Search Crawford County Divorce Records
Crawford County divorce records are held by the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court Clerk in Robinson, Illinois. This page explains how to access dissolution of marriage filings and decrees from this southeast Illinois county, what the county clerk keeps on file, and how to use the IDPH statewide record system alongside local court resources.
County at a Glance
Crawford County Circuit Court Clerk
The 2nd Judicial Circuit Court Clerk in Robinson maintains all divorce records for Crawford County. The office holds every document the court generated during a dissolution of marriage case, from the first petition through the final judgment. Typical file contents include the petition for dissolution, the other party's response or default, any motions and interim orders, required financial disclosures, and the judgment of dissolution itself. When children were part of the case, you will also find the parenting plan and child support order in the file.
Call the clerk at 618/544-3512. Have the full names of both parties and the approximate year the case was filed when you call. If you have a case number, that helps too, but a name search with a date range is usually enough to locate the record. Visit in person with a valid government-issued photo ID. The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory is a good backup for verifying the clerk's current contact details and hours if you cannot get through by phone.
Certified copies come with the court seal and are needed for legal or administrative uses. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal reference. Ask which type suits your need before you pay fees.
The Illinois statutes page for the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act shows the legal framework that Crawford County courts follow in all dissolution of marriage proceedings.
Note: Crawford County is on the Indiana border. Illinois courts only hold records for cases filed in Illinois. If a divorce was filed in an Indiana county, you need to contact the appropriate Indiana clerk's office.
State Certificates Through IDPH
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records from 1962 forward. An IDPH certificate is not a copy of the court file. It is a summary document confirming that a divorce was granted in Illinois, naming the parties and the county and date. For many routine legal and administrative purposes, this is sufficient. If you need the specific terms of a property settlement or support order, you need the full court file from the Crawford County circuit clerk.
Mail requests to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702. The phone number is (217) 782-6553. The search fee is $5. You must include a completed request form and a copy of a valid government-issued ID. The IDPH valid ID page lists accepted identification documents. Processing by mail takes four to six weeks. The fee is charged whether or not IDPH finds the record, so verify your case details before you submit.
Complete instructions are on the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page. That page also covers third-party requests and older records.
What a Divorce File Contains
Crawford County divorce case files vary widely based on how complicated the case was. Simple, agreed divorces produce short files. Contested cases can generate a substantial amount of paperwork. Most files include a petition for dissolution of marriage, a response or entry of default by the other party, motions the court considered, orders the judge entered, required financial affidavits, and the final judgment of dissolution.
The final judgment is what people most often request. It identifies both parties by name, gives the exact date the court dissolved the marriage, and details the terms for property and debts. If spousal support was ordered, that is in the judgment as well. Cases with children also reference the parenting plan. Illinois courts follow the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5 in all these proceedings. The same law applies in Robinson as in any other Illinois circuit court.
Documents sealed by court order are not publicly accessible. The clerk will let you know if restrictions apply when you request a specific case. Sealed divorce files are not common, but they do occur in some circumstances.
Requesting Records
In-person visits to the circuit clerk's office in Robinson are the fastest way to get Crawford County divorce records. Call 618/544-3512 before going to confirm business hours and learn what payment methods the office accepts. Smaller county clerks sometimes accept only cash or checks. Bring your photo ID and any case information you have. Staff will search and tell you what is on file and what it will cost.
Mail requests are accepted as well. Write a letter with both parties' full names, the approximate year of filing, the type of copy you need, your return address, and a copy of your ID. Include a check or money order payable to the Crawford County Circuit Clerk. Do not send cash. Call the office or use the Illinois Courts clerk directory to confirm the correct mailing address before sending. Mail responses typically arrive within one to three weeks, though this can stretch depending on how busy the clerk's office is.
Note: If you are requesting records for legal proceedings in another state, confirm in advance what format and certification level that jurisdiction requires. This can save a return trip to the courthouse.
Illinois Law on Divorce Records
Divorce records in Illinois are public by default. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5, sets out how divorce courts must operate and what records they must maintain. The Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535, gives IDPH authority over the statewide index. Together these statutes establish that dissolution records are accessible to the public, with exceptions only when a judge formally orders sealing.
Crawford County is part of the 2nd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Randolph, Saline, Wabash, Wayne, White, and Williamson counties. Each county has its own clerk and records system. If you need records from any of those other counties, you will need to contact the clerk there directly.
Historical Records
IDPH does not hold records for divorces granted before 1962. For older cases from Crawford County, start with the circuit clerk in Robinson. If older records were transferred out of the courthouse, the Illinois State Archives in Springfield may hold them. Reach the archives at (217) 782-4682 or visit illinois.gov/ihpa/Archives to ask what historical Crawford County materials are available and how to request them.
Genealogists and family historians can also turn to the Illinois State Genealogical Society at ilgensoc.org. The society has published research guides for Illinois counties that point to record collections not indexed online. Some early Crawford County divorce records may only exist in handwritten ledgers at the courthouse or in archival storage. An in-person visit may be necessary to access these older materials.
Nearby Counties
Crawford County is in southeast Illinois near the Indiana border. These neighboring counties each have a separate circuit court clerk for divorce records.