| Circuit Clerk | Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lake County |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Clerk of the Circuit Court, 18 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Phone | (847) 377-3380 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Lake County is the seat of the 19th Judicial Circuit, and its Clerk of the Circuit Court keeps every criminal, civil, and traffic case filed in the county, at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan. Juvenile records are kept separately and are not part of the public search.
Unlike counties that offer a free public case-search website, Lake County's main published option for a name-based record search is a mail-in request to the clerk's office with a modest per-name, per-year fee; the clerk's site also references an online portal for parties and attorneys. Anyone doing a broad background-style search of Lake County cases should expect to submit a written request rather than use a self-service search box.
Lake County borders Wisconsin and includes Waukegan, North Chicago, and several branch court locations, but the Circuit Clerk's Waukegan office is the central record-keeping office for the whole circuit.
Search Lake County court records online
Circuit Clerk
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lake County
- Cost
- $6 per name per year for a mailed record search; no charge to request a specific known case in person
- Coverage
- Criminal, traffic, and civil case records for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County; juvenile records excluded
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Traffic
Mail requests must include the name searched, years to search, case types, and date of birth, with payment by money order, certified check, or cashier's check (no personal checks by mail).
What is available online
Lake County does not publish a free self-service case-search website for the general public in the same way some neighboring counties do. The Circuit Clerk's Record Searches page describes a mail-in process for name-based background-style searches, and the 19th Judicial Circuit references an online portal primarily aimed at attorneys and case parties. Anyone who needs to check whether a case exists should plan on a mailed request or an in-person visit to the Waukegan courthouse.
Which clerk has your record
In Illinois, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Illinois page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Appellate Court (5 districts) | Appeals from circuit-court civil and criminal judgments; Interlocutory appeals; Administrative review in some case types | Clerk of the relevant Appellate Court district |
| Circuit Courts (25 judicial circuits) | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Civil suits of any amount; Divorce, custody, and other family cases | Circuit Clerk of the county (elected countywide) |
Request records in person or by mail
Lake County clerk offices
Clerk of the Circuit Court, 18 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: (847) 377-3380
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
By mail. Send a written request to Clerk of the Circuit Court, ATTN: Record Search, 18 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085, including the full name, date of birth, the years to search, and which case types (criminal, traffic, civil) you want checked. Include payment of $6 per name per year by money order, certified check, or cashier's check; personal checks and cash are not accepted by mail.
In person. Visit the Circuit Clerk's office at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan to search a known case or request copies at the counter.
Fees. Copy and certification fees for documents follow the Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105); confirm the current per-page rate with the clerk's office before mailing a request.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Illinois |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Circuit clerk fees, including copy and certification fees, are set under the Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105), which gives minimum-and-maximum ranges by county population (Section 27.1a for counties under 500,000 people, Section 27.2 for counties between 500,000 and 3,000,000). Because each county board can set its own fee within that range, the actual per-page and certification cost varies by county — confirm the current amount with the circuit clerk before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Illinois court records are presumed open, but several categories will not appear in a public search:
The Illinois guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Lake County, Illinois court records?
Lake County does not offer a free public case-search website for the general public. Submit a written record-search request by mail to the Circuit Clerk with the name, date of birth, years to search, and $6 per name per year, or visit the Waukegan courthouse in person.
Are Lake County juvenile records public?
No. Juvenile court records are confidential and are excluded from the Circuit Clerk's record searches.
Where is the Lake County Circuit Clerk's office?
18 North County Street, Waukegan, IL 60085. This is the central office for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Lake County.
Can I pay for a Lake County record search with a personal check?
No. Mailed requests must be paid with a money order, certified check, or cashier's check made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court; personal checks are not accepted by mail.
Sources
- Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court — Record Searches — https://www.lakecountycircuitclerk.org/203/Record-Searches
- 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Illinois — Accessing Public Records — https://19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/1805/Public-Records
- State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts — https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/
- Illinois Courts — Circuit Court overview — https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/
- re:SearchIL (Illinois Supreme Court document access portal) — https://researchil.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/Home
- Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification — Name-Based Background Checks — https://isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/NameBased
- Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification — Fee Schedule — https://isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/FeeSchedule
- Illinois Supreme and Appellate Court Opinions Search — https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/top-level-opinions/
- 20 ILCS 2630 — Criminal Identification Act — https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=350&ChapterID=5
- 705 ILCS 105 — Clerks of Courts Act — https://www.ilga.gov/Legislation/ILCS/Articles?ActID=1847&ChapterID=50
- Northern District of Illinois — U.S. District Court — https://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Illinois counties.