Tazewell County, Illinois State Court Records

A lawsuit may be filed by anyone who is seeking justice or a legal resolution of a dispute. Court records are case files and documents created by the court system during judicial proceedings (lawsuits) in the Tazewell County Courts. These documents, which serve as an official memory of the case, are filed by the Tazewell County Clerk of the Circuit Court. This office is responsible for maintaining all case files arising from the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Tazewell County.

Court records include a wide range of legal documents from civil filings, criminal prosecutions, probate proceedings, family law matters, and traffic violations. These records often connect to other public documents, such as the arrest records maintained by the Tazewell County Sheriff's Office, and the vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates) held by the Tazewell County Clerk's Office, to provide a more comprehensive narrative of a legal matter.

Are Tazewell County Court Records Public?

Yes. Open access to records held by public officials, which also include court files, is backed up by two state laws:

• Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1) requires all public bodies, including county courts and agencies, to make records available upon request within 5 business days.
• Supreme Court Rule 8 specifically establishes the public right to inspect records maintained by court clerks.

Pursuant to these laws, members of the public may inspect and procure copies of court records without needing to state a reason for their request. The right extends equally to Illinois residents and non-residents alike.

Nevertheless, certain documents and case types, such as juvenile cases, adoption files, mental health reports, cases involving victims of sexual assault, and sealed/expunged orders, are generally restricted from public view.

What Information is Available in Tazewell County Court Records?

Common data found in Tazewell County court records includes

• Case number
• Filing date
• Legal names of parties involved (petitioner/respondent, plaintiff/defendant)
• Specific case type
• Docket entries
• Court hearings
• Motions & pleas
• Bond and bail information
• Sentences
• Judgments & orders

Tazewell County Court Records Search

Interested persons can look up Tazewell County court records through several channels, including online, in person, by mail, or by phone. Each method offers different levels of access, and the best approach may depend on the type of case being requested.

Online Access

The Illinois Court System's re:SearchIL is the primary digital platform with which users can access court records maintained by the Circuit Clerks' offices across the state. The Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Online Court Records Portal also allows individuals to search case files by name without registration for basic public searches. Remote access differs by case type. Following the Illinois Supreme Court Remote Access Policy, juvenile records, sealed cases, and certain family matters are not accessible remotely and must be requested in person from the appropriate authority.

In-Person Access

To view court records in person, interested persons may visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at the Tazewell County Courthouse, where requesters have free access to public terminals. At the courthouse, court staff often assist requesters in locating the specific document they seek.

Cases filed before 1989 are stored in microfilm format and can be obtained from the Microfilm Department, located in Room 204(a) of the courthouse.

Mail and Phone Requests

Court records can also be sourced via mail request. To submit a mail request, requesters must indicate in writing the specific documents they need and provide the necessary search criteria, such as case number, party names, and the record's format. This request should be accompanied by a certified/personal check or money order, made payable to the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk, for the applicable fees. Cash payments are not accepted via mail.

The processing time for mail requests ranges from a few business days to two weeks, depending on request volume and pending orders.

For phone inquiries, one may contact the relevant county court division. Staff can provide general guidance by phone, but copies of records cannot be transmitted over the phone.

Fees for Court Records in Tazewell County

In-person inspection of records at the courthouse is often available at no cost. All costs associated with obtaining court records are not charged for access to the information itself, but rather, for the cost of reproducing, printing, and certifying the requested documents. Acceptable methods of payment vary by department. In-person payments may include cash, check, or credit/debit card. Mail request requires a certified check, a personal check, or a money order.

The following fee schedule applies to copies of court records in Tazewell County:

• Each hardcopy printout: $6 per page
• Certified copy (authentication fee): $6 per document, in addition to the per-page copy fee
• Search fee: $6 per year searched
• Photocopies: $2 for the first page, 50 cents per page for the next 19 pages; all remaining copies are charged at 25 cents per page.

Interested persons may call (309) 477-2217 for information on the applicable fees for obtaining microfilm records created before 1989.

Tazewell County Courthouse Locations

Tazewell County is served by one main courthouse that houses all divisions of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court, including civil, probate, criminal, family, traffic, and juvenile divisions in a single facility. The courthouse is located in the county seat of Pekin.

Tazewell County Courthouse

342 Court Street

Pekin, IL 61554

Phone: (309) 477-2214

Fax: (309) 353-7801

Criminal Records Access in Tazewell County

Criminal court files maintained by county courts are different from official criminal history records managed by the state.

Statewide criminal history checks in Illinois are handled by the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Identification pursuant to 20 ILCS 2635/1. The Uniform Conviction Information Act (UCIA) mandates that criminal conviction information be released to anyone upon request. Criminal history checks through the ISP are performed via two methods:

• Fingerprint-BasedCheck: A standard fingerprint of the named individual is required to perform a criminal history background check. Requesters are required to submit fingerprints electronically to the ISP through licensed fingerprint vendors, who then forward them to the ISP for processing.
• Name-Based Check: This method is performed online through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP), which requires a digital certificate/ID to register and submit a name inquiry.

For local case-level records, which relate to individual case filings, the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Office remains the primary custodian. These records are accessible through the Illinois Court System's re:SearchIL or the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Online Court Records Portal, by mail request, or by in-person visits to the courthouse.

Tazewell County Probate Records

Tazewell County probate records are official documents generated when a deceased person's estate is administered, debts are settled, and assets are distributed to heirs & beneficiaries. Probate cases are heard in the probate division of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court, and the records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Common types of probate records in Tazewell County include

• Wills and testaments
• Intestate estate administration files (estates without a will)
• Guardianship orders (for minors or incapacitated adults)
• Conservatorship reports
• Petitions for letters of administration
• Inventories and appraisals of assets.

Recent Tazewell County probate filings are generally accessible and can be searched via the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Online Court Records Portal. Older cases or archived records usually require an in-person visit to the Circuit Clerk's probate division.

Some probate documents are restricted by court orders and, therefore, withheld from public disclosure. These include sealed cases, guardianship proceedings, or confidential mental health evaluations.

Tazewell County Family Court Records

Family law cases in Tazewell County are adjudicated by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court. These cases include dissolution of marriage (divorce), child custody & visitation, child support, protection orders, and paternity. The Circuit Clerk's Office serves as the custodian of all family court records in Tazewell County.

While many family court records are technically public, certain sensitive files, for example, records involving minors and active orders of protection, are restricted by statute. Typically, parties involved in a case and their attorneys have full access to their case files, while third-party access is often limited to confidential cases.

Options for accessing Tazewell County family court records include

• Tazewell County Circuit Clerk's Online Court Records Portal: Search by case number or party name. Users should note that some family matters may be restricted under the state's Remote Access Policy.
• In Person: Requesters may visit the Circuit Clerk's Office at the county courthouse during business hours.

Certified copies of family court records cost a $6 certification fee per document and can be requested in person or by mail. Mail requests should be accompanied by a certified check or money order.

Federal Court Records in Tazewell County

All federal court records are managed separately from state and county court records. Federal criminal prosecutions, civil rights claims, immigration matters, and bankruptcy proceedings are heard by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, which has jurisdiction over Tazewell County.

Federal court records are not maintained by the Tazewell County Circuit Clerk. Instead, they are held by the Clerk of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois and are primarily accessible through the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system. PACER allows registered users to search and retrieve documents from federal civil (from 1989), criminal (from 1992), and bankruptcy cases. Registration is free; however, a per-page fee of 10 cents applies for accessing documents. Fees are waived for PACER users who accrue less than $30 in a quarter.