Cook County Court Case Lookup & Records
Need to find a Cook County lawsuit, criminal case, divorce, eviction, probate proceeding, traffic ticket or court date? The Clerk of the Circuit Court provides public online case information, but the result is generally a docket summary—not the complete official court file.
This guide explains how to search the Clerk’s official case database, identify the right division or suburban courthouse, read case status, request certified dispositions or judgments, locate archived records, and avoid common errors when an online docket is missing or outdated.
Independent public-information guide reviewed October 2026. This website is not the Cook County Clerk’s Office, does not host official case files and cannot issue certified court records.
Which Cook County Court Records Service Should You Use?
Use the online search for available court docket summaries, active matters and historical case information.
Public case-search portalThe Clerk maintains official records through courthouse divisions and repositories. Use the relevant division for copies, certification or document viewing.
Records request routesUse the Archives Department for pre-electronic and off-site court records.
Archives DepartmentContact the Clerk with your case number, civil parties’ names or criminal defendant information.
Call Center informationIllinois civil e-filing uses the statewide eFileIL system through approved providers.
Official eFile instructionsCook County has downtown Chicago divisions and suburban municipal districts. Case location can determine where to request records.
Division and district directoryHow to Search Cook County Court Cases by Name or Case Number
The Clerk’s public online search is meant to provide general information about active and historical cases. The exact search controls can vary by case category, so use the search method shown in the live portal.
- Open the official online lookup. Visit Cook County On-line Case Information and select its case-search link.
- Select the appropriate case category or search route. The current system provides the search functions supported for public use.
- If you have the case number, use it first. Copy it from a summons, hearing notice, court order or previous docket.
- For name searches, use accurate party information. Enter the person’s or business’s legal name and narrow the search with available fields.
- Submit the search. Complete any disclaimer, verification or required fields.
- Open the likely result. Verify the case number, caption, parties, filing date and court division or district.
- Review the electronic docket. Look for recent court events, motions, orders, hearings, judgments and disposition entries.
- Save the case number and location. You will need them to ask for a paper file, certified document or archive search.
- Check for delays if the latest event is missing. The Clerk states that recent filings may take several days to appear online.
Searching without a case number
Prepare both plaintiff and defendant names if possible. If you contact customer service without a case number, the Clerk asks for the names of the civil parties. The case category, filing year and district can also help narrow the search.
Prepare the defendant’s full name and date of birth when contacting the Clerk. If a case number or arrest date is known, retain those details as well. A same-name search alone cannot establish identity or outcome.
Cook County Court Case Types and Divisions
The Circuit Court of Cook County handles many different trial-court matters. The Clerk organizes record services by divisions, and the place to inspect or request a file can depend on the case type.
| Division / case type | Records commonly involved | Where to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Division | Civil lawsuits, appearances, complaints, motions, orders and judgments within the division. | Daley Center, Room 601. Phone 312-603-5116. |
| Law Division | Qualifying civil claims such as personal injury, contract and property-damage litigation. | Daley Center, Room 801. Phone 312-603-5426. |
| Chancery Division | Foreclosure, equitable relief and other matters assigned to Chancery. | Daley Center, Room 802. Phone 312-603-5133. |
| Domestic Relations | Divorce and family-related petitions, orders and judgments. | Daley Center, Room 802. Phone 312-603-6300. |
| Probate Division | Estate, guardianship and related probate case files. | Daley Center, Room 1202. Phone 312-603-6441. |
| County Division | Name changes, certain adoption-related matters and other County Division proceedings. | Daley Center, Room 1202. Phone 312-603-5710. |
| Criminal Department | Chicago misdemeanor and certain preliminary criminal matters. | Daley Center, Room 1006. Phone 312-603-4641. |
| Criminal Division | Criminal cases handled at the main criminal courthouse. | 2650 S. California Avenue, Room 526. Phone 773-674-3140. |
| Traffic Division | Traffic citations, hearings, dispositions and eligible fines. | Daley Center lower level. Phone 312-603-2000. |
| Juvenile / Child Protection | Protected juvenile and child-protection proceedings. | 1100 S. Hamilton Avenue, Room 13. Phone 312-433-5333. |
How to Understand a Cook County Electronic Docket
An electronic docket records a summary of case activity. The Clerk explicitly states that the online docket is not the official court record and may lag behind recent filings.
What if today’s court event isn’t showing?
- Verify you selected the correct case and division.
- Check whether your case was transferred, reassigned or heard in a different district.
- Review the official Online Case Information notice about update delays.
- For a recent filing, use a courthouse public-access terminal or contact the relevant division.
- For court dates, call 312-603-5030 with the case details.
Cook County Six Municipal Districts and Court Locations
The correct courthouse matters when you need a paper file, copy, certified disposition, traffic matter or district-specific court assistance.
| District | Official location | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 — Chicago | Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602. | General Clerk: 312-603-5030. |
| District 2 — Skokie | 5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. | 847-470-7250 |
| District 3 — Rolling Meadows | 2121 Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008. | 847-818-3000 |
| District 4 — Maywood | 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, IL 60153. | 708-865-6040 |
| District 5 — Bridgeview | 10220 S. 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, IL 60455. | 708-974-6500 |
| District 6 — Markham | 16501 S. Kedzie Avenue, Markham, IL 60428. | 708-232-4551 |
How to Get Cook County Court Records and Certified Copies
The Clerk’s online docket gives a summary of what happened. To obtain the actual motion, order, certified judgment or full case file, use the department or district that holds the record.
Prepare this information before requesting records
Request a court document in person
- Locate the case using Cook County public case search.
- Note the case number and division/district.
- Use the Clerk’s division directory to identify the counter responsible for the file.
- Bring an acceptable identification document if the division requires it for file access.
- Ask to inspect the available official case file or identify the exact document for copying.
- Specify whether the copy needs a Clerk certification.
- Review copy and certification charges before ordering.
Request records without visiting
- Open the official Public Records Request page.
- Choose Court Files or Archives, depending on the age of the record.
- Check whether the responsible division provides its own request procedure.
- For archived records, download the official Record Search Request Form CCG 0026.
- Complete the case, date-range and requested-document information.
- Follow the specific mailing and advance search-fee directions printed on the form.
- Pay only the amount instructed at the correct stage; additional copy and postage costs may be billed later.
How to Request a Cook County Criminal Disposition
A criminal disposition is the court’s recorded result of a charge or case. It may be needed for employment, licensing, expungement, immigration or another purpose. The correct source depends on whether the case arose in Chicago or a suburban district.
- Find any available criminal case number using the official online docket.
- Identify whether the proceeding was handled by the Chicago Criminal Department, Criminal Division or a suburban district.
- For Chicago Criminal Department dispositions, prepare the defendant’s full name, date of birth and date of arrest.
- Use the official Criminal Department or Criminal Division contact route.
- For cases filed in a suburban district, contact that district directly for the appropriate disposition request.
- Ask for a certified disposition if required by the requesting agency.
- Confirm identification, fees, processing and delivery instructions before paying.
Chicago Criminal Department
Richard J. Daley Center50 W. Washington Street, Room 1006
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-4641
The Clerk explains that Chicago Criminal Department certified dispositions require defendant name, birth date and arrest date.
Main Criminal Division
2650 S. California Avenue5th Floor, Room 526
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 773-674-3140
Use the official division’s procedures for criminal file access and case information.
Cook County Court Archives: Older Cases, Divorce Decrees and Naturalization Files
The Clerk’s Archives Department maintains older records created by Cook County courts. Its collection includes materials dating back to the 1871 Chicago Fire, and the Clerk began computerized indexing and docketing during the early 1980s.
Archives can help with older divorce decrees, name changes, court litigation and certain historic naturalization files. However, staff cannot conduct unlimited surname research without a narrowed timeframe and case information.
Older divorce or name-change decree search
- Open the Clerk’s Archives Department page.
- Prepare the parties’ names, case category and approximate filing year.
- Check whether a case number is already available in a prior order, decree or court document.
- If no number is known, ask Archives to search its name indices for the specified date range.
- Review the advance research charge of $6 per year searched.
- Submit the appropriate record search request and payment as instructed.
- Once identified, allow for off-site file retrieval before arranging inspection or copies.
Historic naturalization records
The Clerk’s Archives collection includes more than 500,000 naturalization petitions from 1871–1929. It provides a Declaration of Intention search, but the Clerk cautions that a first-paper entry is not the same as the complete naturalization case file.
- Open the official Archives page.
- Use the Naturalization Declarations of Intention Search for first-paper records.
- Review the Naturalization Record Searches guidance for complete file requests.
- Provide name, approximate dates and any located index reference.
- Ask Archives staff for the correct record and copy procedure.
Cook County Archives Department
Richard J. Daley Center50 W. Washington Street, Room 1113
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-603-6601
Cook County Court Record Search, Copy and Certification Fees
The Clerk charges different amounts for public online information, assisted historical searches, paper reproduction and official certification.
| Service | Published charge | Important details |
|---|---|---|
| Public online case information | Public online access | Docket summaries are not certified or official court records. |
| Archives search | $6 per year searched | Paid in advance when Archives must search indices. |
| Photocopy — first page | $2 | Published archive photocopy charge. |
| Photocopy — next 19 pages | $0.50 each | Archives webpage’s published rate; confirm current totals before paying. |
| Photocopy — remaining pages | $0.25 each | Applied after the first 20 pages. |
| Certification | $6 per certified document | In addition to copying and any mailing charges. |
| Postage | Depends on mailing | Added when records are sent by mail. |
Official Archives fee explanation and Official Record Search Request Form.
Cook County Clerk Services Beyond Case Lookup
Illinois requires e-filing for most civil matters, subject to specified exceptions. The Clerk directs users to the statewide eFileIL process and approved electronic filing service providers.
Official eFile guidanceThe Clerk provides payment information for court obligations, traffic fines, diversion and traffic safety school.
Payments and servicesCertain qualifying arrests, cases and convictions may be eligible for sealing or expungement under Illinois law. Eligibility is case-specific.
Expungement resourcesUse current court forms rather than forms copied from unrelated counties or older articles.
Official forms and servicesThe Clerk identifies Passport Services at the Daley Center, Room 1202. Check eligibility and appointment requirements before visiting.
Passport service detailsThe Clerk offers phone and live-chat assistance during its office hours. Staff cannot provide legal advice or accept filings by telephone.
Customer Service Call CenterCook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Address, Phone and Hours
Main Clerk Office
Richard J. Daley Center50 W. Washington Street, Suite 1001
Chicago, IL 60602-1305
Phone: 312-603-5030
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, excluding court holidays.
Before you call
For civil matters, prepare the case number or the plaintiff’s and defendant’s names.
For criminal cases, prepare the defendant’s name and date of birth.
The Clerk can explain office procedures, general court information and record access. Staff cannot give legal advice or accept case filings by telephone.
No Cook County Case Found? What to Check
| Problem | Possible explanation | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| No case under person’s name | Spelling, case category, district or another person with a similar name. | Check legal-name variations and confirm the division or district. |
| Recent motion or order missing | Online updates may take several days. | Use courthouse public-access terminals or contact the division. |
| No divorce decree in current search | Older domestic-relations file held in Archives. | Search historical indices or request help from Archives with names and year. |
| Certified disposition needed | Online docket is not a certified record. | Contact the Chicago criminal department or suburban filing district. |
| Public case appears restricted | Sealing, expungement, juvenile protections or another legal limitation. | Follow the applicable authorized court access procedure. |
| Wrong courthouse | The matter belongs to a suburban municipal district. | Use the Clerk’s official Divisions and Districts directory. |
Cook County Clerk Official Websites, Forms and Guides
This guide is independently published for informational purposes. Official Cook County court case information, files, copies, certification and legal procedures are governed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and applicable Illinois law.
Cook County Court Case Lookup & Records — 10 FAQs
1. How do I search Cook County court cases online?
Open the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Online Case Information page and follow its public case-search link. Use the supported case-number or party-information search, open the likely match and review the electronic docket. Confirm the case number, parties and division before relying on the result.
2. Can I search Cook County court cases by a person’s name?
The Clerk’s public online case-search service provides available case lookup functions. If you do not know a civil case number, the Clerk’s customer service can assist when you provide plaintiff and defendant names. For criminal matters, prepare the defendant’s name and date of birth.
3. Are Cook County court case search results official court records?
No. The Clerk states that its public online data consists of electronic docket summaries and is not the official court record. For the complete file or a certified document, contact the division or district maintaining the case.
4. Why is my recent Cook County filing not showing online?
The Clerk warns that electronic docket updates may take several days. For a recent filing or court event, check a courthouse public-access terminal, contact the appropriate division or retry the online search later. Do not assume a missing result means the filing never occurred.
5. How do I get a certified Cook County criminal disposition?
Identify the criminal case and the location where it was filed. For Chicago Criminal Department cases, the Clerk requests defendant name, birth date and arrest date. Suburban district cases should be directed to the corresponding suburban Clerk office. Confirm copy and certification requirements before ordering.
6. How do I find old Cook County divorce decrees?
The Clerk’s Archives Department can help locate older divorce cases using party-name indices and a narrowed filing period. A case number is needed to retrieve the file. If you do not know it, Archives may charge $6 per year searched and then arrange off-site file retrieval.
7. How much does Cook County court-record certification cost?
The Archives Department publishes a $6 fee per certified document, plus copying and possible postage charges. Its records-search fee is $6 per year searched. Confirm current page-copy fees with staff because published Clerk materials contain a discrepancy for the per-page rate after the first page.
8. Where are Cook County suburban court records maintained?
Cook County has six municipal districts: Chicago, Skokie, Rolling Meadows, Maywood, Bridgeview and Markham. Record-copy and disposition requests should be directed to the court division or district that maintains the case.
9. Can I obtain Cook County court documents through FOIA?
The Clerk explains that Illinois state judiciary records are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act in the same manner as executive-agency records. Request public court records from the proper Clerk division, district or Archives service using the official court-record procedures.
10. What is the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court phone number and address?
The main Clerk office is at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602. The customer service number is 312-603-5030. Regular call-center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding court holidays.