Find Civil Court Records in McDonough County
McDonough County civil court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk's office in Macomb and are accessible through the Judici.com online search portal. The 9th Judicial Circuit serves McDonough County and handles all civil matters filed there, from small claims and money judgments to domestic relations and chancery cases. This guide covers how to search, what you will find, how to get copies, and where to get legal help.
McDonough County Quick Facts
McDonough County Circuit Clerk
Ian Fischer serves as the Circuit Clerk for McDonough County. His office is at Number 1 Courthouse Square in Macomb. The clerk maintains all civil court records filed in the county, processes filings, stores the official case files, and provides copies to the public. If you need to request documents or check on the status of a civil case in McDonough County, the clerk's office is where to start.
The courthouse is in Macomb, which is the county seat. Office hours run Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Staff can look up cases for you, explain what documents are on file, and help you understand the copy request process. They cannot give legal advice. That includes explaining what your civil court records mean for your legal situation or telling you how to proceed with a case.
| Clerk | Ian Fischer |
|---|---|
| Address | #1 Courthouse Square, Macomb, Illinois 61455-0348 |
| Phone | (309) 837-4889 |
| Fax | (309) 833-4493 |
| Online Access | Judici.com |
McDonough County Civil Court Records Search
The main tool for searching McDonough County civil court records online is Judici.com. This platform covers McDonough County along with many other Illinois counties. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name at no charge. The results show the case type, parties involved, filing date, and a docket listing of events in the case.
The screenshot below shows the Judici platform used for McDonough County civil court records searches.
Judici shows docket entries, not the actual case documents. If you need to read a specific filing or get a copy of a judgment, contact the clerk at (309) 837-4889. The statewide re:SearchIL database also covers McDonough County and is another free way to search across multiple Illinois courts at once. The Illinois Courts homepage at illinoiscourts.gov has links to both tools.
What McDonough County Civil Court Records Contain
A civil court record in McDonough County includes the case file and its docket. The case file holds the original complaint or petition, responses from the other side, motions filed by either party, and any court orders or judgments signed by the judge. The docket is a chronological log of everything that has happened in the case, from the first filing date through the most recent hearing or order.
What you can get from the clerk depends on what is in the file. Plain copies show the text of a document but are not officially certified. Certified copies carry the clerk's seal and signature, which makes them acceptable for legal and financial transactions. Both types are available on request. The fee is different for each, so ask the clerk when you call.
Some records are sealed. Adoption files, juvenile matters, and cases placed under a court seal are not available to the public. Personal data like Social Security numbers and bank account information is redacted. For everything else, Illinois law under 705 ILCS 105/16(6) requires that civil court records be open to the public during office hours.
Electronic Filing in McDonough County
Illinois requires all civil case filings in McDonough County to go through eFileIL at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This system is open 24 hours a day. You register for an account and then file through an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider, known as an EFSP. The eFiling requirement applies to new case filings, motions, and most other documents submitted to the court.
Exemptions are available in certain situations. People who are incarcerated cannot be required to efile. Individuals with disabilities that prevent electronic filing may be exempt. Will filings, juvenile cases, and adoption matters are also exempt. You can request an exemption for good cause if none of those categories apply. The clerk's office can point you to the right procedure if you are not sure how to proceed. Approved court forms are at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms.
Copy Fees for McDonough County Civil Court Records
Copy fees in McDonough County follow the schedule in 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. The first page of a copy costs $2.00. Pages two through twenty are $0.50 each. Pages after twenty drop to $0.25 each. A record search costs $6.00 per year searched. These rates apply to plain copies requested in person or by mail.
Certified copies cost more. Call the clerk at (309) 837-4889 to get the current certified copy rate before you visit. Online access through Judici and re:SearchIL is free since the Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Rule 313, effective May 1, 2025. You pay nothing to search McDonough County civil court records online.
Legal Help in McDonough County
Getting copies of civil court records is something the clerk's office can help you with. But understanding what those records mean, or figuring out how to handle a civil case, is a different matter. For that, free and low-cost help is available.
Illinois Court Help at ilcourthelp.gov is a free statewide service. Call (833) 411-1121, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff can help you understand civil court procedures, assist with forms, and refer you to local resources. They speak more than 200 languages. This is not a law firm, but it is one of the most useful free resources for people dealing with civil cases in Illinois.
Illinois Legal Aid Online at illinoislegalaid.org offers guides, self-help tools, and referrals to local legal aid groups. Their guide on getting copies of court records is at this page. The self-help resources at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help are also useful for people handling their own civil matters in McDonough County without an attorney.
Cities in McDonough County
All civil court filings for McDonough County residents go to the Circuit Clerk's office in Macomb. Towns in the county include Macomb, Bushnell, Colchester, Blandinsville, Industry, Sciota, Bardolph, and Tennessee. None of these communities exceed 50,000 in population, so all civil cases are handled at the single courthouse in Macomb.
Nearby Counties
McDonough County is in west-central Illinois. If you need to check whether a case was filed here or in a neighboring county, look at the courthouse address on any documents you have.