Bloomington Divorce Records
Divorce records for Bloomington are maintained by the McLean County Circuit Court Clerk, not the city. Bloomington serves as the county seat of McLean County, so the courthouse and clerk's office are located in the city itself at 104 West Front Street. All dissolution of marriage cases for Bloomington residents are filed and stored there. This page explains how to find and request those records.
Bloomington at a Glance
Which County Handles Bloomington Divorce Records
Divorce records in Illinois are created and stored by the county circuit court, not by cities. For Bloomington residents, that means McLean County and its Circuit Court Clerk. Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County, which means the courthouse sits right in the city. That makes in-person access convenient compared to cities where residents must travel to a different town for court records.
When a Bloomington resident files for divorce, the petition goes to the McLean County Circuit Court. The clerk receives that filing, assigns a case number, tracks all subsequent documents, and stores the final judgment once the court enters it. Most documents in a divorce file are public unless a judge has specifically sealed them.
| Office | McLean County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Donald R. Everhart, Jr. |
| Address | 104 West Front Street, Room 404, Bloomington, IL 61701-5005 |
| Phone | 309/888-5301 |
| Fax | 309/888-5281 |
| Website | mcleancountyil.gov/departments/circuit-court-clerk |
Note: Room 404 is on the fourth floor of the McLean County Law and Justice Center at 104 West Front Street. Bring a photo ID for in-person visits.
How to Access Bloomington Divorce Records
McLean County offers in-person, mail, and online options for accessing divorce records. The county's online records search makes it possible to find basic case information without a trip to the courthouse.
In person: Go to Room 404 at 104 West Front Street during business hours. You can search the case index, review files, and request copies. Fees apply for copies. Certified copies cost more than plain copies but carry the court seal and are accepted as legal proof for things like remarriage or name change applications.
By mail: Send a written request with both parties' full names, the approximate year of the divorce, and a check for copy fees. The clerk will process and mail the documents. Allow one to two weeks under normal conditions. High-volume periods may take longer.
Online: McLean County has a dedicated online court records search at mcleancountyil.gov/137/Court-Records-Search. You can search by name or case number. Basic case information is available at no charge. The statewide Judici.com portal also covers McLean County cases and provides another search option.
McLean County provides court records search information at mcleancountyil.gov, including links to online case access tools.
Start with the online search before visiting in person; it can confirm whether a case exists before you make the trip.
What Bloomington Divorce Files Contain
A McLean County divorce file includes all documents filed from the opening petition to the final decree. The petition for dissolution of marriage is the first item. From there, the file builds up with the summons, proof of service on the other spouse, financial disclosure forms from both parties, any temporary orders the court issued during the case, motions and responses, and eventually the judgment for dissolution of marriage.
If the couple has minor children, the file also includes a parenting plan or agreed custody order, child support worksheets, and any later modifications. When the parties agreed on property division, a marital settlement agreement is usually attached to or referenced in the final judgment.
Illinois law governs the entire process under 750 ILCS 5. Before filing in McLean County, at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 consecutive days, as required by 750 ILCS 5/413. The case is properly filed in McLean County when either party resides there.
Note: Plain copies are fine for research or personal records. Certified copies are needed when a government agency or institution requires legal proof that a divorce occurred.
IDPH Statewide Divorce Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide index of divorces finalized in Illinois since 1962. This is not the full court file. The IDPH holds a dissolution of marriage certificate: a short record that confirms the divorce and lists the parties' names, the county where it was filed, and the year it was finalized. This is often enough for simple verification purposes but does not replace the full court file from the circuit clerk.
Requests go by mail to the IDPH in Springfield. The fee is $5. Allow four to six weeks. A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID must come with the request.
| Agency | Illinois Department of Public Health |
|---|---|
| Address | 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702 |
| Phone | (217) 782-6553 |
| Fee | $5 per search |
| Mail time | 4 to 6 weeks |
Full details are on the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page. ID rules are on the valid photo ID page. For the full case file, contact the McLean County Circuit Clerk directly, not IDPH.
Illinois Divorce Law Overview
Illinois eliminated fault-based divorce grounds and replaced them with a single no-fault standard: irreconcilable differences. Courts no longer accept claims of adultery, abuse, or abandonment as legal grounds for divorce. The only question is whether the marriage has broken down beyond repair.
The main law is 750 ILCS 5. When it comes to property, Illinois uses equitable distribution. That means the court divides marital property fairly based on the specific facts of the case. Contributions to the marriage, each party's financial situation, and the length of the marriage all play a role. The split is not required to be equal. Pre-marital property, gifts, and inheritances are typically excluded from the marital estate.
Vital records rules governing how dissolution certificates are collected and held at the state level are in the Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535. That statute requires every circuit clerk to send dissolution data to the IDPH for each finalized case.
Legal Resources and Historical Records
Older records and legal guidance are available through several channels beyond the circuit clerk.
The Illinois State Archives holds historical court records, including older McLean County dissolution cases that may have been transferred out of active storage. Research staff can help you locate records that are no longer with the circuit clerk. Contact the archives before visiting to find out what is available and how to access it.
The Illinois Genealogical Society maintains research tools and indexes for tracing marriages and divorces in older Illinois records. Pre-1962 cases are outside the IDPH index, and the genealogical society's resources can help you work out where those records might be held, whether at the county level or in archived collections.
For help with a current case or to find a family law attorney, the McLean County Bar Association provides referrals. Illinois Legal Aid Online is a free resource for those who may qualify for assistance. Residents of Bloomington may also be served by Prairie State Legal Services, which covers central Illinois counties.
Nearby Illinois Cities
These other Illinois cities also use the county court system for divorce records: