La Salle County Civil Court Records
La Salle County civil court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk of the 13th Judicial Circuit in Ottawa, Illinois. Free public access to case information is available through Judici.com, and the clerk's office handles copy requests in person or by mail. This page covers how to search La Salle County civil court records, what those files hold, how eFiling works, and what legal help is available in the county.
La Salle County Quick Facts
La Salle County Circuit Clerk Office
Greg Vaccaro serves as the Circuit Court Clerk of La Salle County. His office is at 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, in Ottawa, the county seat of La Salle County. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all civil court records for the 13th Judicial Circuit in La Salle County. It processes new case filings, stores official case documents, handles copy requests, and provides public access to La Salle County civil court records.
La Salle County is a large county in north-central Illinois along the Illinois River. Ottawa, the county seat, is also the county's largest city. The circuit court handles a full range of civil cases, including contract disputes, small claims, foreclosures, personal injury matters, and family law cases. Communities like LaSalle, Peru, Streator, and Mendota are all served by the Ottawa courthouse. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find a civil case and explain how to get copies, but they cannot give legal advice.
| Clerk | Greg Vaccaro |
|---|---|
| Address | 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350-0617 |
| Phone | (815) 434-8671 |
| Fax | (815) 433-9198 |
| Online Access | Judici.com |
Office hours are generally Monday through Friday during standard business hours, excluding court holidays. Call (815) 434-8671 to confirm hours and procedures before visiting the courthouse in Ottawa.
Civil Court Records Search in La Salle County
La Salle County civil court records are searchable online free of charge through Judici.com. No account is needed. Search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Judici provides the electronic docket for La Salle County civil cases, including filing dates, hearing information, case events, and current status. The platform serves 82 of Illinois's 102 counties and is the standard public access tool for the 13th Judicial Circuit.
The docket on Judici is a summary, not the full case file. The actual documents filed in a La Salle County civil case are held at the courthouse in Ottawa. For copies of those documents, contact the clerk at (815) 434-8671, visit in person, or send a written request by mail. Very recent filings may not appear on Judici right away. Call the clerk directly for the most current case status on any pending La Salle County civil matter.
Below is a screenshot of the Illinois Courts portal showing court forms resources, which connects to the eFiling system used by La Salle County and all Illinois civil courts.
The statewide Illinois Courts site at illinoiscourts.gov provides additional resources and links. The re:SearchIL system covers appellate courts only and does not replace Judici for La Salle County circuit court civil records.
What La Salle County Civil Court Records Contain
Civil court records in La Salle County document each case from filing to close. The file starts with the complaint or petition, lists all parties, assigns a case number, and records the date filed. Every motion, hearing, and court order after that is logged in the docket. The Judici docket gives you a summary of that activity, while the full documents are at the Ottawa courthouse.
Inside a La Salle County civil court file you will find the initial pleadings, responses, all motions with attachments, and every order the judge entered. Final judgments and settlement orders placed on the record are part of the file. If a case went to hearing or trial, transcripts are available through the clerk's office. Certified copies of judgments are often needed for debt collection, property transactions, or enforcement in another jurisdiction. The La Salle County clerk can certify copies on request.
Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), the clerk must maintain a public docket open at all times during office hours. Most civil records are public. Juvenile files, adoption records, and cases sealed by court order are not available to the public. Social Security numbers and other sensitive data are redacted from public copies.
Electronic Filing in La Salle County
All civil filings in La Salle County go through the Illinois mandatory eFiling system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This applies to new case filings and all documents submitted in pending civil cases. The portal is open 24 hours a day. You need an account and must use an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider, called an EFSP, to submit anything to the La Salle County circuit court.
Exemptions from eFiling include incarcerated persons, individuals with disabilities preventing electronic filing, will and testamentary filings, juvenile and adoption cases, and situations where a judge grants a good-cause exemption. Illinois court forms are at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms. Complete the fillable PDFs and upload them through eFileIL. If you are not sure whether eFiling applies to your case in La Salle County, call Illinois Court Help at (833) 411-1121 for guidance.
Fees for La Salle County Civil Court Records
Copy and search fees for La Salle County civil court records follow 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. A record search costs up to $6.00 per year searched. Paper copies are $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 for pages two through twenty, and $0.25 per page after that. These apply to copies requested in person or by mail from the Ottawa courthouse.
Online access through Judici is free. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Supreme Court Rule 313, effective May 1, 2025. Searching La Salle County civil court records online now costs nothing. Certified copies carry an extra charge. Call (815) 434-8671 for the current certified copy fee before you visit.
Legal Help for La Salle County Civil Cases
The clerk's office in Ottawa maintains La Salle County civil court records but cannot give legal advice. If you need help with a civil case, the following resources serve La Salle County.
Illinois Court Help is free and open to all. Call (833) 411-1121, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The website is at ilcourthelp.gov. Staff can explain civil procedures in the 13th Judicial Circuit, walk you through court forms, and connect you with local legal aid in La Salle County. Over 200 languages are available through inLingo.
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has guides and tools for civil legal matters. Their guide on getting copies of court records is at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. Prairie State Legal Services provides civil legal aid to qualifying low-income residents in La Salle County and the surrounding region. The Illinois Courts self-help page at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help is also a good resource for self-represented litigants in La Salle County civil cases.
Cities in La Salle County
All civil court records for cases filed across La Salle County are handled by the 13th Judicial Circuit Court Clerk in Ottawa. La Salle County does not have any cities with a population over 50,000. Communities including Ottawa, LaSalle, Peru, Streator, and Mendota are all served by the main courthouse in Ottawa.
Nearby Counties
La Salle County borders several other Illinois counties. Check the courthouse address on court documents if you are not sure which county filed a civil case.