1.What are Illinois rules about public records?
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) and Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120) are pro-disclosure laws created to ensure that the public has access to public records and government information. The Acts apply to Public bodies. Judicial bodies are exempt from these acts. Examples of records that are exempt from public access include those that would violate personal privacy rights, endanger citizens or government entities, or are confidential by law.
2.What are considered public records in Illinois?
In Illinois, Public Records are defined as all reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, recorded information and all other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared, or having been or being used, received, possessed or under the control of any public body.
3.What public record databases are available in Illinois that I should know about?
Today there is a wide range of public records online. At the Illinois state level, some of the more popular types that we provide links to are company and corporation searches; court records; professional, medical, and business licenses; inmates; vital records; registered sex offenders; unclaimed property; employer databases; historical marriage records; warrants; court opinions; historical death records; crime reports; public land sales; most-wanted persons; missing persons; school profiles; revenues; traffic accidents; unsolved crimes; statutes; banking databases; campaign finance; farm subsidies; lobbyists; Bills & Resolutions; and many more.
4.What is important to know about the Illinois court system?
The entry point for all cases in Illinois is the Circuit Clerk. There are 102 Circuit Clerks, one for each county. The next level up is the Circuit Court and Arbitration Panels. There are 23 circuits for the 102 counties and they hear most cases in Illinois. Arbitration panels are panels of 3 attorneys and they handle lawsuits of $30,000 or less in Cook County, and $50,000 or less in 16 other counties. The next level up is the Appellate Court. There are five district appeals courts and they handle appeals from Circuit Courts and administrative agencies. At the top is the Supreme Court, which handles cases from the appellate courts and circuit courts, as well as the review of death sentence.
5.How do I find court records in Illinois?
Use the <Illinois by Category> menu on the left and select <Court Records> to access our links to federal, state, district, and county court record databases. These include U.S. District, Supreme, Appellate, and Circuit Courts and include civil, criminal, traffic, and probate filings.
6.What is important to know about criminal records in Illinois?
Felony, Misdemeanor, DWI/DUI, and Preliminary Hearings are all handled at Circuit Court. As most Circuit Courts provide their information online, disposed criminal case information is readily available to the public in Illinois.
7.How do I find criminal records in Illinois?
Use the <Illinois by Category> menu and select <Criminal Records>. You will find links to the IL State Police for ordering your own statewide background check; IL Dept of Corrections inmate databases; Federal PACER criminal court records; a database of violent offenders against youth; registered sex offenders; Methamphetamine manufacturers; and city & county inmate & criminal court record databases. Click on <Illinois Criminal Background Search> and use our Premium service to search Dept of Corrections current and former inmates; statewide sex offenders; and 62 county criminal court databases of felony & misdemeanor convictions, all at once for $9.95.
8.How do I find property records in Illinois?
Use the <Illinois by Category> menu on the left and select <Property Records> to access 120 databases from available counties, cities, towns, and townships in Illinois. Use the <Illinois by Category> menu and select <Recorded Documents> to access deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, lis pendens, and many other types of official and land records.
9.How do I search birth, death, divorce and marriage records in Illinois?
Use the <Illinois by Category> menu on the left and select births, deaths, marriages, or divorces. The <Birth Records> page has links historical city & county birth indexes. The <Death Records> page has links to the Social Security Death Index for Illinois; a Secretary of State death index; and county & city death, obituary, cemetery, burial, and genealogy databases. The <Marriage Records> page has links to state, county, and local marriage databases. Most are historical. The <Divorce Records> page has 60 links to county court divorce databases.
10.How do I order copies of vital records in Illinois?
Birth and death certificates are provided by: Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 605 W. Jefferson St., Springfield, IL 62702-5097, (217) 782-6553, Fax: (217) 523-2648. For more information on ordering Vital Records in Illinois, use the <Illinois by Category> menu at left to navigate to our <Illinois Vital Records> page.
11.How do I find occupational, medical, professional, or business licenses in Illinois?
To find the license status of an Illinois physician, real estate agent, CPA, dentist, registered nurse, therapist, insurance company, or any other of over 200 Illinois license verification services, use the <Illinois Licenses> menu on the left and pick from the list.