Find Civil Court Records in Lee County

Lee County civil court records are maintained at the Circuit Court in Dixon, Illinois. The 15th Judicial Circuit covers Lee County. Clerk Amy Johnson runs the office that stores and manages civil case files. You can search Lee County civil court records online for free through Judici.com, or visit the courthouse in Dixon to look at files and request copies in person.

Lee County Circuit Clerk Office

Amy Johnson serves as the Circuit Clerk of Lee County. Her office is the official keeper of all civil court records in the county. The clerk's office processes new filings, stores the official case files, and makes copies available to the public. You can reach the office at 309 S. Galena, Suite 320, in Dixon. The phone number is (815) 284-5234.

Lee County is part of the 15th Judicial Circuit, which covers north-central Illinois. If you visit the courthouse in Dixon, bring a photo ID. Staff can search for cases by name or case number and explain what documents are in the file. For older records or large copy orders, call ahead. The clerk's office cannot give legal advice but can explain how to access Lee County civil court records and what fees apply.

Search Lee County Civil Court Records Online

Judici.com is the free online tool for Lee County civil court records. Go to judici.com and pick Lee County from the list of courts. You can search by party name or case number without registering. The site shows you the case type, the filing date, and a docket with all actions in the case listed in order. No registration is required for basic lookups.

The screenshot below shows the Illinois state portal for court forms, which is one of the tools available alongside Judici.com for Lee County civil case searches and filings.

The statewide re:SearchIL tool at researchil.tylerhost.net is also free and covers Lee County. This system lets you search multiple Illinois courts at once. Both tools provide electronic docket information, which is a summary of the case. The full case documents are at the courthouse in Dixon. To get copies of documents, you must contact the clerk's office or visit in person.

What Lee County Civil Court Records Contain

Civil court records in Lee County hold everything filed during the life of a case. The initial complaint or petition is the first document. It states who is involved, what the dispute is, and what the filing party wants the court to do. The defendant's answer and any motions from either side become part of the file too. The judge's orders and the final judgment close out the record.

The docket is the index for the whole file. Each entry lists what happened, the date, and sometimes a brief note about the outcome. You can read the docket online through Judici.com and get a sense of the case without seeing the actual papers. If you need a copy of a judgment, a court order, or another specific document, you request it from the clerk's office in Dixon. Both plain and certified copies are available.

Lee County civil court records are public under 705 ILCS 105/16(6). Courts must keep records open for inspection during normal office hours. Any person can view or copy most civil records. The main exceptions are juvenile cases, adoption files, and records sealed by the judge. Social Security numbers and other private identifiers are removed from public copies.

Electronic Filing in Lee County

Civil filings in Lee County must go through the Illinois eFiling system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This is required for all civil documents. New complaints, motions, and responses all must be submitted electronically. The system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You need a registered account and must file through an approved EFSP.

Exemptions from eFiling apply to incarcerated filers, people with qualifying disabilities, will filings, juvenile cases, and adoptions. If your situation creates a hardship with eFiling, you can ask the Lee County Circuit Court for a good cause exemption. Contact the clerk's office at (815) 284-5234 or call Illinois Court Help at (833) 411-1121 for guidance.

Illinois Supreme Court approved forms for civil cases are free at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms. Download what you need, fill it out, and submit it through eFileIL.

Fees for Lee County Civil Court Records

Copy fees for Lee County civil court records are set by 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. The first page costs $2.00. Pages two through twenty are $0.50 each. Any page after twenty costs $0.25. A record search is up to $6.00 per year searched. These fees apply to copies made at the courthouse or mailed out. Certified copies carry an additional fee. Call (815) 284-5234 for the current certified copy rate.

Online searching is free. The Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Supreme Court Rule 313 effective May 1, 2025. Searching Lee County civil court records on Judici.com or re:SearchIL costs nothing. You only pay when you order paper copies from the clerk's office.

Legal Help in Lee County

If you need help with a civil case in Lee County, several free resources can point you in the right direction. The clerk's office can give you records but cannot give legal advice.

Illinois Court Help is free. Call (833) 411-1121, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The website at ilcourthelp.gov covers court procedures and connects you to local resources. Staff serve callers in over 200 languages. Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has legal guides and a referral system. Prairie State Legal Services covers the northern Illinois area, including Lee County, and provides free civil legal help to low-income residents. You can reach Prairie State through ILAO or by calling Illinois Court Help for a local referral.

Cities in Lee County

Lee County has no cities over 50,000 residents. All civil cases in the county are handled at the Circuit Court in Dixon. Communities in Lee County include Dixon, Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, and Harmon. All residents from these towns file civil court records at the Dixon courthouse.

Nearby Counties

Lee County borders several other northern Illinois counties in and around the 15th Judicial Circuit. If you are searching for a civil case and are unsure which county has it, look at the courthouse address on any paperwork you have received.