Search Richland County Court Records
Richland County court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Olney, Illinois, where the 2nd Judicial Circuit oversees civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases for the county. This guide explains how to find, search, and request Richland County court records using online tools and the clerk's office in Olney.
Richland County Quick Facts
Richland County Circuit Clerk Office
The Circuit Clerk in Olney is the official keeper of Richland County court records. Clerk Zach Holder and his staff handle case searches, copy requests, certified copies, and filing services for all cases in the county. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), most Richland County court records are open to any person who asks. You do not need to prove a need or get a court order to view them.
The clerk's office is at 103 W. Main Street in Olney. Visit in person during business hours to search by name or case number. Staff will pull the file and make copies. For older records, call ahead so staff can retrieve them before your visit. Certified copies are available for records that need the clerk's official seal. Both standard and certified copies can be obtained at the clerk's office.
| Circuit Clerk | Zach Holder |
|---|---|
| Address | 103 W. Main Street, #21, Olney, IL 62450 |
| Phone | (618) 392-2151 |
| Fax | (618) 392-5041 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Richland County Court Records Online
Judici provides free online case search for Richland County court records. You can look up cases from any device by party name, attorney, or case number without going to the courthouse in Olney. Results show the case type, filing date, parties, and any upcoming court dates. Civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases appear in Judici when available.
Search by name or case number to find civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases. Judici is free and updated regularly for Richland County and most other Illinois counties.
For appellate matters, re:SearchIL offers free access to Illinois Supreme Court and appellate filings since April 2025. If your Richland County case was appealed, the appellate records may be there. The Illinois Courts interactive map provides courthouse locations and clerk contact details for every circuit in Illinois, including the 2nd.
What Cases Are Filed in Richland County
The Richland County Circuit Court handles civil suits, criminal charges, traffic violations, family law matters, and probate cases. Civil cases include small claims (up to $10,000), contract disputes, and personal injury suits. Small claims use a simplified filing process and move faster than general civil cases. Criminal matters range from misdemeanors tried at the county level to felonies that go through the full circuit court process. All of these generate records kept by the clerk's office in Olney.
Family court records in Richland County include divorce, child custody and support, adoption, and guardianship matters. Most family records are public, but adoption files and cases with minor defendants are sealed. Traffic records include moving violations, DUI charges, and license suspension orders. Probate records deal with estates, wills, and court-appointed guardians for adults who cannot manage their own affairs. Every case type is filed with and stored by the Richland County Circuit Clerk.
Juvenile delinquency records are sealed in Illinois. They are not available through public record requests.
How to Get Copies of Richland County Court Records
Visit the clerk's office at 103 W. Main Street in Olney to request copies in person. Tell staff the case number or the full name of a party. They will locate the file and make copies. Standard copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and are required when you need to submit a record to another court, an employer, or a government office. Both types are available from the Richland County Circuit Clerk.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the Richland County Circuit Clerk at 103 W. Main Street, #21, Olney, IL 62450. Include the case number or party names, the documents you want, and payment for the copy fees. Call (618) 392-2151 first to confirm the current fee per page before mailing anything. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits.
For active cases, parties can use eFileIL, the Illinois statewide electronic filing system. This is for attorneys and self-represented litigants filing in pending matters, not for record requests. For records, contact the Richland County Circuit Clerk directly.
If you think a public record is being wrongly withheld, you can submit a formal request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140/. The office must respond within five business days. Most records don't need a FOIA request, but the option is there if normal access fails.
Richland County in the 2nd Judicial Circuit
Richland County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Illinois, which covers Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Richland counties. This circuit covers a large area of southern Illinois. Judges rotate among the counties in the circuit. Each county has its own clerk and courthouse. If a Richland County case was moved due to a change of venue, check the other county's clerk office for the transferred records.
The Illinois Courts website lists full contact information for the Richland County clerk and all 2nd Circuit courts. For case hearing dates and current case status, check Judici or call the Richland County Circuit Clerk at (618) 392-2151.
Legal Help for Richland County Residents
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) provides free guides and forms for civil, family, housing, and criminal law in Illinois. The site is free, available around the clock, and covers the procedures used in the 2nd Judicial Circuit courts, including Richland County. Use it to find the right form, understand a legal process, or build a document for your case without an attorney.
Illinois Court Help operates a free phone line at (833) 411-1121, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Staff answer questions about court procedures, what forms to use, and how to find records. They can help you figure out what to expect at a Richland County hearing or how to submit a records request to the clerk's office in Olney.
Free court forms for small claims, civil, family, and other case types are available at the Illinois Courts forms page. All Illinois courts accept these forms. The Illinois State Records Act at 5 ILCS 160/ sets how long records must be kept. Most civil case records are retained for many years, so older Richland County files should still be accessible from the clerk's office in Olney.
Clerk Duties and Record Access
The Clerk of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105/ spells out the duties of every circuit clerk in Illinois. Clerks must maintain case indexes, collect filing fees, issue process, and store all filed documents. The Richland County Circuit Clerk follows these requirements. Public access is a legal duty. The clerk must make non-sealed records available to any person who asks during regular office hours. Records sealed by court order or statute, such as juvenile and adoption files, are the only exceptions. Everything else is open and available to the public in Richland County.
Cities in Richland County
All communities in Richland County file court cases through the Circuit Court in Olney. The clerk's office serves the entire county.
Olney is the county seat and largest community in Richland County. Claremont and Parkersburg are among the other towns in the county. None of these communities reach the 100,000 population threshold needed for a dedicated city page on this site.