Search Will County Civil Court Records

Will County civil court records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Andrea Lynn Chasteen at the Will County courthouse in Joliet. The 12th Judicial Circuit operates an online iPublic portal that gives any member of the public access to case summaries and civil court records without a fee. Will County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Illinois, with more than 701,000 residents. Civil filings cover a wide range of case types, and most are open to the public under Illinois law.

Will County Circuit Clerk Office

Circuit Clerk Andrea Lynn Chasteen manages civil court records for Will County from the main courthouse at 100 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. The clerk's office files new cases, maintains the docket for all active civil matters, and provides copies to the public on request. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The main phone line is 815-727-8592.

Will County has additional clerk offices for specific functions. The Law Library is at the same address, reachable at 815-727-8619. The Juvenile Circuit Clerk operates separately at 3200 McDonough Street in Joliet, phone 815-730-7155. For civil court records, the main courthouse location handles most requests. The court also maintains a Jury Commission at the Jefferson Street address. The Trial Court Administrator, Roger Holland, can be reached at 14 W. Jefferson Street, Room 439, Joliet, IL 60432, phone 815-727-8540.

One important note about the clerk's role: employees of the courts in Will County are not allowed to give legal advice. If you have questions about how to file, what forms to use, or how civil law applies to your situation, contact the Will County Bar Association at 815-726-0383 or one of the legal aid organizations listed at the end of this page.

Will County Civil Court Records Online Portal

Will County uses a dedicated iPublic portal at ipublic.il12th.org for online access to civil court records. This system is run by the 12th Judicial Circuit and is separate from the statewide Judici platform. The portal's own description notes that it "contains unofficial records of the Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial Circuit, Will County, Illinois." That means the information is drawn from the clerk's case management system but is not a certified official record.

The iPublic system gives you basic case information, docket entries, and party details. You can search by case number or by party name. The portal works well for checking the status of an active civil case, confirming whether a judgment was entered, or finding a case number before you visit the courthouse. Because it pulls from an internal database, there may be a short delay before new filings show up. For the most current information on a fast-moving case, you may need to call the clerk's office directly.

The Will County iPublic portal at ipublic.il12th.org is the main online source for civil court records from the 12th Judicial Circuit. The screenshot below shows the portal's public access interface.

The iPublic portal is free to use and does not require account registration for basic case searches. Attorneys and parties may have additional access options for their own cases.

For broader statewide searches, the re:SearchIL portal at researchil.tylerhost.net may also have some Will County civil court records. However, the iPublic portal is the primary and most complete source for Will County cases. The statewide Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov has information on how the circuit court system works across all counties.

The re:SearchIL system, shown above, can supplement your search if you need to cross-reference Will County civil court records with other Illinois counties.

What Will County Civil Court Records Include

Civil court records in Will County document the full life of a case, from first filing to final judgment. The initial complaint or petition is the first document in the file. After that, the record grows with answers, motions, discovery documents, court orders, and judgments. Each filing gets its own docket entry with a timestamp. The docket is the running index of everything that has happened in a case.

A typical civil case file in Will County contains the complaint, any counterclaims filed, motions for summary judgment or dismissal, court orders at each stage, and the final order or judgment. Exhibits attached to pleadings are part of the record. If transcripts of hearings are filed, they are included too. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), the Circuit Clerk must maintain a public docket for all civil cases filed in the county.

Some records are not public. Juvenile files, sealed cases, adoption proceedings, expunged records, and anything filed under a court confidentiality order cannot be accessed through the public portal. If a case you search returns no results or shows limited information, it may be sealed. Most standard civil matters, such as contract disputes, property claims, small claims cases, and civil money judgments, are fully public and searchable through the iPublic portal.

Fees for Will County Civil Court Records

The fee schedule for civil court records in Will County follows Illinois state law under 705 ILCS 105/27.1b. The clerk may charge up to $6.00 per year searched as a search fee. For hard copy records, the cost is $6.00 per page for counties outside Cook County, and Will County falls in this category.

Certified copies cost more than plain copies because they include the clerk's official seal and signature. The per-page rate for certified copies is $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 per page for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 for each page beyond that. Call the clerk at 815-727-8592 to ask about current rates for the type of copies you need.

Electronic access to civil court records through the iPublic portal is free. As of May 1, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended the electronic access fee under Rule 313. That means you can search and view case records online without paying. Fees only apply when you request printed copies from the clerk's office in person or by mail.

Electronic Filing for Will County Civil Cases

Will County requires all civil case filings to go through the statewide eFileIL system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. This applies to both new case filings and documents added to existing civil cases. The system is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Filers must register for an account and use an approved Electronic Filing Service Provider to submit documents to the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Certain categories of filers are exempt from mandatory electronic filing. Exemptions apply to people who are incarcerated, filers with disabilities that prevent them from using the system, filers who receive a good cause waiver from the court, cases involving wills or testamentary matters, juvenile proceedings, and adoption cases. If you qualify for an exemption, you may file paper documents at the clerk's office at 100 W. Jefferson Street in Joliet. Ask the clerk's office if you have questions about whether your situation qualifies.

Legal Help for Will County Civil Matters

If you need help understanding civil court records or navigating the court system in Will County, several free and low-cost resources are available. Illinois Court Help operates a statewide phone line at (833) 411-1121, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The service handles questions in over 200 languages and is free. Their website is at ilcourthelp.gov.

The Illinois Legal Aid Online website at illinoislegalaid.org has plain-language guides on civil court procedures, including a specific article on how to get copies of court records at illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/how-get-copies-your-court-records. Illinois Legal Aid Online also runs a live chat and a referral tool to find local legal help. The Will County Bar Association at 815-726-0383 can refer you to private attorneys for civil matters. The Illinois Courts self-help page at illinoiscourts.gov/self-help/ and approved court forms at illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms/ are useful for anyone handling their own civil case.

Cities in Will County

Will County includes several large cities. Civil cases filed by residents of these cities are handled by the 12th Judicial Circuit in Joliet. The qualifying cities with populations over 50,000 are listed below. Naperville and Bolingbrook each span more than one county, but filings for the Will County portions go through the Joliet courthouse.

Other cities and towns in Will County include Romeoville, Plainfield, Lockport, Crest Hill, New Lenox, Frankfort, and Mokena. All of these use the 12th Judicial Circuit for civil case filings.

Nearby Counties

Will County shares borders with several Illinois counties. If your case involves a different county, check the courthouse location for that area before filing.