Obtain Free Madison County Divorce Records (Case Search)

Track down free Madison County divorce records right away using the convenient lookup methods outlined in this streamlined resource.

Anyone interested in researching family or local histories can request information about whether a divorce decree is on file. However, only authorized parties can access specific divorce-related documents, such as certificates and decrees.

This resource links to valuable online search tools and provides contact information for local record custodians to help all interested parties access divorce information and assist divorcees in obtaining copies of their records in Madison County, Illinois.

How To Conduct a Madison County Divorce Records Search for Free

Divorce cases in Illinois are heard at the circuit court. The Circuit Court’s website provides the Court Records Search tool, which allows you to search these records for free.¹

To use the search tool, individuals must first complete the reCaptcha challenge and then enter the name of one of the divorced parties. Clicking “Go” starts the search.

Note that the search is not case-sensitive, but it does require the use of full legal names. Nicknames (e.g., Mike vs Michael) are not collected in family court cases.

The search results page will show a small number of records per page. Dissolution of marriage cases are displayed under the category Divorce in the “Case Type” column. Clicking on the relevant row in the results table lets searchers view more information about a specific case.

The results include:

• Case ID
• Names of the Persons Involved
• Address of the Plaintiff
• Status of the Case
• Judge Who Heard the Case

Click “Judgements” to view more details about the decision, such as whether the dissolution was granted. Click “Dockets” to view limited facts about available case documents.

It is not possible to view complete case dockets online. However, the information provided here may help narrow record searches to individuals who submit requests in person.

To access certified divorce records or more detailed documents, authorized parties must contact the Madison County Clerk of Court for the Circuit Court. The Court Record Archives office is located at the following address:

Madison County Circuit Court
155 North Main Street
Suite 11 on Lower Level
Edwardsville, IL 62025

Fax: 618-692-0676
Email: [email protected]

The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during public holidays.

Requests can be made in person or by completing an online Circuit Clerk’s Copy Request Form.² In the case of online requests, the clerk will reply by post or via email with the cost of the copies. The request will be completed when payment has been made in full.

Searchers can request to receive copies by mail and/or email or to pick them up in person. Fees vary depending on the delivery method, the number of documents, and whether the documents are to be certified.

If the case number is unknown, there is a fee of $6 per year searched when looking up public records. Payment can be made via check or credit card.

Processing times vary. If the request is urgent, researchers should visit the court in person to request same-day processing.

Look Up Divorce or Dissolution of Marriage Details Through Cities in Madison County Illinois

Since 1904, divorce cases have been processed by the Circuit Court in Madison County rather than at local city courts.³ Divorces that took place before 1904 may have been heard by the Illinois General Assembly.⁴ Because divorces fall under the Circuit Court, records are managed at the county level, and city record custodians are unlikely to have their divorce index.

This applies to large areas such as Granite City, the county seat of Edwardsville and Alton, and smaller municipalities such as Troy and Highland. All cases are heard at the Circuit Court, and court records are held centrally rather than on a city level.

The Circuit Court submits divorce records to a statewide database. However, if someone is looking for divorce information and is confident the paperwork was filed in Madison County, submitting the records request to the Clerk of Court for that county makes sense.

State-level record custodians receive a high volume of requests and have large databases to search. By narrowing the search to as local a level as possible, searchers are more likely to get a fast response and accurate results from a public records department that is less busy.

If the parties’ residence is unknown, searching at a broader level or contacting more than one Circuit Court may be required to determine if a divorce is on file in Illinois.

How To Search the Illinois Department of Public Health for Divorce Records Throughout the State

You can request a divorce verification from the Division of Vital Records at the Illinois Department of Health.⁵ However, the Division of Vital Records cannot issue a certified copy of the certificate or provide copies of divorce papers. It can only verify that a divorce occurred in the state as long as it took place after 1962.

The divorce verification will include the following information:

• Names of the Parties Involved
• Dates of Birth
• Date of the Dissolution of Marriage
• City and County (in which the divorce took place)

To request this information, interested parties must download a copy of the request form from the Illinois Department of Public Health website and send the completed form along with payment and proof of ID to the following address:⁶

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 East Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, Illinois 62702

Fax: 217-523-2648

Requests cost $5 (plus $3 for each additional person in a group order), and payment can be submitted by check or money order. The average processing time is 4 to 6 weeks.

It’s also possible to visit the Division of Vital Records at the address listed above to request documents in person. The office is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. As with postal requests, searchers will need to provide proof of ID.

Who Can View Divorce Records in Madison County?

Divorce records are available at the Madison County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.⁷ The exception is if the documents were sealed after a successful request by the parties involved. Sealed records are accessible only to the relevant parties and their legal representatives. The access to these records is governed by the Illinois Vital Records Act.⁸

Searching for historical divorce information can sometimes be difficult, in particular, if the couple was in a common law relationship. Illinois abolished the idea of common law marriage in 1905, and cohabiting couples do not have the same rights as married couples. In addition, a cohabiting couple that separates does not have to go through a common law divorce, making it harder to track the formal ending of their relationship.

Thanks to public records custodians, it’s possible to access Madison County dissolution records as a member of the public, whatever the reason for the search.

Madison County Circuit Court will have records only of divorces in the county. If the divorce occurred in another county, the Clerk of the Circuit Court in that county will hold the records.

Moreover, third party providers may offer an alternative avenue to obtain divorce records. However, it is important to note that records obtained from these providers cannot be used for legal purposes unless they are endorsed by official county or state agencies.

While Madison County divorce records are generally available to the public, it is essential to follow the steps provided in this resource to view or acquire a copy of these records efficiently and effectively.