Find Divorce Records in Champaign County
Champaign County divorce records are filed and maintained by the 6th Judicial Circuit Court Clerk's office in Urbana, Illinois. Whether you need a copy of a divorce decree, want to look up a past case, or are trying to confirm a dissolution of marriage for legal or personal reasons, this page covers the main ways to access Champaign County divorce records at the local and state level.
County at a Glance
Accessing Divorce Records at the Circuit Court
The Champaign County Circuit Court Clerk's office at 101 East Main Street in Urbana is where all dissolution of marriage cases are filed and stored. Susan McGrath serves as circuit clerk. The office handles record requests, issues certified copies of court documents, and can look up cases by party name or case number.
If you visit in person, bring a photo ID and as much information as you have about the case. A full name, approximate year, and the county where the divorce was filed will help staff locate the record quickly. Phone requests at 217/384-3725 can help you find out what you need before making a trip. Some case information may also be accessible through the clerk's website at co.champaign.il.us.
The Champaign County Circuit Court Clerk in Urbana manages divorce filings and case records for the 6th Judicial Circuit.
Certified copies carry an official court seal and are needed for legal use. Uncertified copies are cheaper and fine for personal research. Ask the clerk which type you need when you make your request.
Note: The 6th Judicial Circuit also covers De Witt, Douglas, Moultrie, Piatt, and Macon counties. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's circuit clerk directly.
What Is in a Divorce Case File
Champaign County divorce records typically include the original petition for dissolution, financial disclosure affidavits, any motions filed during the case, parenting plans or allocation of parental responsibilities agreements if children are involved, and the final judgment of dissolution of marriage. The final decree is the document most people need. It confirms the marriage ended, states the date, and outlines any court orders regarding property or children.
If the case involved contested issues, the file may be thick with hearings transcripts, exhibits, and orders. Uncontested cases tend to be shorter. Either way, the clerk has the full file. You can request specific documents or the whole case record. Fees vary based on the number of pages and whether you want certified or plain copies.
Records that have been sealed by court order are not available to the public. Juvenile-related matters in divorce files may also be restricted. Most standard divorce case files in Champaign County are open records.
Illinois Divorce Law Basics
Illinois uses a no-fault divorce system under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). The only recognized ground for divorce is irreconcilable differences. You do not need to show that one spouse did something wrong. Both parties simply need to show the marriage has broken down with no reasonable prospect of repair.
The residency rule under 750 ILCS 5/413 requires at least one spouse to have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing. If you live in Champaign County, you file here. Cases go through the 6th Judicial Circuit, and a local judge handles all proceedings. Uncontested divorces with no disputes over property or children can move through the court faster. Contested cases take more time and usually require multiple court dates.
Courts in Illinois are also required by the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) to report all dissolutions to the state. This is how IDPH builds its statewide index of divorce records going back to 1962.
Getting a Verification Through the State
If you only need to confirm that a divorce happened and do not need the full case file, the Illinois Department of Public Health can help. IDPH maintains records of Illinois divorces granted from 1962 through the present. They offer a verification letter, not a certified copy of the decree. The verification confirms that a dissolution of marriage was recorded in the state database for a specific individual.
Contact IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702, or call (217) 782-6553. The fee is $5 per search. Mail requests take about four to six weeks. Visit the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page for the current request form and instructions. You will need to submit a valid government-issued photo ID with your request.
Illinois courts are required to report all dissolution of marriage cases to the state, making IDPH verification possible for cases from 1962 onward.
Note: A state verification is not a court-certified copy. For legal purposes like name changes or estate matters, get the certified decree from the Champaign County clerk.
Historical Records and Genealogy
Older Champaign County divorce records can sometimes be found beyond the clerk's office. The Illinois State Archives in Springfield holds historical court records that have been transferred from counties over the years. Call the Archives at (217) 782-4682 to ask whether Champaign County records from a particular era are held there.
The Illinois State Genealogical Society has indexes and research guides that can point you toward older court dockets and divorce records from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. County records from those periods were often kept in large bound docket books. Microfilm of some older records may be held at the University of Illinois library or local genealogy collections in Champaign-Urbana.
When searching older records, try both the county clerk's office and the state archives. Some early records were indexed under the husband's name only, which can make searches tricky if you only have the wife's maiden name.
Local Legal Resources
Champaign County residents who need help with a divorce case or have questions about court records have several options. Prairie State Legal Services serves the Champaign area and provides free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents. They can assist with family law questions including divorce filings and record access.
The Champaign County Bar Association may be able to refer you to a family law attorney if you need full legal representation. The clerk's office at 217/384-3725 can answer general procedural questions but cannot give legal advice. Self-represented litigants can find forms and instructions on the Illinois Courts website.
The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory provides current contact information for all county circuit clerks in the state, including Champaign County.
Cities in Champaign County
Champaign is the largest city in the county with a population of approximately 89,996. Divorce records for Champaign residents are filed through the county circuit court in Urbana. Visit the Champaign divorce records page for city-specific details.
Nearby Counties
Champaign County is surrounded by several counties in east-central Illinois. Each maintains its own circuit court divorce records.