| Circuit Clerk | St. Clair County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | St. Clair County Circuit Clerk, #10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220 |
| Phone | (618) 277-6600 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Criminal Cashier's Booth 8:15 a.m.–4:00 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 |
St. Clair County is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit, and the Circuit Clerk keeps criminal and civil case records for the county at the courthouse on Public Square in Belleville. The current Circuit Clerk is Kinnis Williams Sr.
All civil filings by attorneys and self-represented litigants must be e-filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9, and the clerk's office provides case-date lookups on its website along with a subscription option through Clericus Magnus for ongoing electronic access to case files.
St. Clair County, part of the Metro East region across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, has a separate cashier's booth for criminal case payments with its own shorter public hours.
Search St. Clair County court records online
Circuit Clerk
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk
- Cost
- Free case-date lookup; subscription required for Clericus Magnus electronic file access
- Coverage
- Circuit Court of St. Clair County civil and criminal case information; e-filing is mandatory for civil cases under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Probate, Traffic
Ongoing electronic access to case documents is available by subscription through Clericus Magnus, separate from the free lookup tools on the clerk's site.
What is available online
The Circuit Clerk's website provides web-based access to civil and criminal court dates and general case information; because cases are frequently continued and reset, the office recommends checking the site regularly rather than relying on a single lookup. Subscribers can get electronic court-file access through Clericus Magnus. Civil e-filing is required for attorneys and self-represented litigants under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9.
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
St. Clair County clerk offices
St. Clair County Circuit Clerk, #10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220
Phone: (618) 277-6600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Criminal Cashier's Booth 8:15 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Online. Check case dates and general information through the Circuit Clerk's website; subscribe to Clericus Magnus for ongoing electronic file access.
In person. Visit the Circuit Clerk's office at #10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220; criminal case payments are handled at the Criminal Cashier's Booth, open 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
By mail. Write to the Circuit Clerk with the case number, the documents needed, and whether certified copies are required; call (618) 277-6600 or email CircuitClerk@co.st-clair.il.us first to confirm the fee.
Fees. Copy and certification fees follow the Clerks of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105); the clerk's office publishes its own fee schedule for reference.
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 check a St. Clair County court date?
Use the case-date lookup on the Circuit Clerk's website. Because cases are often continued or reset, the office recommends checking again close to the date you need.
Is e-filing required for civil cases in St. Clair County?
Yes, for attorneys and self-represented litigants, under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9.
Where do I pay a St. Clair County criminal case fee or fine?
At the Criminal Cashier's Booth in the Circuit Clerk's office, open 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on business days, separate from the office's general 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours.
How do I get ongoing electronic access to St. Clair County case files?
Subscribe to Clericus Magnus, the third-party service the Circuit Clerk's office uses for electronic court-file access beyond the free case-date lookup.
Sources
- St. Clair County Circuit Clerk — https://www.co.st-clair.il.us/departments/circuit-clerk
- St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Fee Schedule — https://www.co.st-clair.il.us/webdocuments/departments/circuitclerk/additionalResources/Circuit%20Clerk%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf
- 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.