| Circuit Clerk | Winnebago County Circuit Clerk — Full Court Enterprise Public Access |
|---|---|
| Clerk address | Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 West State St., Rockford, IL 61101 |
| Phone | (815) 319-4500 |
| Hours | 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 |
Winnebago County anchors the 17th Judicial Circuit, and its Circuit Clerk keeps criminal and civil case records for the county at the Winnebago County Courthouse in Rockford.
The county runs its online public-access search on Full Court Enterprise (FCE), a case-management platform from Justice Systems Inc. that lets the public look up case numbers, party information, citation numbers, and daily or weekly court calendars. The clerk publishes a "Public User's Guide" to help first-time users navigate the FCE search.
Rockford is the county seat and largest city in the circuit, and most criminal and civil filings are handled at the downtown Rockford courthouse.
Winnebago's separate County Clerk office handles vital records, elections, and property-tax extension, not court files, so anyone searching for a case should go to the Circuit Clerk rather than the County Clerk. The FCE system the county uses is shared with several other Illinois circuits, which means the search interface and the format of results will look familiar to anyone who has used a neighboring county's public-access system, even though each county's data is separate.
Search Winnebago County court records online
Circuit Clerk
Winnebago County Circuit Clerk — Full Court Enterprise Public Access
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Criminal and civil case information, party details, case and citation numbers, and court calendars for the 17th Judicial Circuit
- Records
- Civil, Criminal
Hosted on the Full Court Enterprise (FCE) platform at fce.wincoil.gov; the clerk's office publishes a Public User's Guide explaining how to search.
What is available online
The FCE public-access system covers criminal and civil cases with searches by case number, citation number, or party name, plus daily and weekly court calendars. The clerk's office does not detail document-image availability on the access page; requesters who need copies of filed documents should expect to request them from the clerk's office directly.
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
Winnebago County clerk offices
Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 West State St., Rockford, IL 61101
Phone: (815) 319-4500
Hours: 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 case information through the Full Court Enterprise public-access system linked from the Circuit Clerk's website; consult the Public User's Guide for search tips.
In person or by mail. Contact the Circuit Clerk's office at 400 West State St., Rockford, IL 61101, 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 before mailing payment.
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 look up a Winnebago County court case?
Use the Full Court Enterprise public-access search linked from the Circuit Clerk's website. It covers criminal and civil cases by case number, citation number, or party name.
Does the Winnebago County Clerk keep court records?
No. The County Clerk's office handles vital records, elections, and property-tax extension. Court case records for the 17th Judicial Circuit are kept by the Circuit Clerk.
Where is the Winnebago County Circuit Clerk's office?
Winnebago County Courthouse, 400 West State St., Rockford, IL 61101.
Does the Winnebago County search include court calendars?
Yes. The FCE public-access system includes daily and weekly court calendars in addition to case and party lookups.
Can I get document copies online in Winnebago County?
The public-access system is for searching case information; document copies generally need to be requested from the Circuit Clerk's office directly.
Sources
- Winnebago County Circuit Clerk — Access Court Records — https://www.circuitclerk.wincoil.gov/access-court-records/
- Winnebago County Full Court Enterprise Public Access — https://fce.wincoil.gov
- 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.