Madison County Civil Court Records

Madison County civil court records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Clerk office in Edwardsville, headed by Clerk Patrick McRae. The county provides a free online search portal where anyone can look up civil court records by party name or case number. Located in southwestern Illinois just east of St. Louis, Madison County has a population of more than 264,000. The Circuit Clerk office at 155 North Main Street in Edwardsville is the official source for certified copies and in-depth case file access.

Madison County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Patrick McRae oversees civil court records for Madison County from the courthouse at 155 North Main Street in Edwardsville. The clerk's office processes new case filings, maintains the civil docket, and issues certified copies on request. For questions about the court records search website, a separate tech support line is available at (800) 250-9884. The main clerk's number is (618) 692-6240.

The clerk's office is the official keeper of all civil filings in Madison County. This includes small claims cases, civil complaints, contract disputes, property matters, and all civil judgments entered by the court. The online search tool is the fastest way to find basic case information. For certified copies or complete case files, you will need to visit the courthouse in Edwardsville or send a written request by mail. Staff at the clerk's office can help guide you to the right document or record once you know the case number.

Madison County Civil Court Records Search Portal

Madison County operates its own online court records search portal at madisoncountyil.gov/departments/circuit_clerk/court_records_search.php. This portal is free and open to the public. You do not need to register or create an account to use it. Searches can be run by party name or by case number. The results show case status, docket entries, and party information for civil and other case types filed in Madison County.

One thing to know before you start: the search screen can be slow to load during high volume use. If the page takes a while to respond, try again later or call the tech support line at (800) 250-9884. The portal is separate from the statewide Judici platform and gives direct access to Madison County's own case management data. The information is updated regularly, but if you need real-time status on a case that was just filed or recently updated, calling the clerk at (618) 692-6240 may be faster.

The Madison County court records search portal, shown in the screenshot below, is available at madisoncountyil.gov/departments/circuit_clerk/court_records_search.php. This is Madison County's direct tool for looking up civil court records.

The search portal returns docket information, party names, case type, and case status for civil filings in Madison County. Results are available without a fee or account login.

The official Circuit Clerk website at madisoncountyil.gov/departments/circuit_clerk/ has links to the search portal, information on clerk services, forms, and filing procedures. The screenshot below shows the clerk's main page.

The clerk's website is the right place to start if you are new to searching Madison County civil court records and want to understand your options before using the search tool directly.

What Madison County Civil Court Records Contain

Civil court records in Madison County cover everything filed in a case from the initial complaint through the final judgment. The complaint or petition is the first document. After that, each motion, response, court order, and judgment becomes part of the case file. The docket is a running index of every event in the case. You can see who filed what, when they filed it, and what orders the judge issued at each stage.

A full case file in Madison County typically includes the complaint, any counterclaims, motions for dismissal or summary judgment, discovery orders if applicable, court orders on motions, hearing transcripts if filed, and the final judgment. Exhibits that parties attach to their pleadings also become part of the record. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), the Circuit Clerk is required to maintain a docket of all cases that is open to the public. Most civil cases filed in Madison County are part of the public record.

Some categories of records are closed by law. Juvenile cases, adoption proceedings, sealed cases, and expunged records are not available through the public portal. Confidential filings made under a court order are also restricted. If a case you search shows no results or incomplete information, it may fall into one of these categories. Standard civil matters, including debt cases, property disputes, and civil money judgments, are searchable and publicly available in Madison County.

Fees for Madison County Civil Court Records

Under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b, Madison County can charge up to $6.00 per year searched as a name search fee. For hard copy records, the rate is $6.00 per page for counties outside Cook County. Certified copies carry a rate of $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 per page for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 per page after that.

The online search portal is free to use. As of May 1, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Rule 313, making electronic access to civil court records free statewide. This applies to Madison County's online search portal. You can look up case information, check docket entries, and view case status at no charge. Fees apply only when you request printed copies from the clerk's office in Edwardsville. If you have questions about what a specific request will cost, call (618) 692-6240 or the website help line at (800) 250-9884.

Electronic Filing for Madison County Civil Cases

Madison County requires all civil case filings to go through the statewide eFileIL system, available at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This is a 24-hour system that accepts new case filings and documents filed in existing civil cases. To use it, you must register for an account and submit documents through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider. The EFSP sends your filing to the Madison County Circuit Clerk electronically.

Certain filers are exempt from mandatory electronic filing. Exemptions cover incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities that prevent them from using the system, filers who receive a good cause waiver from the court, will and testamentary filings, juvenile proceedings, and adoption cases. If you qualify, you may file paper documents directly at the clerk's office at 155 North Main Street in Edwardsville. The clerk's staff can help you determine whether an exemption applies to your situation.

Legal Help for Madison County Civil Cases

Illinois Court Help operates a free statewide phone line at (833) 411-1121, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The service provides guidance on court procedures in more than 200 languages and can help Madison County residents understand how to find and request civil court records. Their website is at ilcourthelp.gov. This is a good first call if you are unsure how to start a civil court records search in Edwardsville.

Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org has free written guides on court topics. Their article on court record copies is at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. Land of Lincoln Legal Aid serves the Madison County area and can help low-income residents with civil legal matters at little or no cost. Illinois Courts self-help resources are at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help/, and approved court forms are posted at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/.

Cities in Madison County

Madison County does not have any cities with a population over 50,000. The largest cities are Alton, Granite City, Edwardsville, Collinsville, and Wood River. All civil cases for residents of Madison County cities and towns are filed at the Circuit Clerk office in Edwardsville.

Cities in Madison County include Alton, Granite City, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Wood River, Maryville, Troy, Glen Carbon, Highland, and Pontoon Beach, among others. None of these cities currently exceed the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page.

Nearby Counties

Madison County is in southwestern Illinois and shares borders with several other counties. If you need civil court records from a neighboring county, each has its own Circuit Clerk office and search tools.