Records of divorce in Will County, Illinois, are available through several channels. WillCourt.us allows you to quickly start searching for public divorce information in the county. Additionally, the full court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk's office, and the Will County Clerk's vital records department issues divorce certificates. The Illinois Department of Public Health also maintains a registry of divorce records. Requests can be submitted online, by mail, or in person.
Will Divorce Records Search
In Will County, divorce cases (dissolution of marriage) are handled by the Circuit Court Twelfth Judicial Circuit. The Circuit Clerk's office keeps the complete court file of each case — the court decree, settlement agreements, custody and support orders, as well as all procedural documents.
Separate from the court file is the divorce certificate. It is issued either by the Will County Clerk or the Illinois Department of Public Health. The certificate contains only basic information: the names of the parties, and the date and place of the divorce.
Main contact information for the office:
Will County Clerk — Vital Records
For court case records, contact the Circuit Clerk's office in the same courthouse building on Jefferson Street in Joliet. Business hours are from 8:30 to 16:30 on weekdays.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Will
In Illinois, divorce is processed as a "dissolution of marriage" and is handled by the Circuit Court of the county where the petition is filed. For Will County, this is the Twelfth Judicial Circuit located in downtown Joliet.
Once a judge issues a decision, the decree remains in the Circuit Clerk's file. This office is the sole source of the full text of the decision, including property distribution terms and custody arrangements. If you need a certified copy of the decree itself, contact them.
The certificate — a shorter document confirming the fact of divorce — can be obtained in two places:
- Will County Clerk — for divorces processed specifically in this county.
- Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — maintains a statewide registry since January 1962. Requests can be mailed to Springfield.
Will County Circuit Court (Circuit Clerk)
Illinois Department of Public Health — Division of Vital Records
In short: for the full court file, go to the Circuit Clerk, and for the certificate, go to the County Clerk or IDPH.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Will
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce certificate (Will County Clerk) | $18 | Same day with in-person request |
| Certified copy of certificate (IDPH, by mail) | $15 | 2–4 weeks |
| Copy of divorce decree (Circuit Clerk) | $0.50–$2.00 per page | Usually 1–3 business days |
| Certification of copy (Circuit Clerk, certification fee) | $6 | Together with copying |
| Registry search (IDPH search fee, if exact date unknown) | $10 per every 5 years searched | Up to 4 weeks |