Schaumburg Divorce Records
Divorce records for Schaumburg are maintained by the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, since most of the city falls within Cook County, with a smaller portion in DuPage County handled by the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk. This page explains how to find and request those records from either office.
Schaumburg at a Glance
Which County Handles Schaumburg Divorce Records
Schaumburg lies mostly in Cook County, with a smaller section in DuPage County. Neither the village nor its local government keeps divorce files. All dissolution of marriage cases go through the state court system, filed with the circuit court clerk in whichever county the filer lives.
If you or your spouse lived in the Cook County portion of Schaumburg when you filed, your case is with the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk. The main office is at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602-1305. Phone is 312/603-5030. The clerk's website is at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org. Cook County uses an online case search tool at cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/online-case-information. You can search by name or case number at no cost to see whether a case exists and check its status.
If the filer lived in the DuPage portion of Schaumburg, the case is with the DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk, Candice Adams. That office is at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. Phone is 630/407-8700. The DuPage clerk's website is at dupageco.org/CircuitCourtClerk. Not sure which county applies? Check the street address against county boundary maps, or call either clerk's office and ask.
Note: Most Schaumburg addresses fall in Cook County. If you are unsure, Cook County is the better first call.
How to Access Schaumburg Divorce Records
Cook County provides several ways to get divorce records. The online case search is a good place to start. It shows docket information, case numbers, and filing dates. You can use it from home at no cost. Actual documents, such as the petition or final decree, require a separate copy request.
To get copies in person from Cook County, go to the clerk's office at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington, Chicago. Bring a photo ID. If you have the case number, bring it. Staff can search by name if you don't. There is a per-page copy fee. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call ahead to confirm current rates before you go.
Mail requests are accepted too. Write to the clerk at 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, IL 60602. Include both parties' names, the approximate year of divorce, and payment for the copy fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Mail processing can take several weeks, sometimes longer during busy periods.
For DuPage County records, contact the clerk at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, by phone at 630/407-8700, or visit the DuPage website for instructions. DuPage also accepts in-person and mail requests. Processing times and fee amounts vary from Cook County, so check the DuPage site directly.
The Illinois Courts circuit court clerk directory lists contact details for all county clerks, including Cook and DuPage, which serve Schaumburg residents.
Use the clerk directory to confirm which office serves your address before submitting a records request.
What Divorce Files Contain
A divorce case file includes every document filed from the start of the case to its close. The first document is the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The other spouse files a response. After that, both parties submit financial disclosures covering income, assets, and debts. Motions, hearing orders, and any agreed stipulations are added as the case moves forward.
If children were part of the case, the file will include a parenting plan or allocation judgment. This sets out parenting time, decision-making rights, and child support terms. Modifications filed after the original judgment are also in the record. Property settlement agreements, which describe how the couple divided assets and debts, are part of the file too.
The final document is the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage. It is the court order that legally ends the marriage. If both sides agreed on terms, the judgment reflects those terms. If the case went to trial, the judgment contains the judge's rulings. This document is what most people need when they want proof that a divorce occurred.
Illinois divorce cases fall under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). That law sets out what courts must decide in every divorce case and what documents belong in the record.
IDPH Statewide Divorce Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide index of divorce records going back to 1962. This is useful if you need to confirm that a divorce took place but don't need the full court file. The IDPH can tell you whether a record exists and issue a certificate of dissolution. It does not provide the actual case documents.
The search fee is $5. Send requests by mail to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702. You can call (217) 782-6553 with questions. Mail processing usually takes four to six weeks. The IDPH requires a valid government-issued photo ID with your request. See acceptable ID types at dph.illinois.gov.
The IDPH dissolution records page at dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/birth-death-other-records/dissolution-marriage-records.html explains exactly what the state can and cannot provide. For divorces that took place before 1962, you must go directly to the county circuit court where the case was filed.
The IDPH dissolution of marriage records page explains the statewide verification process, fees, and what information the state index contains.
The IDPH index covers records from 1962 forward; for older Schaumburg divorces, contact Cook County or DuPage County directly.
Illinois Divorce Law Overview
Illinois divorce law is found in two main statutes. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5) covers the divorce process itself. It sets the rules for filing, grounds for dissolution, property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support. This is the core law that governs every divorce in the state.
The second key statute is the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535). This law governs how vital records, including divorce decrees, are filed, maintained, and released. It sets rules about who can access records and what procedures agencies must follow.
Illinois uses a no-fault divorce standard. You don't need to prove misconduct. The only required ground is irreconcilable differences. If both spouses agree the marriage is over and have lived apart for at least six months, the court treats that as proof that irreconcilable differences exist. Cases with property disputes or child issues often take longer regardless of whether they are contested.
Note: The laws above apply statewide. Cook County and DuPage County courts both follow the same Illinois statutes, though local court rules and procedures can vary between the two counties.
Historical Divorce Records for Schaumburg
Older divorce records from Schaumburg's area may not be in the online systems. Cook County and DuPage County both have archives of older case files. For very old records, the court may have stored them off-site or on microfilm. Call the clerk's office and ask about older records before making a trip.
The Illinois State Archives holds some historical court records and can help with older searches. Their site is at illinois.gov/ihpa/Archives. The Illinois Genealogical Society at ilgensoc.org also has research guides that can help you find divorce records from prior decades. These are good resources if you are researching family history or need records from before the modern court systems were computerized.
For records from the late 1800s or early 1900s, county historical societies can sometimes fill gaps. Cook County records from that era vary in condition and availability. DuPage County has its own historical archive. Patience helps with old record searches. Not all files survived intact.
Nearby Illinois Cities
Other Illinois cities that rely on county courts for divorce records include: