Search Alexander County Court Records

Alexander County court records are filed and maintained at the Circuit Clerk's office in Cairo, the county seat. Part of the 1st Judicial Circuit, Alexander County is the southernmost county in Illinois, sitting where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi. Court filings here cover civil disputes, criminal cases, traffic violations, family law, and probate matters. This page explains how to access Alexander County court records, what the records contain, and where to get help if you need it.

Alexander County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk for Alexander County is Carey Simmons. The office is located at 2000 Washington Avenue in Cairo. This is where all court filings are accepted and all case records are stored. Clerk Simmons handles everything from civil case filings to certified copy requests. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), all circuit clerk records in Illinois are public records, meaning anyone can request access to Alexander County court files without giving a reason.

Alexander County does not have a dedicated circuit clerk website. All records requests must be made in person or by phone. The office is small, and staff can often assist you quickly if you have a case number or party name ready. If you are looking for older records, call ahead to confirm availability before making the trip to Cairo.

How to Find Alexander County Court Records

Alexander County is among the Illinois counties covered by Judici.com, which gives free online access to case information for 82 of Illinois's 102 counties. You can search by party name or case number to find civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases filed in Alexander County. Judici shows case status, hearing dates, and parties. It does not provide full document images, but it is a good first step to confirm a case exists and get the case number before contacting the clerk.

For appellate matters, re:SearchIL offers free access to Illinois Supreme Court and appellate court records for cases filed on or after April 1, 2025. If a case from Alexander County was appealed to the 5th Appellate District, you may find it there at no cost. The platform has been free since May 2025.

In-person searches remain the most reliable method for Alexander County records. Staff can search by name or case number and pull paper files. Bring a valid ID when you visit. For complex searches across multiple years, calling ahead at (618) 734-0107 is recommended.

Court Record Types in Alexander County

Alexander County's Circuit Court handles all case types that fall within the 1st Judicial Circuit. The 1st Circuit covers nine counties in far southern Illinois, including Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, and Williamson alongside Alexander. Each county keeps its own records, so Alexander County cases are filed and stored in Cairo.

Civil cases in Alexander County include small claims (under $10,000), law cases (above that threshold), and chancery cases like mortgage foreclosures and injunctions. Criminal records include both felony and misdemeanor charges. Felony cases go through the full circuit court process. Misdemeanor cases may be resolved more quickly. Traffic cases, which include DUI, license violations, and basic citations, are also part of the public record. Family law matters handled in Alexander County include divorce, child custody, child support, and orders of protection. Probate cases deal with estates, wills, and guardianship appointments.

Sealed records are not public. Juvenile cases, adoption files, and records sealed by court order cannot be accessed through a standard records request in Alexander County.

Getting Copies and Certified Documents

Standard copies of court records in Alexander County are available in person at the clerk's office on Washington Avenue in Cairo. The fee per page is set by the clerk and may vary. Certified copies carry the clerk's official seal and are often needed for legal matters like proving a conviction, verifying a divorce, or presenting evidence in another court. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Ask the clerk about current fees when you call or visit.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the Alexander County Circuit Clerk at 2000 Washington, Cairo, IL 62914. Include the full name of the parties, the approximate year the case was filed, any case number you have, and a list of the documents you need. Send a money order for the estimated copy fees or call first to confirm the amount. The clerk will mail the copies once your request is processed.

The Illinois State Records Act at 5 ILCS 160/ sets rules on how long records are retained. Even closed cases are kept for years, so older Alexander County records should still be available on request.

Alexander County and the 1st Judicial Circuit

The 1st Judicial Circuit is one of the largest circuits in Illinois by land area, covering the far southern tip of the state. Alexander County sits at the very bottom, where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet. Circuit judges from across the 1st Circuit rotate through Alexander County's courthouse in Cairo. This means the judge hearing your case may not be based in Cairo, but all records stay at the Alexander County clerk's office.

The Illinois Courts website lists all circuit judges and their assigned counties. The Illinois Courts interactive map shows how to find the court that serves your area. For Alexander County, the courthouse in Cairo is the only court location in the county.

The Illinois Courts site is the official source for statewide court information, including clerk contact details for Alexander County.

Legal Help for Alexander County Residents

Free legal resources are available for people in Alexander County. Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free guides and document tools for civil, family, and housing cases. The site covers the legal issues most common in small, rural counties like Alexander. You can build court forms, read plain-language explanations of the law, and find local legal aid contacts.

Illinois Court Help runs a free phone line at (833) 411-1121, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff can walk you through how to find Alexander County court records, how to file a document, or what to expect at a hearing. They do not give legal advice, but they can explain the process clearly. Standard court forms are free at the Illinois Courts forms page.

If you believe a record is being improperly withheld, you can file a request under 5 ILCS 140/, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The clerk's office must respond within five business days. Most court records in Alexander County are already public, so FOIA requests are rarely needed for standard case access.

Illinois Court Help and Court Forms

The image below shows the Illinois Court Help portal, which serves all 102 counties including Alexander County.

Illinois Court Help is free. Call (833) 411-1121 on weekdays during business hours for live assistance with Alexander County court matters.

Cities in Alexander County

All municipalities in Alexander County file court cases through the Circuit Clerk's office in Cairo. There is one court location serving the entire county.

Cairo is the county seat and largest city in Alexander County. Other communities in the county include Mounds, Ullin, Thebes, and Tamms. None of these communities exceed the 100,000 population threshold for individual city pages on this site.

Nearby Illinois Counties

Alexander County borders these counties in far southern Illinois, each with its own circuit clerk and court records system.