Find Champaign Court Records

Champaign court records are handled by the Champaign County Circuit Clerk, the official filing office for all 6th Judicial Circuit cases. Although Champaign is the larger city, the courthouse is located in Urbana, the county seat, just a few miles away. All civil, criminal, and family cases for Champaign residents are filed there. You can search records online, by mail, or by visiting the clerk's office on East Main Street in Urbana.

Champaign County Circuit Clerk

Susan McGrath is the Champaign County Circuit Clerk. Her office keeps all official court records for the county, including every case filed in Champaign. The courthouse is in Urbana, about two miles east of downtown Champaign. Visiting in person is straightforward. The clerk's office is on East Main Street and handles walk-in requests during regular business hours.

The courthouse is in Urbana, not Champaign. If you are driving from Champaign, take University Avenue east to downtown Urbana. The building is on the main square. Street parking and a nearby garage are available.

Search Champaign Court Records Online

The Champaign County Circuit Clerk runs its own online records portal. This is the most direct way to search for Champaign cases without visiting the courthouse.

The circuit clerk's website offers case lookups by name, case number, and filing date. You can see case status, docket entries, and party information for most public case types. The site is updated regularly and reflects current case activity.

The image below shows the Champaign County Circuit Clerk's website, which provides online access to court records for Champaign residents and anyone with a case interest in the county.

Go to champaigncircuitclerk.org to search Champaign County court records by name or case number.

The Champaign County Circuit Clerk's portal is a good starting point for case searches. It covers civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases filed in the county.

Judici also covers Champaign County. At Judici, you can search by name or case number and view case status and filing information for free. No account is needed.

re:SearchIL provides statewide access. Use it at re:SearchIL when you are not sure which county handled a case. It covers all 102 Illinois counties, including Champaign. For electronic filers, eFileIL allows you to check status and retrieve submitted documents after logging in.

Types of Cases Filed in Champaign

The 6th Judicial Circuit Court handles all major case types for Champaign County. Here is a breakdown of what falls under circuit court jurisdiction and what public access looks like for each type.

Civil Cases

Civil records include lawsuits, contract disputes, landlord-tenant cases, and small claims. Small claims cap at $10,000. These records are public. You can view the complaint, responses, court orders, and final judgment. The docket entry log shows every step in the case from filing to resolution.

Criminal Cases

Criminal records cover felony and misdemeanor cases. The file includes the charging document, arrest record if attached, court appearances, plea or trial records, and sentencing. Public access is the default for most criminal cases. Expunged records are removed. Sealed records require a court order to view.

Family Law Cases

Family court handles divorce, child custody and support, paternity, adoption, and orders of protection. Some family records are sealed by law to protect minors. You may need to show a legitimate interest or obtain a court order to view certain documents in these files.

Traffic Cases

Traffic citations and DUI charges go through the circuit court. These records are public and searchable. They are commonly requested for driver's license reinstatement, employment background checks, and insurance rate reviews. Search by name and date of birth or use a case number.

Probate Cases

Probate records include wills filed for probate, estate inventories, account filings, and guardianship orders. These are public records. Search by the name of the deceased. Older records may be in paper archives and require extra time to retrieve.

How to Get Copies of Champaign Court Records

In person, go to 101 East Main Street in Urbana during business hours. Tell the clerk what you need. Standard copy fees apply per page. Certified copies cost more and carry the court's official seal. Certified copies are required when you need to submit the document somewhere official, like a government agency or another court.

Mail requests go to Susan McGrath, Champaign County Circuit Clerk, 101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801. Include the full names of the parties, the case number if known, and the type of record you need. Send a check or money order for the copy fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow one to two weeks for a response.

For administrative government records not covered by court files, Illinois FOIA under 5 ILCS 140 provides a separate request process. The clerk's office can tell you which process applies to your specific request.

University of Illinois and Local Court Activity

Champaign is home to a large university community. This means the court handles a higher-than-average volume of cases involving young adults, including traffic violations, misdemeanor offenses, and civil disputes involving rental housing. The circuit clerk processes all of these through the same system. If you are a student or parent looking up a case related to the university area, use the name-based search on Judici or the circuit clerk's own portal.

Champaign also sits close to Urbana, and the two cities share the same court system. Cases from both cities go to the same courthouse. There is no separate Champaign court and Urbana court. It is all one system under the 6th Judicial Circuit.

Legal Help in Champaign

Illinois Legal Aid Online at ILAO covers many topics relevant to Champaign residents. You can find guides on tenant rights, family law, traffic records, and how to read court documents. The site is free and available around the clock.

Illinois Court Help is available by phone at (833) 411-1121 or online at Illinois Court Help. Staff help with forms, procedures, and finding the right court for your matter. The service is free and not limited to low-income users.

Common court forms are posted at the Illinois Courts forms page. Download forms for small claims, name changes, orders of protection, and many other case types at no cost.

Public Access and Privacy

Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), most Champaign County court records are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case to access public records. Anyone can request them. Restrictions apply to sealed records, juvenile delinquency cases, adoption files, and certain mental health proceedings. If a record has been expunged, it is removed entirely and the clerk cannot confirm it existed.

Nearby Illinois Cities

These cities also use Illinois circuit courts for all case filings.