Search Peoria Divorce Records
Divorce records for Peoria are kept by the Peoria County Circuit Court Clerk, not the city. All dissolution of marriage cases filed by Peoria residents go through the Peoria County Circuit Court, located in downtown Peoria at the county courthouse on Main Street. This page walks you through the ways to find and request those records.
Peoria at a Glance
Which County Handles Peoria Divorce Records
Illinois cities do not file or store divorce records. That is the job of the county circuit court. For Peoria residents, that means Peoria County and its Circuit Court Clerk. Peoria is the county seat, so the courthouse sits in the heart of the city. When a divorce case is filed, all documents go to the clerk's office at the Peoria County Courthouse on Main Street.
The clerk receives the initial petition, tracks filings throughout the case, and stores the final judgment once the court enters it. Everything from financial affidavits to custody orders becomes part of the public case file. The public can request copies of most of these documents unless a judge has ordered specific items sealed.
| Office | Peoria County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Robert Spears |
| Address | 324 Main Street, Room G22, Peoria, IL 61602-1319 |
| Phone | 309/672-6989 |
| Fax | 309/677-6228 |
| Website | peoriacounty.org/173/Circuit-Clerk |
Note: Room G22 is on the ground floor of the courthouse. Check the county website for current office hours before visiting.
How to Access Peoria Divorce Records
You can get Peoria County divorce records in three main ways: in person, by mail, or online. Each works, though the time and effort required differ.
In person: Go to Room G22 at 324 Main Street during business hours. Bring a photo ID. You can search the case index yourself or ask staff for help. Once you find the case, you can view the file and request copies. Fees apply for copies, with a higher rate for certified copies that carry the official court seal.
By mail: Write to the Peoria County Circuit Clerk and include the names of both parties, the year the divorce was filed or finalized, and payment for copy fees. The clerk will process the request and mail the documents. Plan for at least one to two weeks, possibly longer during busy periods.
Online: Peoria County cases appear on Judici.com. You can search by party name or case number. Basic case data is free. Some document images may carry a small viewing fee. Older cases and sealed records typically do not appear in the online system.
The Peoria County Circuit Clerk's office page at peoriacounty.org provides office hours, contact details, and links to online services.
Visit the clerk's page before requesting records to confirm current fees and any changes to access procedures.
What Peoria Divorce Files Contain
A Peoria County divorce file holds all court documents from first filing to final judgment. That starts with the petition for dissolution of marriage and the summons served on the other spouse. From there, the file grows to include financial disclosure statements, any temporary orders the court may have issued, pleadings from both sides, and eventually the judgment for dissolution of marriage.
If the couple had minor children, the file will also contain a parenting plan or parenting agreement, child support worksheets, and any custody or visitation orders. Property settlement agreements, if the parties reached one outside of a full trial, are usually attached to the final decree.
All of this is governed by 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. The law requires Illinois residency of at least 90 days before filing, per 750 ILCS 5/413. Peoria County is the proper venue if either spouse lives in the county at the time of filing.
Note: Certified copies of the judgment for dissolution are often needed for legal purposes such as remarriage, name change applications, or updating financial accounts.
IDPH Statewide Divorce Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide divorce index covering records from 1962 onward. If you just need to confirm that a divorce happened and do not need the full court file, the IDPH can provide a dissolution of marriage certificate. This is a separate record from the court file and contains only basic identifying information about the case.
Requests go by mail to the IDPH office in Springfield. The fee is $5 per search. It takes four to six weeks for the office to process and return results. You must include a valid government-issued photo ID copy with your 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 |
Details are on the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page. The ID requirement is described on the valid photo ID page. If you need the full case file rather than just a verification, contact the Peoria County Circuit Clerk directly.
Illinois Divorce Law Overview
Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. The only ground for divorce is irreconcilable differences. Courts no longer require proof of fault, such as adultery or abandonment. If both spouses agree the marriage is over, the process can move fairly quickly. If they disagree on property or children, the case takes longer.
The governing law is 750 ILCS 5. Illinois divides marital property using equitable distribution, meaning the court splits things fairly based on circumstances, not necessarily 50/50. Debts are also divided. Non-marital property, such as assets owned before the marriage, usually stays with the original owner.
Vital records rules, including how divorce certificates are stored and accessed statewide, fall under the Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535. That statute sets out how the IDPH collects and stores dissolution data from every county in the state.
Legal Resources and Historical Records
Several resources can help if you need older records or legal guidance beyond what the clerk's office provides.
The Illinois State Archives holds historical court records that may not be available through the circuit clerk or online portals. Very old cases, or cases in which the original files have been transferred to the archives, can sometimes be located through the archives' research staff.
The Illinois Genealogical Society offers research tools, indexes, and guides aimed at tracing family history, including marriages and divorces. For pre-1962 cases that fall outside the IDPH index, the genealogical society's resources can help you find where records might be held.
For current legal questions or if you need a referral to a family law attorney in Peoria, the Peoria County Bar Association maintains a lawyer referral service. Illinois Legal Aid Online also provides free legal information and may connect eligible residents with free representation.
Nearby Illinois Cities
These other Illinois cities also use the county court system for divorce records: