Clark County Court Records
Clark County court records are filed with the Circuit Clerk's office in Marshall and cover all cases within the 5th Judicial Circuit. The office manages civil, criminal, traffic, and family law records for the county. Records can be searched online through Judici or requested directly from the clerk's office in Marshall by phone, mail, or in-person visit. This page covers the key ways to find and access Clark County court records.
Clark County Quick Facts
Circuit Clerk Office
Ami Shaw is the Clark County Circuit Clerk. The office accepts mail at P.O. Box 187 in Marshall. In-person visits go to the courthouse in Marshall, the county seat. The clerk's staff handle all public record requests, copy orders, and case lookups. The office uses a county website for some public information, though the site may not always load reliably; phone contact is often the faster option.
| Circuit Clerk | Ami Shaw |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 187, Marshall, IL 62441 |
| Phone | (217) 826-2811 |
| Fax | (217) 826-1391 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Marshall sits in east-central Illinois near the Indiana border. If you are coming from outside the area, call ahead to confirm that the record you need is ready for review. Older files may take time to retrieve from storage.
Online Case Search
Clark County is included in the Judici platform, the free statewide case search tool used by 82 Illinois counties. You can look up Clark County cases by party name or case number and view civil, criminal, traffic, and family case details without a courthouse visit. Information available includes case type, hearing dates, judge assignments, and final dispositions.
The Judici platform provides free online access to Clark County court records, as shown below.
Search by party name or case number to find civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases.
Illinois also runs re:SearchIL, a free portal launched in May 2025 for appellate documents and circuit court cases filed on or after April 1, 2025. For older records or certified copies, the clerk's office in Marshall is the right contact. All electronic court filings in Illinois go through eFileIL, the mandatory statewide e-filing system.
Types of Court Records
The Clark County Circuit Clerk maintains records for all case types heard in the circuit court. Civil cases include small claims actions (under $10,000), contract disputes, and civil suits involving money or property. Criminal records document both misdemeanor and felony charges filed in Clark County. Traffic cases are among the most commonly requested record types and include speeding citations, DUI charges, and driving-while-suspended matters.
Family law records cover divorce and legal separation filings, parentage cases, child custody and support orders, and adoption proceedings. Probate records document estate administration, will contests, and guardianship matters. Not all files are public. Juvenile cases, sealed records, and files under active court-ordered restrictions are not available to the general public. The clerk can tell you whether a specific file is open before you make a copy request.
Getting Copies of Records
You can request copies in person at the Clark County courthouse in Marshall during business hours. Bring the case name and number if you have them. If not, the clerk can search by party name. Fees apply to copy orders. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but are needed for legal use in other courts or government offices. Payment at the courthouse is typically by cash or check.
Mail requests go to P.O. Box 187, Marshall, IL 62441. Include the case name, case number if known, your return address, and payment by check or money order. Call (217) 826-2811 before mailing to confirm the current fee for your request type, since fees can vary by page count and copy type. Processing time for mail requests depends on office workload. Fax requests can be sent to (217) 826-1391 for some inquiries. Allow at least several business days for a response by mail.
Legal Framework
The right to access Clark County court records is established under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), which holds that circuit court records are open to the public by default. A court order is required to seal or restrict any individual file. This law applies uniformly across all 102 Illinois counties. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140/ applies to administrative records maintained by the clerk's office that fall outside individual court case files.
Clark County is part of the 5th Judicial Circuit under the Illinois Courts system. The 5th Circuit covers several east-central and southeastern Illinois counties. You can check current judge assignments and court locations on the Illinois Courts interactive directory. The Illinois Courts forms library provides free downloadable forms for small claims, eviction, divorce, and more. State records law at 5 ILCS 160/ governs how government records are retained statewide.
Legal Help
Free help is available for Clark County residents who need guidance on court records or legal procedures. Illinois Legal Aid Online has plain-language guides on divorce, eviction, small claims, consumer debt, and many other topics. No appointment or account is needed. The site is available at any time.
The Illinois Court Help line is (833) 411-1121, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff can walk you through court procedures, point you to the right forms, and help you understand what steps a case involves. This is not legal representation. For an attorney, contact a legal aid organization serving eastern Illinois or look for a private lawyer who handles cases in the 5th Circuit. Some attorneys offer limited-scope representation for specific tasks, which can reduce costs.
Cities in Clark County
Marshall is the county seat and largest city in Clark County. Other communities include Casey and Westfield. None of the cities or towns in Clark County reach the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated court records page. All residents in Clark County use the circuit clerk office in Marshall for record requests and court filings.