Find Court Records in Ford County
Ford County court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Paxton, Illinois, serving the 11th Judicial Circuit. The office maintains civil, criminal, traffic, and family case files that are open to the public under Illinois law. Whether you need to look up a case, get a certified copy of a judgment, or confirm a court date, this page explains how to search online, how to request records in person or by mail, and where to find free legal help if you need it.
Ford County Circuit Clerk Office
Kasi Schwarz serves as the Ford County Circuit Clerk. The office is at 200 West State Street in Paxton. Staff handle all court filings, maintain the official case index, issue certified copies, and process fee payments. This office is the right place to start when you need court records from Ford County.
| Circuit Clerk | Kasi Schwarz |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 West State, Paxton, IL 60957 |
| Phone | (217) 379-9420 |
| Fax | (217) 379-9429 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | fordcounty.illinois.gov/circuit-clerk |
The Ford County Circuit Clerk's page, shown below, provides contact details and office hours for the Paxton courthouse.
Call (217) 379-9420 or visit the clerk's office in Paxton to request Ford County court records.
Online Search for Ford County Cases
Judici is the main free tool for searching Ford County court records online. It pulls from the 11th Circuit database and lets you look up cases by party name or case number. Civil disputes, criminal charges, traffic tickets, and many family matters are all searchable. You do not need an account to run a basic search.
Judici provides free online case search for Ford County court records.
Search by party name or case number to find civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases.
The re:SearchIL portal is another statewide option. It covers multiple circuits and works well when you need to check records across more than one county at a time.
The Find Your Court tool on the Illinois Courts website confirms which courthouse handles Ford County cases and shows address and contact information. Use it if you need to verify the right filing location before submitting documents.
What Case Types Does the Clerk Office Maintain?
The Ford County Circuit Clerk keeps records for every case type heard in the 11th Judicial Circuit in this county. Most files are open to the public. A few categories are restricted under state law.
Civil records cover lawsuits between private parties, small claims disputes, eviction actions, and contract matters. Criminal files include felony and misdemeanor charges, bond information, plea entries, and sentencing orders. Traffic and ordinance violations are common and typically available through Judici. Family law cases such as divorce and custody are largely public, though some financial exhibits and sealed exhibits may not be. Adoption and juvenile cases are sealed by law and cannot be viewed by the general public.
Mental health and certain guardianship filings also carry access restrictions. If you are unsure whether a specific record is open, call the clerk at (217) 379-9420 before making the trip to Paxton. The staff can tell you what is available and what steps to take to get a copy.
How to Get Copies of Ford County Court Records
You have three main options for getting copies: visit in person, send a mail request, or use electronic filing tools for new submissions. Each works a bit differently.
In-person requests are the fastest. Go to the clerk's office at 200 West State in Paxton during business hours. Bring a photo ID. Know the case number or the full name of a party in the case. The clerk will pull the file and provide copies while you wait. Certified copies carry a court seal and are required for appeals, record checks, and many legal proceedings.
Mail requests take more time. Write to the clerk at the address above. Include the case name or number, a clear description of the documents you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. A check or money order payable to the Ford County Circuit Clerk should cover any copy fees.
Attorneys and self-represented parties can file new court documents electronically through eFileIL. This is the statewide system for e-filing. It does not replace in-person record requests, but it does let you submit filings and track active cases without visiting the courthouse.
Free Legal Help for Ford County Residents
Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free legal guides, forms, and an online chat tool. It covers family law, housing, consumer debt, benefits, and more. If you are not sure how to file a case or respond to one, this is a solid place to start. The site also has step-by-step instructions for many court processes used in Illinois circuit courts.
Illinois Court Help runs a free phone line at (833) 411-1121. Staff take calls Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. They can walk you through court procedures, help you find the right forms, and connect you with local resources near Paxton.
The Illinois Courts forms page lists approved forms for many common case types. Always use the current version of a form. An outdated or wrong form can slow down your case or cause a rejection at the clerk's window.
Illinois Laws That Govern Court Record Access
Several Illinois statutes set the rules for court record access. The Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105 covers the duties of circuit clerks statewide and sets out what records the public may view and copy. This is the main law that governs what the Ford County clerk can share.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 gives residents the right to ask for records from government offices. The Illinois Records Act at 5 ILCS 160 deals with how long courts and government agencies must keep records before they can be disposed of.
Expunged or sealed records do not appear in public searches and cannot be released. If you want to petition to seal or expunge a record, the circuit court in Paxton handles those filings. The clerk's office can point you to the correct forms and explain the process.
Cities in Ford County
Paxton is the county seat and serves as the main hub for Ford County court activity. Gibson City is the other significant community in the county. Neither town meets the 50,000 population threshold for a standalone city page, but all Ford County residents can access records through the Paxton clerk's office or through the Judici online search system.