Macon County Civil Court Records Search
Macon County civil court records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk of the 6th Judicial Circuit in Decatur, Illinois. Free online access is available through Judici.com, and the clerk's office handles copy requests in person and by mail. This page covers how to search Macon County civil court records, what those files hold, how eFiling works, and what legal help is available to Macon County residents.
Macon County Quick Facts
Macon County Circuit Clerk Office
Sherry Doty serves as the Circuit Court Clerk of Macon County. Her office at 253 East Wood Street in Decatur is the official keeper of all civil court records for the 6th Judicial Circuit in Macon County. The clerk's office processes new case filings, stores official civil court records, handles copy requests, and provides public access to civil court records in Macon County. Macon County shares the 6th Judicial Circuit with Champaign County, though each county has its own clerk's office and courthouse.
Decatur is the county seat and largest city in Macon County. The circuit court handles a full range of civil cases common to mid-size Illinois cities, including contract disputes, personal injury suits, small claims, landlord-tenant matters, and foreclosures. Staff at the clerk's office can help you find a case, explain how to get copies, and refer you to legal help. They are not permitted to give legal advice. The Illinois Courts clerk directory at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/circuit-court-clerks has current contact details for the Macon County clerk's office.
| Clerk | Sherry Doty |
|---|---|
| Address | 253 East Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62523-1489 |
| Phone | (217) 424-1454 |
| Fax | (217) 424-1350 |
| Online Access | Judici.com |
Office hours follow the standard Monday through Friday schedule during business hours, excluding court holidays. Call (217) 424-1454 to confirm hours before visiting the courthouse in Decatur.
Civil Court Records Search in Macon County
Macon County civil court records are available free online through Judici.com. No account is required for basic case searches. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name. Judici provides the electronic docket for each civil case in Macon County, showing filing dates, hearing information, case events, and current status. It is the standard online access tool for the 6th Judicial Circuit in Macon County.
What Judici shows is the electronic docket, a summary of case activity. The full documents filed in a Macon County civil case are held at the clerk's office in Decatur. For copies of those documents, contact the clerk at (217) 424-1454, visit the courthouse in person, or submit a written copy request by mail. Fax requests can go to (217) 424-1350. Very recent filings may lag before appearing on Judici, so call the clerk directly for the most current status on any pending Macon County civil case.
Below is a screenshot of the Illinois Courts portal page on finding civil court records, which helps residents of Macon County and across Illinois navigate the state court system.
The statewide Illinois Courts site at illinoiscourts.gov provides links to Judici and other court resources. The re:SearchIL system at researchil.tylerhost.net covers appellate courts only; use Judici for Macon County circuit court civil records.
What Macon County Civil Court Records Contain
Civil court records in Macon County document each case from filing through resolution. The file starts with the complaint or petition, names all parties, assigns a case number, and records the filing date. Every hearing, motion, and order after that is logged in the docket. Judici shows this activity in summary form, while the full documents are at the Decatur courthouse.
Inside a Macon County civil court file you will find the original pleadings, responses and counterclaims, all motions and supporting materials, and every court order entered by the judge. Final judgments and dismissal orders are there. If a settlement was placed on the record, that document is part of the file. Court reporter transcripts for cases that went to hearing or trial can be ordered through the clerk. Certified copies of judgments are available from the clerk and are often needed for debt collection or enforcement in other courts.
Illinois law at 705 ILCS 105/16(6) requires the clerk to 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. Social Security numbers and other personal identifiers are redacted from public copies of Macon County civil court records.
Electronic Filing in Macon County
Civil filings in Macon County go through the Illinois mandatory eFiling system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This covers new cases and all documents filed in pending civil matters. The portal is available 24 hours a day. You need an account and must use an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider, known as an EFSP, to submit documents to the Macon County circuit court.
Exemptions from the eFiling requirement apply to 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 for civil cases are at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms. Fill out the PDFs and upload them through eFileIL. Call Illinois Court Help at (833) 411-1121 with any questions about eFiling in Macon County.
Fees for Macon County Civil Court Records
Fees for copies of Macon County civil court records are set by 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 made in person or by mail from the Decatur 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 Macon County civil court records online costs nothing as of that date. Certified copies carry an additional fee. Call (217) 424-1454 for the current certified copy rate before visiting the courthouse in Decatur.
Legal Help for Macon County Civil Cases
The clerk's office in Decatur maintains Macon County civil court records but cannot give legal advice. If you need help with a civil case, these resources serve Macon County.
Illinois Court Help is free for 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 6th Judicial Circuit, help you with forms, and connect you with local legal aid in the Decatur area. More than 200 languages are available through inLingo.
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has guides for civil matters common in Macon County, including landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, and contract issues. Their guide on getting copies of court records is at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. Land of Lincoln Legal Aid serves low-income residents in Macon County with civil legal matters. The Illinois Courts self-help page at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help is a good starting point for anyone handling a civil case without a lawyer in Macon County.
Cities in Macon County
Civil court records for cases filed anywhere in Macon County are handled by the 6th Judicial Circuit Court Clerk in Decatur.
Nearby Counties
Macon County borders several other Illinois counties in the central part of the state. Check court documents for the courthouse address if you need to confirm which county filed a civil case.