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McHenry County, Illinois State Court Records

In McHenry County, Illinois, court records are official recordings of legal proceedings, filed court documents, and judicial matters. Such records generally provide evidence that the judicial system followed standard and fair legal processes.

Court records in McHenry are under the jurisdiction of the circuit court clerk. The court clerk is the official custodian for court records generated within the county courts. Examples of such records include court orders, filings, dockets, judgments, and transcripts.

The clerk also discloses court records to interested and eligible parties in accordance with the Illinois Supreme Court Rules and Statutes. Inquirers are usually required to fulfill specific requirements to obtain records from the circuit court clerk’s office. McHenry County court records often include related public files filed before and during court proceedings.

Are McHenry County Court Records Public?

Yes, most court records in McHenry County are publicly accessible. The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act (705 ILCS 86) regulates public access to court records in the county.

Under this law, public members can inspect or obtain copies of court documents from designated local or state-level entities. The law, for instance, empowers court clerks to maintain records of court documents and to disclose them to eligible and interested parties. Publicly accessible court information includes case party names, case identifiers, court transcripts, and judgments.

Note that record custodians have the legal right to withhold information that may expose an individual to harm. For this reason, juvenile court cases are not publicly accessible and are available only to the record subject, legal guardians, or other eligible parties. Mental health documents and other medical reports are also exempt from most public court records.

What Information is Available in McHenry County Court Records?

Court records in McHenry County typically include the following information:

  • Case identifiers, such as the case number and type.
  • Case party information, including the names of plaintiffs, defendants, and legal representatives.
  • Docket entries and case summaries.
  • Court judgments and dispositions.
  • Copies of legal documents submitted to the court in relation to a court event.

Court records may include different information, depending on the case type and other circumstances. For instance, civil case records may include complaints, settlements, motions, and agreements. Criminal case files, in contrast, might consist of bond information, pleas, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders.

That said, court records may contain confidential information not visible to the public. For example, juvenile, adoption, and mental health case files are generally considered confidential information in court records.

McHenry County Court Records Search

In McHenry County, interested parties can search and access court records via these options:

Note that the online search platform may not include specific case types and information. For example, inquirers are generally unable to view sealed or expunged court records on the platform.

  • In-Person Access: Persons or entities may access court records in person by visiting the circuit court clerk’s office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Inquirers can make the request at this location:

District: 2 | Circuit: 22nd

McHenry County

2200 North Seminary Avenue

Woodstock, Illinois 60098

Phone: (815) 334-4385.

Inquirers must provide relevant search details when requesting court records at the clerk’s office. The clerk may request details like the case party names, number, or case year.

  • Mail and Phone Requests: Almost anyone can request court records via email sent to the circuit court clerk at CircuitClerk@mchenrycountyil.gov. The request must include the following information:
    • The case party’s name, phone number, or email address.
    • Case identifiers, like case number, party names, file date, or document title.

Indicate if inquirers want certified or informational copies, or if inquirers would like to receive the request via mail or email.

Upon receiving the request, the court clerk will forward an estimate of the required fees. For example, each request attracts a $6 search fee, plus $2 for the first page and $ 0.50 for each of the subsequent 19 pages. Inquirers may pay the fees via online or offline payment options. Offline or mail-based payments must be mailed to:

McHenry County Circuit Clerk

Attn: Room 136

2200 North Seminary Avenue

Woodstock, IL 60098

Fees for Court Records in McHenry County

Record seekers are generally required to pay specific fees when searching and copying court records in McHenry County, Illinois. For example, inquirers must include a $6 search fee if there is not enough information about the requested court record. The copy fees may vary based on the number of requested copies; inquirers may pay $2 for the first page, $0.5 per additional page up to 20 pages, and $0.25 per subsequent page. In addition, the circuit clerk charges a $6 fee per certification.

Note: The circuit clerk’s official website does not provide information about fee waivers for court record requests. However, inquirers may contact the clerk directly to check the availability.

McHenry County Courthouse Locations

Interested parties can find McHenry County courthouses at these locations:

McHenry County Circuit Court

McHenry County Government Center

2200 North Seminary Avenue

Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: (815) 334-4310 (Civil/Probate/Divorce)

Phone: (815) 334-4313 (Felony/Misdemeanor)

Phone: (815) 334-4190 (Traffic/Misdemeanor/Juvenile)

Administrative Adjudication in McHenry County

Algonquin Office of Adjudication

Ganek Municipal Center

2200 Harnish Drive

Algonquin, IL 60102

Phone: (847) 658-2700

Fax: (847) 658-4564

Cary Administrative Adjudication

Cary Village Hall

655 Village Hall Drive

Cary, IL 60013

Phone: (847) 639-2341

Crystal Lake Administrative Adjudication Division

City Hall

100 West Woodstock Street

PO Box 597

Crystal Lake, IL 60039

Phone: (815) 459-2020 ext. 4273

Spring Grove Administrative Adjudication Court

Village Board Room

7401 Meyer Road

Spring Grove, IL 60081

Phone: (815) 675-2596 ext. 104

Fax: (815) 675-2320

Woodstock Administrative Adjudication

121 West Calhoun Street

Woodstock, IL 60098

Phone: (815) 338-4300

Criminal Records Access in McHenry County

The Illinois State Police, via the Bureau of Identification, maintains access to criminal history records generated in McHenry County. Note that criminal history checks are not the same as criminal case records. The former provides a summary of an individual’s criminal past, while the latter contains all information regarding criminal case proceedings.

Inquirers seeking to access these records must contact any of the county’s local law enforcement agencies. The agency will request the inquirer’s fingerprint and a request letter. Next, the agency will forward them to the Bureau of Identification. The Bureau will then review and retrieve the required data and send it to the inquirer’s provided mail address.

In contrast, inquirers may access criminal court records via online or offline searches. The county circuit clerk’s office maintains an online searchable database via which inquirers can view court records. At the same time, the court clerk allows in-person or mail-in inquiries for court records in their custody. Irrespective of the search option, inquirers must provide relevant information about the requested court document.

McHenry County Probate Records

McHenry County probate court records contain information on probate-related cases handled in the county courts. Probate-related cases may include settling a deceased’s estate, property transfers, name changes, and property distribution.

Probate court records in McHenry County are generally confidential and subject to strict restrictions under the law. The McHenry Circuit Court Clerk may redact confidential probate information, such as information on minors, financial statements, and personal information, from publicly accessible probate records.

Nevertheless, interested parties can still view non-confidential probate data through resources provided by the circuit court clerk. For instance, inquirers may view case files and filed documents via the circuit clerk’s online searchable database. An alternative option is to make a request in person by visiting the circuit court clerk at this address:

District: 2 | Circuit: 22nd

McHenry County

2200 North Seminary Avenue

Woodstock, IL- Illinois 60098

Phone: (815) 334-4385.

Before processing an in-person request, the court clerk may request valid proof of identity and relevant information about the requested document.

McHenry County Family Court Records

McHenry County family records contain information on family law cases like divorce, child support and custody, adoption, and domestic violence. Inquirers may find such records under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. The court clerk offers an online searchable platform for family court records. In addition, the clerk allows mail or in-person requests for certified and informational copies of family records. Inquirers using the mail-in option may follow these steps:

  1. Create a request that contains the record subject’s personal information and case identifiers.
  2. Specify the document type or option for receiving the record.
  3. Submit the request to CircuitClerk@mchenrycountyil.gov.

Upon receiving the request, the circuit clerk will forward the estimated fees required for searching and copying the record. Inquirers may pay required fees via credit card, money order, or check.

Residents may also access the records in person by visiting the circuit clerk’s office at:

District: 2 | Circuit: 22nd

McHenry County

2200 North Seminary Avenue

Woodstock, IL - Illinois 60098

Federal Court Records in McHenry County

McHenry County falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. To obtain records of cases tried at these courts, inquirers must conduct searches via the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).

The online search platform allows inquirers to view and obtain copies of federal court records in McHenry County. To view records on the platform, inquirers must create an account and provide the required search information, like the court name and case identifiers.

In contrast, inquirers may request the records in person by visiting the Northern District Court at this address:

219 South Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: (312) 435-5670

McHenry County Court