| Circuit Clerk | McHenry County Circuit Clerk — Public Case Access |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | McHenry County Circuit Clerk, 2200 N. Seminary Ave (Route 47), Rooms 136 & 353, Woodstock, IL 60098 |
| Phone | (815) 334-4190 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| 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 |
McHenry County is its own judicial circuit, the 22nd, and the Circuit Court Clerk keeps every case filed in the county — civil, family, probate, criminal, and traffic — at the historic courthouse complex in Woodstock.
The clerk's office runs a "Public Case Access" web portal for searching case information, along with e-filing, remote-appearance information, and a free self-represented-litigant portal aimed at people handling their own family, small-claims, or eviction cases without a lawyer.
McHenry, like several collar counties, keeps a single office for all case types rather than splitting district and county clerk functions, so one search and one records request covers the whole docket.
The county's separate County Clerk office, in the same government complex, handles vital records, elections, and property-tax extension rather than court files, so a request for a court case should always go to the Circuit Clerk, not the County Clerk. McHenry County also participates in the state's eFileIL system, so most new civil and criminal filings arrive electronically rather than on paper, which is part of why the Circuit Clerk's office has invested in remote-appearance and e-filing tools alongside the traditional counter service at the Woodstock courthouse complex.
Search McHenry County court records online
Circuit Clerk
McHenry County Circuit Clerk — Public Case Access
- Cost
- Free case search
- Coverage
- 22nd Judicial Circuit case types including civil, family (adoption, divorce, guardianship), probate, criminal, and traffic
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
The direct case-search subdomain (caseinfo.mchenrycountyil.gov) returned a bot-blocking response during automated verification; use the link from the clerk's main site.
What is available online
The clerk's Public Case Access portal covers civil matters (adoption, arbitration, divorce, eviction, guardianship, mortgage foreclosure, name changes, orders of protection, probate, small claims, and wills) as well as criminal and traffic cases, including traffic-ticket payment and DUI-related services. The clerk's office also offers e-filing and a free Self-Represented Litigant portal. Document images are not uniformly available for older, non-electronic filings; those records typically require an in-person or mailed request to the clerk's office rather than a self-service download.
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
McHenry County clerk offices
McHenry County Circuit Clerk, 2200 N. Seminary Ave (Route 47), Rooms 136 & 353, Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: (815) 334-4190
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Online. Search the Public Case Access portal linked from the clerk's website by name or case number.
In person or by mail. Contact the Circuit Clerk's office at 2200 N. Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098, with the case number, the documents needed, and whether certified copies are required.
Fees. Copy and certification fees follow the Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105); confirm the current per-page rate with the clerk's office.
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 McHenry County court records online?
Use the Public Case Access portal linked from the McHenry County Circuit Clerk's website. It covers civil, family, probate, criminal, and traffic cases.
Where is the McHenry County Circuit Clerk's office?
2200 N. Seminary Ave (Route 47), Rooms 136 and 353, Woodstock, IL 60098.
Does McHenry County have resources for people without a lawyer?
Yes. The Circuit Clerk offers a free Self-Represented Litigant portal for people handling their own family, small-claims, or eviction matters.
What are the McHenry County Circuit Clerk's hours?
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Does the McHenry County Clerk keep court records?
No. The County Clerk handles vital records, elections, and property-tax extension. Court case records are kept by the Circuit Clerk, a separate elected office in the same government complex.
Sources
- McHenry County Circuit Clerk — https://www.mchenrycircuitclerk.org/
- 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.