Hancock County Court Records
Hancock County court records are kept by the Circuit Clerk in Carthage, the county seat in west-central Illinois, under the 9th Judicial Circuit. The office holds civil, criminal, traffic, and family case files. Most records are open to the public under Illinois law. This page explains where to find Hancock County cases online, how to contact the clerk's office, how to request copies of documents, and where to get free legal help if you need guidance with your case.
Hancock County Circuit Clerk Office
Keara Webber is the Circuit Clerk for Hancock County. The mailing address is P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321. The clerk's office accepts all court filings, maintains the official case index, issues certified copies of court records, and processes fee payments. Staff can answer questions about specific cases and explain what you need to do to request documents.
| Circuit Clerk | Keara Webber |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321 |
| Phone | (217) 357-2616 |
| Fax | (217) 357-2231 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | hancockcounty-il.gov/circuit-clerk |
The Hancock County Circuit Clerk website, shown below, provides local filing information and contact details for the Carthage courthouse.
Visit the clerk's office at the courthouse or call (217) 357-2616 to request Hancock County court records.
Search Hancock County Cases Online
Judici is the free online tool for Hancock County court records. It pulls from the 9th Circuit database and lets you search by party name or case number. Civil disputes, criminal charges, traffic citations, and family matters are all searchable. Searches are free and do not require an account. Most active cases appear in the system, though some older records may only be available as paper files at the courthouse.
Judici provides free online case search for Hancock County court records.
Search by party name or case number to find civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases.
The re:SearchIL portal provides another way to search statewide court records across multiple circuits at once. This is helpful if you need to check Hancock County and one or more neighboring counties in a single search session.
For courthouse contact details and circuit court maps, visit the Find Your Court tool on the Illinois Courts website. It confirms the Carthage courthouse location and judge assignments for the 9th Judicial Circuit.
Types of Court Records Available in Hancock County
The Circuit Clerk in Carthage maintains records for all case types heard in the 9th Judicial Circuit court sitting in Hancock County. Most records are open to the public. Some are sealed by Illinois law or court order.
Civil records include lawsuits, small claims disputes, eviction actions, and contract cases. Criminal files hold felony and misdemeanor charges, bond records, plea entries, and sentencing orders. Traffic and ordinance violations are very common and typically searchable online through Judici without any additional steps. Family law records such as divorce decrees, custody orders, and support modifications are generally open, though some financial exhibits in those files may be sealed. Juvenile court records and adoption filings are sealed under state law and cannot be accessed by the general public. Mental health adjudications and some guardianship filings also carry access restrictions.
Call the clerk at (217) 357-2616 if you are unsure whether a specific record is publicly available. Staff can confirm what is on file and explain how to request the documents you need from the Carthage courthouse.
How to Request Copies of Hancock County Court Records
Copies are available in person at the Carthage courthouse or by mail. In-person is the fastest method. Visit the clerk's office at the courthouse address during business hours. Bring a photo ID. Know the case number or party name. The clerk will locate the file and provide copies. Certified copies with a court seal are required for legal proceedings, appeals, and formal verifications.
Mail requests work if traveling to Carthage is not practical. Write to the clerk at P.O. Box 189, Carthage, IL 62321. Include the case name or number, a description of the documents you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Attach a check or money order for any applicable fees, payable to the Hancock County Circuit Clerk.
Electronic filing is available through eFileIL for attorneys and self-represented parties. The system lets you submit new filings and track case activity online. This does not replace in-person record requests, but it is a convenient option for submitting documents without driving to Carthage. Choose a certified provider from the eFileIL site to begin.
Free Legal Help for Hancock County Residents
Illinois Legal Aid Online is a free resource with legal guides, downloadable forms, and a chat assistant. The site covers family law, housing, consumer debt, benefits, and other common legal matters. For people without a lawyer in Hancock County, this site is a practical starting point before contacting the clerk or filing anything with the court.
Illinois Court Help runs a free phone line at (833) 411-1121, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff can walk you through court procedures in plain language, help you find the correct forms, and refer you to other resources near Carthage.
Official court forms for many common case types are available on the Illinois Courts forms page. Always use the current edition of any form before filing. Outdated forms may be rejected at the clerk's counter, which adds time to your case.
Illinois Laws That Govern Court Record Access
The Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105 is the main statute governing Illinois circuit clerks. It sets out what records must be kept, what the public may access, and how clerks must respond to record requests. This law applies directly to Keara Webber's office in Carthage.
The Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140 gives residents the right to request records from government agencies. The Illinois Records Act at 5 ILCS 160 sets the retention schedule for how long courts must keep case files before they can be disposed of.
Sealed and expunged records are not public. They do not appear in online searches and cannot be disclosed by the clerk's office. To petition for expungement or sealing of a criminal record in Hancock County, you must file that petition with the 9th Circuit Court in Carthage. The clerk can provide guidance on the forms and steps involved.
Cities in Hancock County
Carthage is the county seat and largest city in Hancock County. Nauvoo and Macomb are other communities associated with the area, though Macomb is actually located in McDonough County. None of the communities in Hancock County reach the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All residents can access court records through the Carthage clerk's office or online through Judici.