Access Champaign County Court Records
Champaign County court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk's office in Urbana and cover all cases heard within the 6th Judicial Circuit. The office handles civil suits, criminal cases, traffic matters, and family law filings for the county. Records can be searched online through the clerk's website or Judici, and copies can be requested in person, by mail, or by phone. This guide explains how to find and access court records in Champaign County.
Champaign County Quick Facts
Circuit Clerk Office
Susan McGrath is the Champaign County Circuit Clerk. The office is located at 101 East Main Street in Urbana. As one of the larger circuit clerk offices in downstate Illinois, it handles a high volume of filings and requests each year. Staff process copy requests, case lookups, and in-person file review. The office also accepts electronic filings through the statewide eFileIL system.
| Circuit Clerk | Susan McGrath |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801 |
| Phone | (217) 384-3725 |
| Fax | (217) 384-3879 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | champaigncircuitclerk.org |
The Champaign County Circuit Clerk website, pictured below, is the starting point for local court record requests.
The clerk's office in Urbana handles all circuit court filings for the county.
Online Case Search
Champaign County offers online case search through both the clerk's own website and the statewide Judici platform. Judici is free and covers 82 Illinois counties. You can search by party name or case number and view civil, criminal, traffic, and family case details including filing dates, hearing schedules, and dispositions. The clerk's website may offer additional local search features or direct integration with Judici.
Illinois launched re:SearchIL in May 2025 as a free statewide portal for appellate documents and circuit court cases filed on or after April 1, 2025. For cases filed before that date, Judici or a direct request to the clerk's office is the way to go. Attorneys and self-represented parties submit electronic filings through eFileIL, which covers all 102 Illinois counties.
Champaign County is a busy circuit with filings from both Champaign and Urbana, as well as other communities in the county. High case volume means that online searches save time compared to in-person visits for basic status checks.
Types of Court Records
The Champaign County Circuit Clerk maintains records for all case types that come through the circuit court. Civil cases include small claims matters, contract disputes, personal injury suits, and evictions. The county handles a large number of civil filings given its population and the presence of the University of Illinois. Criminal records document both misdemeanor and felony charges filed by the state's attorney.
Traffic records are among the most requested case types and include citations, DUI charges, and license-related matters. Family law files cover divorces, parentage cases, custody and support orders, and adoptions. Probate records handle will proceedings, estate administration, and guardianships. Records for juvenile cases, sealed files, and matters subject to protective orders are restricted under Illinois law and not available to the public. The clerk's office can tell you whether a specific file is accessible.
Getting Copies of Records
Copies can be requested in person at 101 East Main Street in Urbana, by phone at (217) 384-3725, or by mail to the same address. In-person requests are usually the fastest. Bring the case name and number if you have them. The clerk can also search by party name. Fees apply to copies. Certified copies are more expensive than plain copies but are required for legal use in another court or government agency.
For mail requests, include the case details, your contact information, and payment by check or money order. Check the clerk's website or call ahead to confirm the current fee schedule before mailing. Processing times vary based on office workload, but mail requests generally take at least a few business days. Fax inquiries can be sent to (217) 384-3879. The clerk's website may also have an online request form for some record types.
Legal Framework
Public access to Champaign County court records is grounded in 705 ILCS 105/16(6), which establishes that circuit court records are open to the public by default. Courts can restrict access through sealing orders, but those are the exception rather than the rule. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140/ covers administrative records maintained by the clerk's office and applies to requests for non-case documents.
Champaign County is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit of the Illinois Courts system. The 6th Circuit serves east-central Illinois. Judge assignments and current court locations are listed on the Illinois Courts interactive directory. Free forms for self-represented parties are available through the Illinois Courts forms library.
Legal Help
Several free resources are available for Champaign County residents. Illinois Legal Aid Online provides plain-language guides and self-help tools for divorce, eviction, small claims, debt, and many other issues. The site is free, available at any time, and does not require an appointment.
The Illinois Court Help line at (833) 411-1121 is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff help with procedural questions, form identification, and general guidance about court processes. This is not legal representation. For that, residents can contact Champaign County's local legal aid office or find a private attorney through a referral service. Law school clinics at the University of Illinois are another potential resource for free or low-cost legal assistance.
Cities in Champaign County
Champaign County includes two large cities with dedicated court records pages. Champaign is the county's largest city and a major center for court filings. Urbana serves as the county seat. Other communities in the county include Savoy, Rantoul, and Mahomet, all of which fall below the 50,000 threshold and do not have separate pages. All residents in the county use the same circuit clerk office in Urbana.