civil lawsuits seeking money damages above a set threshold. The Chancery Division covers equity matters like injunctions, trusts, and complex business disputes. The Municipal Department handles smaller civil claims and some landlord-tenant matters. The Domestic Relations Division handles divorce and child custody. The County Division deals with name changes, election matters, and real estate tax cases. The Probate Division handles estates, wills, and guardianships. All of these generate civil court records that are maintained by the clerk's office.

The online portal lets you search across all of these divisions. You can search by case type to narrow results. Types available online include Civil, Law, Chancery, Domestic Relations and Child Support, Probate Docket, Probate Will, Traffic Ticket, County Division, Court Call, Unclaimed Child Support, Naturalization Declaration of Intention (covering historical records from 1906 to 1929), and Mortgage Foreclosure Surplus.

Note: The Court Call search shows cases scheduled for today and the next five business days, which is useful if you want to know when a case has an upcoming hearing.

Customer Service and Contacting the Cook County Clerk

The clerk's office offers several ways to get help. Phone support is available at (312) 603-5030 during regular hours. For people who prefer digital contact, the office offers live chat on its website Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The chat link is on the main website homepage. This can be faster than waiting on hold when you have a quick question about civil court records in Cook County.

The screenshot below shows the contact page for the Cook County Clerk's office.

Cook County also offers translation services through inLingo, which covers more than 200 languages. This helps residents who do not speak English get the same level of service when looking for civil court records or filing documents. The clerk's office has made language access a priority given the diverse population of Cook County. If you need help in another language, ask when you call or visit.

The customer service call center has trained staff who can walk you through how to use the online portal, help you find a case number, and explain what documents are available. They cannot interpret what records mean for your legal situation. That is where legal aid or a private attorney comes in.

The call center handles a high volume each day, so using the online portal or live chat for simple searches will often save you time. Save phone calls for questions the portal cannot answer on its own.

Note: The clerk states it is "prohibited by statute and rule from rendering legal advice," so staff cannot tell you what your civil court records mean for your case strategy.

Electronic Filing in Cook County

All civil cases in Cook County must be filed electronically through eFileIL, the Illinois mandatory eFiling system. You can reach it at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This rule applies to all civil filings, not just new cases. Motions, responses, and other documents must also go through the system. eFiling is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which means you are not limited to court hours when you need to submit something.

The clerk's eFiling information page is at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/eFile. The screenshot below shows that page.

To use eFileIL, you must register an account first and then work through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider, known as an EFSP. A few exemptions exist. People who are incarcerated cannot be required to efile. Will filings are exempt. People with disabilities that prevent electronic filing may also be exempt. Juvenile cases and filings made for good cause shown may also qualify for an exemption. If you are not sure whether you qualify, the clerk's office can point you to the right information.

Court forms for civil cases are available through the clerk's forms portal at services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms. The screenshot below shows what that portal looks like.

You can search for forms by case type or division. Many forms are fillable PDFs. Once you complete a form, you upload it through eFileIL. For people who are self-represented, this forms portal is a key starting point before you begin any civil case in Cook County.

Note: The Justice Partners Portal at cccportal.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org gives attorneys and registered professionals a faster, deeper level of access to Cook County civil court records and filings.

Fees for Civil Court Records in Cook County

Cook County sets its own copy fee schedule under Illinois law. Because Cook County has a population over three million, it is allowed to charge up to $10 per page for copies of civil court records. This is higher than other Illinois counties, which are capped at $6 per page. The base rate for the first page of a copy is $2.00. Pages two through twenty cost $0.50 each. Any additional pages after twenty cost $0.25 each. A record search costs up to $6.00 per year searched. These fees apply when you request paper copies in person or by mail.

The fee schedule is set by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, which lays out the copy and search fees for circuit court clerks across Illinois. Cook County falls in the highest tier because of its population size. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a certified copy for a legal matter, ask the clerk for the current certified copy fee when you call or visit.

Online access to civil court records through the public portal is free of charge. In May 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Supreme Court Rule 313. That suspension took effect on May 1, 2025. As a result, using the Cook County online case search or the statewide re:SearchIL system costs nothing. This makes it easier to check case status, look up docket entries, and review basic case information without any out-of-pocket cost.

Fines and fees owed on court cases can be paid online. The clerk offers an online payment tool at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. The screenshot below shows the payment portal.

You can pay traffic fines, court diversion fees, and other court-ordered amounts through this portal. This is separate from the cost of obtaining civil court records. The portal accepts major payment methods and is available at any hour.

Note: Fees can change, so call (312) 603-5030 or check the clerk's website to confirm current copy and search fees before you visit the courthouse.

Legal Help in Cook County

The clerk's office can help you find records, but it cannot give legal advice. If you are dealing with a civil case and need guidance, several free and low-cost resources serve Cook County. These groups can help you understand what civil court records mean and what your options are.

Illinois Court Help is a statewide service that answers legal questions by phone. 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 court forms, explain how civil cases work in Cook County, and point you to local resources. This service is free and open to everyone, not just low-income residents.

The Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) website at illinoislegalaid.org has a guide specifically on how to get copies of your court records. Find it at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. ILAO also has self-help tools, legal articles, and a referral system to connect you with a lawyer. Many of the tools are free to use. For civil matters like landlord-tenant disputes, debt collection, or small claims, ILAO is often the best first stop in Cook County.

If you need a lawyer and cannot afford one, legal aid organizations in Cook County serve different groups. Some focus on housing, others on family law, others on consumer debt. Illinois Court Help can help you find the right group for your situation. The court system in Cook County also has self-help centers at several courthouse locations where staff can assist you with forms and procedures. These centers do not give legal advice but can help you get through the paperwork for civil cases in Cook County.

Note: Illinois Court Help is run by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and is not a law firm, so staff cannot represent you in court.

Cities in Cook County

Cook County contains dozens of cities and villages. Civil court records for cases filed in any of these communities are handled by the Circuit Court of Cook County. The clerk's main office at the Daley Center in Chicago serves the entire county, though some suburban courthouses also process filings depending on the case type and location.

Nearby Counties

Cook County borders several other Illinois counties. If you are not sure whether your civil case was filed in Cook County or an adjacent county, check the address of the courthouse listed on any court documents you have received.