Henry County Court Records

Henry County court records are filed and maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office in Cambridge, Illinois. The 14th Judicial Circuit handles all case types for Henry County, including civil disputes, criminal charges, traffic cases, family law matters, and probate filings. This guide explains how to search Henry County court records, what records are available, and how to get copies.

Henry County Circuit Clerk Office

The Henry County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of all court records filed in the county. Circuit Clerk Terilyn Kuster Motley and her staff maintain records for every case type that comes through the 14th Circuit in Cambridge. The clerk office handles in-person searches, copy requests, and certified document services. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), most court records in Illinois are open to the public, so you generally don't need to explain why you want a record to get access.

Walk-in visits are accepted during regular business hours. Bring the case number if you have it, or the name of one of the parties in the case. Staff will search the index and locate the file. For older records or cases that have been archived, call ahead so they can pull the file before you arrive. The fax number is (309) 937-3990 if you need to submit a written request that way.

Searching Henry County Court Records Online

Henry County participates in Judici.com, the free online case search tool used by most Illinois counties. You can search Henry County court records by party name, attorney name, or case number without creating an account. Results include the case type, filing date, parties involved, and scheduled court dates. Judici is a good first stop when you need to confirm whether a case exists or find a case number before making a trip to the courthouse.

For cases that were appealed to the appellate level, re:SearchIL provides free remote access to Illinois Supreme Court and appellate court records filed on or after April 1, 2025. The platform has been free since May 2025. Henry County falls under the 3rd Appellate District. If a Henry County circuit court decision was appealed, check re:SearchIL for the appellate record.

The Illinois Courts website also has a courts directory and interactive map where you can look up Henry County's court information and confirm contact details for the 14th Circuit.

Henry County Court Records: Case Types

The Henry County Circuit Court handles all case types filed in the county. Civil cases cover claims between individuals and businesses, including contract disputes, collections, personal injury, and small claims. Small claims in Illinois are capped at $10,000 and move through a faster process than standard civil cases. Criminal filings include misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanor cases are resolved at the circuit court level. Felony cases go through a preliminary process, often involving grand jury proceedings, before reaching trial.

Family law cases in Henry County include divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support modifications, adoption, and guardianship proceedings. Most family records are public unless the court has entered a sealing order, though adoption records and proceedings involving minors as defendants are sealed by default. Traffic matters, including DUI charges, license suspensions, and moving violations, are also filed with the Circuit Clerk. Probate cases deal with estates and wills when someone dies. They also cover guardianship and conservatorship for adults who can no longer manage their own affairs.

Juvenile records are not public. Cases where a minor is the defendant are sealed under Illinois law and cannot be accessed through standard public record requests.

Getting Copies of Henry County Records

To get copies of Henry County court records, visit the Circuit Clerk's office at 307 West Center Street in Cambridge. You will need the case number or the name of at least one party. Staff will locate the file and provide copies. Standard copies carry a per-page fee. Certified copies, which include the clerk's official seal, cost more but are often required for legal use, such as proving a divorce decree or showing a conviction record to a licensing board.

You can also send a written request by mail to the Henry County Circuit Clerk at 307 West Center Street, Cambridge, IL 61238. Include the party names or case number, a description of the records you need, and a check or money order for the copy fees. Call (309) 937-3752 first to confirm the current fee schedule. Mailed requests take longer to process than in-person visits.

Illinois attorneys and self-represented litigants can file court documents electronically through eFileIL. This system is used for active filings in pending cases, not for requesting copies of old records. If you have a pending Henry County case and use an electronic filing service provider, you may be able to access documents filed in that case through your account.

If you believe a record is being wrongly withheld, you can file a formal request under 5 ILCS 140/, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The clerk has five business days to respond. Most court records don't require a FOIA request, but the law is there if you need it.

Henry County and the 14th Judicial Circuit

Henry County is one of four counties in the 14th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. The other counties in the circuit are Mercer, Rock Island, and Whiteside. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse, but they share circuit judges who rotate among the counties. If a case from Henry County was transferred to another county in the 14th Circuit, or if a change of venue was ordered, the clerk in that county would hold the records. Understanding circuit structure can help when you are searching for a case and are not sure which county has the file.

The circuit court for Henry County sits at the Cambridge courthouse. Judges assigned to the 14th Circuit rotate through for hearings and trials. Court calendars and upcoming hearing dates for Henry County cases can often be found on Judici. Call the clerk at (309) 937-3752 for scheduling questions that Judici does not cover.

Henry County Court Records: Legal Help

Several free resources can help you understand Henry County court records or find your way through the court system. Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) offers plain-language guides on civil, family, and criminal matters. The site also has a document builder you can use to create court forms for free. It is available any time, day or night.

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 do not give legal advice, but they can explain how the court process works, help you find the right form, and answer questions about finding Henry County records. Approved court forms for most case types are available at no charge from the Illinois Courts forms page.

The Illinois State Records Act at 5 ILCS 160/ sets rules for how long records must be kept. Most civil case records are kept for years. Some records are kept permanently. This law means Henry County court records from old closed cases are still available well after the case ended.

Henry County Circuit Clerk Website and Online Tools

The Henry County Circuit Clerk has an official page at henrycty.com, which lists office information, services, and contact details. Check there for any updates to hours, fees, or procedures before making a trip to Cambridge.

The image below shows the Henry County Circuit Clerk page on the county website, a useful starting point for up-to-date contact information and office details.

Use the clerk's website to confirm current fees and hours before your visit. For online case searches, Judici is the main tool for Henry County.

Cities in Henry County

All cities in Henry County file court cases through the Henry County Circuit Court in Cambridge. The Circuit Clerk's office on West Center Street handles filings for the entire county.

Kewanee is the largest city in Henry County, with a population of about 13,000. Other communities include Galva, Geneseo, and Bishop Hill. None of these cities reach the 100,000 resident threshold for dedicated city pages on this site.

Nearby Illinois Counties

These counties border Henry County. Each has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse for local court filings.