Adams County Court Records

Adams County court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk office in Quincy, Illinois. The 8th Judicial Circuit handles all case filings for Adams County, covering civil suits, criminal charges, traffic violations, family law matters, and probate cases. Whether you need a case number, a copy of a judgment, or a full file review, the Circuit Clerk is your starting point. This guide covers how to search Adams County court records, what you can find, and where to go for help.

Adams County Circuit Clerk Office

The Adams County Circuit Clerk keeps the official court records for all cases filed in the county. The office is in the courthouse in Quincy. Clerk Lori Geschwandner and her staff handle filings, record requests, and copy services. Court records in Adams County are public under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), which means most case files are open to the public without any special showing of need.

The clerk office accepts in-person requests during regular business hours. You can ask for case searches by name or case number. Staff can pull civil, criminal, traffic, and family records. If the record you need is older or archived, it may take longer to retrieve. Call ahead for archived files so staff can have them ready when you arrive.

Searching Adams County Court Records Online

Adams County is one of 82 Illinois counties served by Judici.com, a free online case search tool. You can search Adams County court records by party name, attorney name, or case number. Results show case type, filing date, parties, and upcoming court dates. Judici works for civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases. It does not show every document in the file, but it gives you enough to identify the case and confirm basic facts.

For appellate-level records, re:SearchIL provides free remote access to Illinois Supreme Court and appellate court cases filed on or after April 1, 2025. This platform has been free since May 2025 and covers all five appellate districts. If your Adams County case was appealed, you may find it there. The Illinois Courts interactive map can help you confirm which court handled a specific matter.

If you cannot find what you need online, contact the Adams County Circuit Clerk directly at (217) 277-2100. Staff can run a name search over the phone for basic case info. For full copies or certified records, an in-person visit or written request is needed.

Types of Court Records in Adams County

The Adams County Circuit Court handles a wide range of cases. Each case type generates its own set of records, all filed with the Circuit Clerk. Civil cases cover disputes between individuals or businesses, including contract claims, personal injury suits, and small claims. Small claims are capped at $10,000 in Illinois and go through a faster process. Criminal cases include both misdemeanors, handled at the county level, and felonies, which involve grand jury proceedings and circuit court trials. All of these records are generally public once filed.

Family court records in Adams County cover divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and guardianship. Many family records are public, but adoption records and proceedings involving minors may be sealed. Traffic cases are also filed with the Circuit Clerk and include citations for moving violations, DUI charges, and license suspensions. Probate records deal with estates, wills, and the appointment of guardians for adults who cannot care for themselves. All of these case types can be found in the Adams County court record system.

Juvenile records are not public in Illinois. If a case involves a minor as a defendant, that file is sealed by law and cannot be accessed through normal public record requests.

Getting Copies of Adams County Court Records

You can get copies of Adams County court records in person at the Circuit Clerk's office on Vermont Street in Quincy. Bring the case number or the name of the party you are looking for. Staff will locate the file and make copies. Standard copies cost a set fee per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal, cost more and are often needed for legal purposes like proving a conviction or showing a divorce decree.

If you cannot visit in person, you may send a written request by mail to the Adams County Circuit Clerk at 521 Vermont Street, Quincy, IL 62301. Include the case number or party names, the specific documents you need, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Call ahead at (217) 277-2100 to confirm the current fee per page before you mail your request. Processing time for mailed requests varies.

Electronic filing is available in Adams County through eFileIL, the statewide e-filing system. Attorneys and self-represented litigants can file documents online through one of 17 certified electronic filing service providers. This does not apply to record requests, but if you are a party to a pending case, you may be able to access filed documents through your EFSP account.

Under 5 ILCS 140/, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, you can submit a formal FOIA request to the Circuit Clerk's office if you believe records are being withheld. The clerk must respond within five business days. Most court records are public and don't require a FOIA request, but the option exists if you run into issues.

Adams County Court Records and the 8th Circuit

Adams County is part of the 8th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. This circuit also covers Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler counties. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse. Cases are heard by circuit judges who rotate among these counties. Understanding the circuit structure can help if you are tracking a case that spans multiple counties or if a change of venue was ordered in an Adams County matter.

The circuit court in Quincy handles the full range of cases for Adams County. Judges sit at the Adams County Courthouse on Vermont Street. For case scheduling, continuances, and hearing dates, contact the Circuit Clerk at (217) 277-2100. Court calendars are sometimes posted online through Judici, so check there first before calling.

Legal Help for Adams County Cases

If you need help understanding court records or navigating the court system, several free resources are available. Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) offers plain-language guides on civil, family, and criminal law. You can also use their document builder to create court forms. The site is free and available 24 hours a day.

Illinois Court Help operates a free phone line at (833) 411-1121, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff can answer questions about how to find records, what forms to use, and what to expect at a court hearing. They do not give legal advice, but they can point you in the right direction for Adams County matters. Court forms for most case types are also available free at the Illinois Courts forms page.

The Illinois Courts Self-Help page has resources for people who are representing themselves. It covers common procedures for civil, family, and small claims cases, including what documents to bring and how to present your case.

The Illinois State Records Act at 5 ILCS 160/ governs how long court records are kept. Most civil case records are retained for years, and some are kept permanently. This law ensures that records are not destroyed arbitrarily and that you can access older Adams County court records even years after the case closed.

Adams County Court Records: Online Resources

The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov is the official source for statewide court information. It lists contact info for every circuit clerk, has links to court forms, and explains the structure of the Illinois court system. For Adams County specifically, the court falls under the 8th Circuit administrative structure.

The lead-in image below shows the Judici case search interface, which Adams County uses for online public access to case information.

Judici is free to use and updated regularly. Search by last name to pull up a list of matching cases in Adams County.

Cities in Adams County

All cities in Adams County file court cases through the Adams County Circuit Court in Quincy. The Circuit Clerk's office on Vermont Street handles filings from the entire county.

Quincy is the county seat and largest city in Adams County, with a population of about 39,000. Other communities in Adams County include Mendon, Clayton, Camp Point, Liberty, and Golden. None of these cities exceed the 100,000 resident threshold for dedicated city pages on this site.

Nearby Illinois Counties

These counties border Adams County. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse handling local court records.