Bond County Divorce Records
Bond County divorce records are handled by the circuit court clerk in Greenville, Illinois, as part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit. If you need to access a dissolution of marriage case, obtain a copy of a final decree, or research a past divorce filed in this county, this page walks you through the process at both the local and state level.
County at a Glance
Bond County Circuit Court Clerk
The circuit court clerk's office in Greenville is where all Bond County divorce records are kept. The clerk maintains every case file from the point of filing through the final decree. That includes petitions, motions, temporary orders, financial disclosures, and the judgment of dissolution. If the case involved children, parenting agreements and child support orders are also part of the file. This office is the primary source for any divorce document from Bond County.
Reach the clerk's office at 618/664-3208. When you call or visit, have the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed. That information gives staff what they need to search the records. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID when you come in person. The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory provides updated contact details and can confirm current clerk information for Bond County if anything changes.
Two types of copies are available. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for legal purposes. Plain copies are less expensive and work for research or personal use. Ask the clerk which type fits your need before you pay.
The Illinois Courts website maintains a searchable directory of circuit court clerks by circuit and district across all 102 Illinois counties.
Note: Since Bond County's clerk website is not separately listed here, the Illinois Courts directory at the link above is your best source for verified contact details and hours.
IDPH State Divorce Records
The Illinois Department of Public Health holds a statewide index of divorce records going back to 1962. IDPH certificates are not full case files. They are official documents confirming that a dissolution of marriage took place, naming the parties and the county and date of the divorce. Many agencies and institutions accept these certificates in place of a full certified decree copy.
To request a certificate, write to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702, or call (217) 782-6553. The fee is $5 per search. Include your completed request form and a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted ID types are listed on the IDPH valid ID page. Allow four to six weeks for mail processing. The fee applies even if no record is found, so double-check that you have the right county and the correct names before you send anything.
The IDPH dissolution of marriage records page has the full process and answers to common questions. It also covers how to request records for someone who is deceased or for research purposes.
What Divorce Records Contain
A Bond County divorce file can range in size from a few pages to a substantial set of documents. Every case starts with a petition for dissolution of marriage. Most files also include a response from the other party, any motions filed during the case, financial affidavits, court orders entered along the way, and the final judgment of dissolution. Cases with children add parenting plans and child support calculations to the file.
The final judgment is the document that most people need. It lists both parties, gives the exact date the court granted the divorce, and outlines property division, support terms, and any other orders. Illinois courts follow the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5 when issuing judgments, so the content and format are consistent across all counties including Bond.
Some documents within a case file may be restricted. If a judge ordered certain materials sealed, the clerk will tell you which parts of the file are not publicly available. In most divorce cases, the file is fully accessible.
In-Person and Mail Requests
The simplest way to get Bond County divorce records is to visit the circuit clerk's office in Greenville in person. Call 618/664-3208 ahead of time to confirm office hours and learn what payment forms the clerk accepts. Bring your photo ID and whatever case information you have. Staff will search the records, confirm what is available, and process your request. You pay at the time of pickup.
If you cannot travel to Greenville, a written mail request is an option. Your letter should include the full names of both parties, an approximate filing year, the type of copy you want, your return address, and a copy of your photo ID. Include a check or money order made out to the Bond County Circuit Clerk. Avoid sending cash. Call or check the Illinois Courts clerk directory for the current mailing address before you send anything. Mail requests generally take one to three weeks to process, though busy periods can extend that.
Applicable Illinois Law
Bond County divorce courts operate under the same laws as every other county in Illinois. The primary statute is the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5, which governs how divorce cases are processed, how property is divided, how support is determined, and how parental responsibilities are allocated. The Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535, is the other key statute. It authorizes IDPH to collect and maintain the statewide divorce index and establishes rules about who can request records and on what basis.
Bond County is part of the 3rd Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Madison County. Both counties follow the same circuit rules and apply the same state statutes, though each has its own clerk and local procedures. If you need records from Madison County as well, you will need to contact that clerk's office separately.
Finding Older Records
Bond County divorce records predating 1962 are not in the IDPH index. For older cases, the circuit clerk in Greenville may still hold those records in local storage. The Illinois State Archives in Springfield is another option. Reach the archives at (217) 782-4682 or through illinois.gov/ihpa/Archives. The archives hold many historical court records transferred from counties over the years.
Genealogists and family historians often find the Illinois State Genealogical Society useful. Their site at ilgensoc.org includes research guides and resources pointing to county-level records that have not been put online. Some older Bond County divorce records may only exist as paper originals held locally or at the archives.
Nearby Counties
Bond County borders several Illinois counties, each with its own circuit clerk maintaining divorce records for that jurisdiction.