Peoria County Court Records
What Is Peoria County Court Records
Court records in Peoria County encompass all official documentation generated during legal proceedings within the county's judicial system. These records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk of Peoria County, who serves as the official custodian of court documents pursuant to 705 ILCS 105/, the Clerks of Courts Act.
Court records typically include:
- Case files containing pleadings, motions, and petitions
- Court dockets listing scheduled hearings and case status
- Judicial orders and final judgments
- Transcripts of court proceedings
- Evidence and exhibits admitted during trials
- Sentencing and disposition records
- Court calendars and scheduling information
These records differ from other public records maintained by Peoria County, such as property records (deeds, mortgages, liens), vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates), and tax records. Court records specifically document judicial proceedings and decisions.
In Peoria County, court records are maintained by several courts within the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, including:
- Circuit Court (handling felonies, major civil cases)
- Family Court (divorce, custody, support matters)
- Probate Court (wills, estates, guardianships)
- Small Claims Court (minor civil disputes)
- Traffic Court (moving violations, DUIs)
- Juvenile Court (delinquency, abuse/neglect cases)
The Illinois Supreme Court, through Supreme Court Rule 46, establishes that court records include "all documents of any kind filed in connection with any matter brought before any court." This comprehensive definition ensures transparency in judicial proceedings while balancing privacy concerns in certain case types.
Are Court Records Public In Peoria County
Court records in Peoria County are generally public documents, accessible to any person, pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/) and the constitutional principle of open courts established in Article I, § 12 of the Illinois Constitution. This right of access is further reinforced by Illinois Supreme Court Rule 46, which governs public access to judicial records.
The following court records are typically available for public inspection:
- Civil case files (including personal injury, contract disputes, property matters)
- Criminal case files after formal charges have been filed
- Court dockets and calendars
- Final judgments and orders
- Marriage dissolution (divorce) records
- Probate proceedings
- Small claims cases
- Traffic violations
However, certain records may be restricted from public access, including:
- Juvenile court proceedings (pursuant to 705 ILCS 405/1-8)
- Adoption records
- Mental health proceedings
- Cases sealed by court order
- Records containing sensitive personal information as defined in Supreme Court Rule 138
- Grand jury proceedings
It is important to note that federal court records for cases heard in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois (which includes Peoria County) are governed by federal access rules rather than state provisions. These records are accessible through the federal PACER system rather than county resources.
The Peoria County Circuit Clerk serves as the designated custodian of court records and is responsible for facilitating public access while protecting confidential information in accordance with applicable laws and court rules.
How To Find Court Records in Peoria County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Peoria County may utilize several methods to locate and access these documents. The county currently maintains multiple access points for court record retrieval:
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Online Access
- Visit the Peoria County Public Data Portals to search for case information
- Access is available 24 hours per day for basic case information
- Some documents may be viewable online, while others require in-person inspection
-
In-Person Requests
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office during regular business hours:
Peoria County Circuit Clerk
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room G-22
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6059
Circuit Clerk- Complete a records request form available at the public counter
- Provide case number, party names, or other identifying information
- Staff will retrieve available records for inspection
-
Written Requests
- Submit a FOIA Request form by mail or email
- Include specific case information and requested documents
- Allow 5 business days for processing as required by 5 ILCS 140/3
-
Criminal Records
- For criminal case information, contact the Criminal Division of the Circuit Clerk's Office
- Provide defendant name, case number, or approximate date of case filing
- Photo identification may be required for certain criminal record requests
When requesting court records, be prepared to provide:
- Case number (if known)
- Names of parties involved
- Approximate date of filing or case activity
- Type of case (civil, criminal, family, etc.)
- Specific documents needed from the case file
Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, certain personal information is redacted from court filings, including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive identifiers. Requestors seeking unredacted versions must demonstrate legal entitlement to such information.
How To Look Up Court Records in Peoria County Online?
Peoria County offers several digital platforms for accessing court records online. These electronic resources provide convenient alternatives to in-person visits for many record types. The following online systems are currently available:
-
Peoria County Justice System Public Access
- Access through the Public Data Portals page
- Search capabilities include:
- Civil cases (law, small claims, probate)
- Criminal cases (felonies and misdemeanors)
- Traffic citations
- Family court matters (excluding confidential juvenile cases)
- Search by party name, case number, or filing date
- View case status, scheduled hearings, and judgment information
- Some document images may be available for viewing
-
Jail Records System
- Access Peoria County Jail Records for current inmate information
- Search by name to view booking information and charges
- Bond information is also accessible through this portal
- Updated daily with current detention status
-
Illinois Statewide e-Filing System
- Registered attorneys and self-represented litigants can access case documents through the Illinois Courts e-filing system
- Registration required with identity verification
- Access limited to parties and counsel of record for specific cases
- System complies with Supreme Court Order M.R. 18368 mandating electronic filing
-
Illinois Judicial Branch Re:SearchIL
- Statewide case information portal maintained by the Illinois Courts
- Requires registration and approval
- Provides standardized access to cases across participating counties
- Includes Peoria County case information
When using these online systems, users should note:
- Not all documents are available electronically
- Older cases (generally pre-2000) may have limited online information
- Confidential and sealed cases are excluded from public online access
- Document images may require payment of access fees
- System maintenance occasionally limits availability during overnight hours
For technical assistance with online court record systems, contact the Circuit Clerk's Technology Division at (309) 672-6059 during regular business hours.
How To Search Peoria County Court Records for Free?
Illinois law guarantees the public's right to inspect court records without charge, as established in 705 ILCS 105/16(6), which states that "all records, dockets and books required by law to be kept by such clerks shall be deemed public records, and shall at all times be open to inspection without fee or reward." Peoria County provides several no-cost options for accessing court records:
-
In-Person Inspection
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office during public counter hours:
Peoria County Circuit Clerk
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room G-22
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6059
Circuit Clerk- Public counter hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (excluding holidays)
- Request to view specific case files with clerk assistance
- Public access terminals available for self-service searching
- No charge for viewing records; fees apply only for copies
-
Free Online Resources
- Basic case information is available at no cost through the Public Data Portals
- Search functions include:
- Case number lookup
- Party name search
- Hearing date calendar
- Case type browsing
- Registration is not required for basic searches
- Document images may incur fees, but docket information is free
-
Public Law Library Access
- The Peoria County Law Library provides free public access to court record terminals
- Located on the 5th floor of the Peoria County Courthouse
- Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Staff available to assist with basic search functions
- No appointment necessary for record searches
-
Criminal Records Check
- Basic criminal case information can be searched for free through the Criminal Division portal
- Results show case numbers, charges, and disposition information
- Detailed documents require in-person inspection or copy fees
While inspection is free, the following fees may apply for related services:
- Paper copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 per document plus copy fees
- Electronic document downloads: $0.50 per page
- Record searches conducted by staff: $6.00 per name/case
These fees are established pursuant to 705 ILCS 105/27.2 governing clerk fees in Illinois counties.
What's Included in a Peoria County Court Record?
Court records in Peoria County contain comprehensive documentation of legal proceedings. The specific contents vary by case type but generally include the following components:
Civil Case Records:
- Complaint or petition initiating the case
- Summons and proof of service
- Defendant's answer or response
- Motions filed by either party
- Discovery documents (if filed with the court)
- Court orders and rulings
- Exhibits admitted into evidence
- Transcripts of hearings (if ordered)
- Final judgment or dismissal order
- Post-judgment motions and enforcement documents
Criminal Case Records:
- Charging documents (information, indictment)
- Arrest warrant or summons
- Bond information
- Defendant's plea
- Pretrial motions and rulings
- Evidence inventory lists
- Court orders regarding evidence and procedures
- Verdict or plea agreement
- Sentencing order
- Post-conviction motions
- Probation or supervision reports (if not confidential)
Family Court Records:
- Petition for dissolution of marriage
- Financial affidavits
- Parenting plans
- Child support worksheets
- Marital settlement agreements
- Orders of protection (if applicable)
- Court-ordered evaluations (may be confidential)
- Judgment for dissolution
- Post-decree modification petitions
Probate Records:
- Will (if testate)
- Petition for probate
- Letters of office appointing executor/administrator
- Inventory of estate assets
- Claims against the estate
- Accounting reports
- Orders approving distributions
- Final discharge of representative
According to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, certain personal information is redacted from public court files, including:
- Social Security numbers
- Financial account numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Medical records
- Children's identifying information
The Circuit Clerk maintains these records in accordance with standards established by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and local court rules of the Tenth Judicial Circuit.
How Long Does Peoria County Keep Court Records?
Peoria County retains court records according to schedules established by the Illinois Supreme Court and the State Records Commission under the authority of 5 ILCS 160/, the State Records Act. These retention periods vary by case type and document classification:
Permanent Retention:
- Felony case files (murder, sexual assault, and other Class X felonies)
- Civil cases involving real property rights
- Probate cases with wills
- Adoption records
- Juvenile court records (though access is restricted)
- Divorce decrees and judgments
- Mental health commitment proceedings
- Docket books and indexes (all case types)
Extended Retention (20-75 years):
- Non-capital felony cases (75 years)
- Dissolution of marriage files (50 years)
- Civil judgments (20 years after satisfaction)
- Probate estates (20 years after closing)
- Guardianship cases (21 years after minor reaches majority)
- Orders of protection (20 years)
Standard Retention (5-10 years):
- Misdemeanor cases (10 years after disposition)
- Traffic violations (5 years after disposition)
- Small claims cases (5 years after judgment)
- Civil cases dismissed without prejudice (5 years)
- Ordinance violations (5 years)
Microfilm/Digital Conversion:
- Many older records have been converted to microfilm or digital format
- Original paper records may be destroyed after conversion
- Converted records maintain the same retention schedule as originals
The Circuit Clerk's Office implements these retention schedules in coordination with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Records scheduled for destruction undergo review to ensure compliance with retention requirements before disposal.
Researchers seeking historical court records should note that cases from before 1970 may be transferred to the Illinois Regional Archives Depository system maintained by the Illinois State Archives. Access to these historical records requires contacting:
Illinois State Archives
Margaret Cross Norton Building
Springfield, IL 62756
(217) 782-4682
Illinois State Archives
Types of Courts In Peoria County
Peoria County's court system operates within Illinois' unified court structure as part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit. The following courts serve county residents:
Peoria County Circuit Court
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6047
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
The Circuit Court is divided into specialized divisions:
Criminal Division
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room 301
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6984
Criminal Division
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Civil Division
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room 213
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6074
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Family Court
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room 420
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6997
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Juvenile Court
Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center
223 N. Maxwell Road
Peoria, IL 61604
(309) 634-4200
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Traffic Court
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room 305
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6984
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Small Claims Court
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room 215
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6074
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
The court hierarchy in Illinois proceeds from Circuit Courts (trial level) to the Appellate Courts and finally to the Illinois Supreme Court. Appeals from Peoria County cases are heard by:
Illinois Appellate Court, Third District
1004 Columbus Street
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 434-5075
Illinois Appellate Court
Illinois Supreme Court
Supreme Court Building
200 E. Capitol Ave.
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 782-2035
Illinois Supreme Court
What Types of Cases Do Peoria County Courts Hear?
The Peoria County court system, as part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, adjudicates a wide range of legal matters. Each division of the court handles specific case types:
Criminal Division:
- Felonies (murder, robbery, drug offenses, etc.)
- Misdemeanors (assault, theft under $500, disorderly conduct)
- DUI and serious traffic offenses
- Preliminary hearings and arraignments
- Bond hearings
- Post-conviction proceedings
- Probation violations
Civil Division:
- Law cases (damages exceeding $50,000)
- Law-Magistrate cases ($10,000-$50,000)
- Small Claims (disputes under $10,000)
- Evictions (formerly Forcible Entry and Detainer)
- Administrative reviews
- Tax matters
- Eminent domain proceedings
- Civil orders of protection
- Mortgage foreclosures
- Contract disputes
- Personal injury claims
Family Division:
- Dissolution of marriage (divorce)
- Child custody and parenting time
- Child support establishment and enforcement
- Paternity determinations
- Adoption proceedings
- Guardianship of minors
- Orders of protection (domestic violence)
- Name changes
- Civil unions
Probate Division:
- Decedent estates (testate and intestate)
- Will contests
- Guardianship of disabled adults
- Guardianship of minors' estates
- Trusts administration
- Elder exploitation cases
Juvenile Division:
- Delinquency proceedings
- Abuse and neglect cases
- Dependency matters
- Truancy
- Minor requiring authoritative intervention
- Juvenile drug court
Traffic Division:
- Moving violations
- Parking citations
- Vehicle registration and license violations
- City ordinance violations
Case assignment is governed by Illinois Supreme Court Rules and local administrative orders of the Chief Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Complex cases may be assigned to specialized judges with expertise in particular areas of law.
The Criminal Division handles approximately 3,000 felony cases and 10,000 misdemeanor cases annually, while the Civil Division processes thousands of civil filings ranging from small claims to complex commercial litigation.
How To Find a Court Docket In Peoria County
Court dockets in Peoria County provide essential information about scheduled hearings, case status, and proceedings. Members of the public can access docket information through several methods:
-
Online Docket Access
- Visit the Public Data Portals on the Peoria County website
- Select "Court Dockets" from the available options
- Search parameters include:
- Case number
- Party name (last name, first name)
- Attorney name
- Hearing date range
- Results display case number, parties, next court date, judge assignment, and case type
- Daily court calls are typically posted by 7:00 AM each business day
-
Courthouse Electronic Displays
- Digital monitors in the Peoria County Courthouse lobby display daily court calls
- Information is organized by courtroom number and judge
- Updated daily for current proceedings
- Provides room numbers and scheduled hearing times
-
In-Person Docket Request
- Visit the Circuit Clerk's Office during business hours:
Peoria County Circuit Clerk
Peoria County Courthouse
324 Main Street, Room G-22
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6059
Circuit Clerk- Request docket information for specific cases or courtrooms
- Staff can provide printed docket sheets upon request (fees may apply)
-
Specialized Docket Information
- Criminal dockets: Contact the Criminal Division at (309) 672-6984
- Juvenile dockets: Available only to parties and attorneys due to confidentiality
- Probate dockets: Searchable through the Civil Division case access system
When searching for docket information, users should note:
- Case numbers in Peoria County follow the format: YY-X-##### (where YY is the year, X is the case type code, and ##### is the sequential number)
- Common case type codes include:
- CF: Criminal Felony
- CM: Criminal Misdemeanor
- DT: Traffic
- L: Civil Law (over $50,000)
- LM: Law Magistrate ($10,000-$50,000)
- SC: Small Claims
- F: Family
- P: Probate
- JA: Juvenile Abuse/Neglect
- JD: Juvenile Delinquency
Docket information is updated continuously as cases progress through the court system. For the most current information, checking online resources or contacting the appropriate division of the Circuit Clerk's Office is recommended.
Which Courts in Peoria County Are Not Courts of Record?
In Illinois, the distinction between "courts of record" and "courts not of record" was largely eliminated by the Judicial Article of 1964, which created a unified court system. Prior to this constitutional amendment, justice of the peace courts and police magistrate courts operated as courts not of record. Currently, all courts in Peoria County are courts of record as defined by 705 ILCS 35/, the Circuit Courts Act.
As courts of record, all Peoria County judicial proceedings:
- Maintain verbatim transcripts or digital recordings of proceedings
- Preserve all filed documents in official case files
- Follow formal rules of evidence and procedure
- Issue written orders and judgments
- Create appealable records for higher court review
While all Peoria County courts are courts of record, certain administrative hearings conducted by county and municipal agencies are not considered judicial proceedings and do not constitute courts of record, including:
- Local electoral board hearings
- Zoning board appeals
- Property tax assessment reviews
- Municipal code enforcement hearings
- County ethics commission proceedings
These administrative tribunals:
- May follow less formal procedures
- Often do not maintain verbatim transcripts
- Issue recommendations rather than binding judgments in some cases
- Create records that may be reviewed by courts through administrative review actions
Appeals from administrative decisions typically enter the court system through the filing of an Administrative Review action in the Circuit Court, at which point formal court of record procedures apply.
The Illinois Supreme Court, through its administrative authority established in Article VI, § 16 of the Illinois Constitution, oversees all courts of record in the state, including those in Peoria County, ensuring uniform procedures and record-keeping standards.
Lookup Court Records in Peoria County
Circuit Clerk records and services
Tenth Judicial Circuit Court information
Criminal Division case information
Illinois Courts official website