Will County Court Records

Will County court records are kept by Circuit Clerk Andrea Chasteen at the courthouse in Joliet and span every case type heard in the 12th Judicial Circuit, including civil lawsuits, criminal cases, traffic violations, family law matters, and probate proceedings. With a county population over 700,000, Will County handles a large volume of filings each year, and several online tools make it easier to search those records without visiting the courthouse.

Circuit Clerk Office

Andrea Chasteen is the Will County Circuit Clerk. Her office at 100 West Jefferson Street in Joliet handles all court record requests, copies, and filings for the 12th Judicial Circuit. This is the main point of contact for anyone who needs court documents from Will County.

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Because Will County is a large county, wait times can be longer than in smaller counties. Calling ahead or using online tools first is a good way to save time.

Will County Courthouse

The Illinois Courts directory listing for Will County, shown below, confirms the 12th Judicial Circuit courthouse location in Joliet.

All Will County circuit court filings are managed by Clerk Andrea Chasteen at 100 West Jefferson Street.

Online Court Records Search

Will County's size means a lot of filings, and the state's online tools are particularly useful here. You can search thousands of Will County cases without leaving your home.

Judici Case Search

Judici is a trusted source for Illinois court case data. It covers participating counties including Will, and gives access to case names, numbers, hearing dates, and case status. The database is updated regularly and is free to search. Not all document images are available, but the index data is thorough for most searches.

Go to the Judici site, choose Will County, and enter a name or case number. Results come back quickly and include basic case details.

Judici is one of the fastest ways to confirm whether a case was filed in Will County and to get basic info like hearing dates or the assigned judge.

re:SearchIL

re:SearchIL is the state-managed court records system. It gives access to case summaries, docket entries, and document images for Will County matters. A free account unlocks more features. This platform is a step up from Judici when you need to see actual filings or detailed docket history.

eFileIL

All electronic court filings in Will County go through eFileIL. If you need to submit documents in an active Will County case, this is the official filing portal. Documents filed here become part of the permanent court record.

Types of Court Records Available

The 12th Judicial Circuit in Will County hears a broad range of cases. Here is what you can access through the clerk or online.

Civil Cases

Civil records include personal injury lawsuits, contract disputes, eviction cases, and small claims. Small claims in Illinois cover disputes up to $10,000. All of these are public record in most situations. You can search them by party name or case number.

Criminal Cases

Criminal records cover felonies and misdemeanors. Case filings, charge information, plea dates, and sentencing records are all part of the court record. Some records are sealed or expunged under Illinois law. Those are not available through public search tools.

Traffic and Ordinance Cases

Traffic violations, DUI cases, and local ordinance violations are handled in circuit court. You can pull these up on Judici or re:SearchIL using the driver's name or a case number from a citation.

Family Law

Divorce filings, child custody orders, support orders, and orders of protection are all filed with the Circuit Clerk. Some family law records are restricted. Call the clerk at (815) 727-8592 to ask about access for a specific file.

Probate and Estate Cases

Probate cases, estate inventories, wills admitted to probate, and guardianship orders are part of the public record in Will County. These can be searched through the clerk's office or requested by mail.

How to Request Records in Person

Visit the clerk's office at 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet. Bring photo ID. Know the name of the party or the case number. The staff can search the index and pull the file. Copy fees are set by the Illinois Clerks of Courts Act.

Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you need a certified copy for a legal proceeding, tell the clerk that upfront. Plain copies work for personal use or background checks in most situations. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on weekdays.

How to Request Records by Mail

Write to the Will County Circuit Clerk at 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Include the party name, case number if known, case type, and approximate filing year. Add your return address and a phone number in case the clerk has questions. Ask about the fee schedule before sending a check, or request that the clerk invoice you.

Mail requests may take longer during busy periods. For anything time-sensitive, call (815) 727-8592 to ask about turnaround times or to handle the request by phone if possible.

Legal Help for Will County

Need help understanding a court case or filling out forms? Several free resources serve Will County residents.

Illinois Court Help

Call (833) 411-1121 on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Illinois Court Help staff can explain court procedures, forms, and deadlines for Will County cases without charge.

Illinois Legal Aid Online

This site has self-help tools, plain-language guides, and a directory of legal aid providers in the Will County area. It is a solid resource if you need legal help but can't afford a private attorney.

Illinois Courts Directory

The Illinois Courts site lists the Will County courthouse with address, phone, and circuit info. Use it to confirm current contact details or find a specific division of the court.

Court Forms

Standard forms for all case types used in Will County are on the Illinois Courts website. Download civil, family, or small claims forms at no cost.

Illinois Public Records Law

Court records in Will County are public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act at 5 ILCS 140. Most civil and criminal court files are open. Some records are restricted by law, including juvenile cases, sealed criminal records, and certain family law files. The Illinois Records Preservation Act at 5 ILCS 160 controls how the court stores and retains records. The Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105 sets the clerk's authority and fee structure for copies and certifications.

If the clerk denies access to a record, ask what law supports the denial. You have the right to know the statutory basis for any restriction.

Cities in Will County

Will County has two major cities that meet the 50,000-person threshold for dedicated pages. Joliet is the county seat and the largest city in the county. Bolingbrook is another major city in Will County. Other cities and towns in Will County, including Romeoville, Lockport, Plainfield, and Crest Hill, fall below the population threshold and do not have dedicated pages. Residents of all Will County communities file court records with the Circuit Clerk in Joliet.

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