Find Court Records in Saline County
Saline County court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Harrisburg, Illinois, where the 1st Judicial Circuit handles all civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases for the county. This page explains how to search Saline County court records using free online tools and how to visit the clerk's office in person.
Saline County Quick Facts
Saline County Circuit Clerk Office
The Saline County Circuit Clerk in Harrisburg keeps all official court records for the county. Clerk Mary Kuczynski and her staff handle case lookups, copy requests, certified copies, and filing services for all cases in the 1st Judicial Circuit for Saline County. Under 705 ILCS 105/16(6), most Saline County court records are open to any member of the public. You don't need a court order or a reason to view them.
The office is at 10 East Poplar Street in Harrisburg. You can visit in person during business hours to search by name or case number. Staff will help you find the file and make copies. For old or archived records, call ahead so staff can pull the file before you arrive. Certified copies are available and carry the clerk's official seal, which is required for many legal purposes.
| Circuit Clerk | Mary Kuczynski |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 East Poplar Street, Harrisburg, IL 62946 |
| Phone | (618) 253-5096 |
| Fax | (618) 253-3904 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
Online Search for Saline County Court Records
Judici provides free online case search for Saline County court records. Look up cases by party name, attorney, or case number from any device. Results show the case type, filing date, parties, and any future court dates. Civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases appear in Judici when available for Saline County.
Search by name or case number to find civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases. Judici is free to use and updated regularly for Saline County and most other Illinois counties.
For appellate matters, re:SearchIL offers free access to Illinois Supreme Court and appellate court filings since April 2025. If a Saline County case went up to the appellate level, you may find those records there. The Illinois Courts interactive map lists every circuit court in Illinois with clerk contact details and courthouse addresses, including Saline County in the 1st Circuit.
Types of Cases in Saline County
The Saline County Circuit Court handles a range of case types. Civil cases include small claims (up to $10,000), contract disputes, and personal injury suits. Small claims use a simplified process and move faster. Criminal cases range from misdemeanors handled at the county level to felonies tried in the full circuit court. All criminal case records are filed with and maintained by the Circuit Clerk in Harrisburg.
Family court records in Saline County include divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, and guardianship proceedings. Most family records are public. Adoption files and cases with minor defendants are sealed. Traffic records cover moving violations, DUI charges, and license suspension actions. Probate records deal with estates, wills, and guardians appointed for adults who cannot manage their own affairs. Every case type is maintained by the Saline County Circuit Clerk.
Juvenile delinquency records are not available to the public. Illinois law seals them regardless of who is making the request.
Requesting Copies of Saline County Court Records
The fastest way to get copies is to visit the clerk's office at 10 East Poplar Street in Harrisburg. Give staff the case number or a party's name. They will locate the file and make copies. Standard copies cost a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more and are often required when submitting records to another court, employer, or government agency. Both types are available through the Saline County Circuit Clerk.
Mail requests are accepted. Write to the Saline County Circuit Clerk at 10 East Poplar Street, Harrisburg, IL 62946. Include the case number or party names, a description of the documents you need, and payment. Call (618) 253-5096 before mailing to confirm the current fee. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits.
Parties to active cases can use eFileIL to file documents electronically. This is for attorneys and self-represented litigants in pending matters, not for record requests from the public. For records, contact the clerk's office directly.
If a public record is being improperly withheld, you can submit a formal request under 5 ILCS 140/, the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The clerk must respond within five business days. Most court records don't require this step, but it's an option if normal access is denied.
Saline County in the 1st Judicial Circuit
Saline County is one of nine counties in the 1st Judicial Circuit of Illinois. The 1st Circuit also covers Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Union, and Williamson counties. Judges rotate among these counties and hold court in each on a scheduled basis. Each county has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse. If a Saline County case was transferred to another county, look for the records at that county's clerk office.
The Illinois Courts website has contact information for the Saline County clerk and all courts in the 1st Circuit. For case hearing dates and current status, check Judici or call the clerk at (618) 253-5096.
Free Legal Resources for Saline County Residents
Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) provides free guides and forms for civil, family, housing, and criminal law in Illinois. It's available at any time at no cost. ILAO covers procedures used in the 1st Judicial Circuit, including those for Saline County courts. Use it to find forms, understand a legal process, or build documents for your case.
Illinois Court Help runs 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, forms, and how to find records. They can help you understand what to expect at a Saline County hearing or how to request a file from the clerk's office in Harrisburg.
Free court forms for small claims, civil, family, and other case types are at the Illinois Courts forms page. All Illinois circuit 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 Saline County files should be retrievable from the clerk's office long after the case closed.
Clerk Duties and Public 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 court process, and preserve all filed documents. Public access to non-sealed records is a legal duty, not a discretionary call. The Saline County Circuit Clerk must make records available to anyone who asks during regular office hours. Only records sealed by statute or by court order are off limits. Everything else in the Saline County court system is open to the public.
Cities in Saline County
All communities in Saline County file court cases through the Circuit Court in Harrisburg. The clerk's office handles filings for the entire county.
Harrisburg is the county seat and largest city in Saline County. Other communities include Eldorado and Galatia. None of these cities come close to the 100,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.