Access Jefferson County Divorce Records
Jefferson County divorce records are filed and maintained by the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court Clerk's office in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. If you need a divorce decree, want to verify a dissolution of marriage, or are researching a case from the past, this page explains where records are kept and how to get them at both the county and state level.
County at a Glance
The Circuit Court Clerk in Mt. Vernon
Randy Pollard, Jr. serves as the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk. His office is located at 100 S. 10th Street in Mt. Vernon and is responsible for maintaining all dissolution of marriage case records filed in the county. Every petition, motion, financial disclosure, parenting agreement, and final judgment for Jefferson County divorce cases is kept on file here. It is the place to start when you need a divorce decree or want to confirm a past filing.
Call the office at 618/244-8008 before visiting. Staff can tell you what information they need to pull a case and what the current copy fees are. Bring a government-issued photo ID when you visit in person. Having both parties' names and a rough year for the divorce helps staff find the right file. Visit the clerk's website at jeffersoncountyillinois.gov for hours, location, and any additional details about requesting records.
Certified copies carry the court seal and are required for most legal transactions. Plain copies cost less and serve personal research well. Make sure you know which type you need before you request copies so you pay the right fee and get documents in the right format.
The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory lists the 2nd Judicial Circuit serving Jefferson County, along with contact details for the clerk's office in Mt. Vernon.
Note: The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Jefferson, Crawford, Lawrence, Richland, Wayne, Edwards, and Wabash counties in southern Illinois. If a divorce was filed in one of those other counties, contact that county's circuit clerk for the records.
What Divorce Files in Jefferson County Contain
Jefferson County divorce case files typically start with the petition for dissolution of marriage and the other party's response. From there, you will find financial affidavits disclosing income and assets from both sides. If children were part of the case, there will be a parenting plan or an allocation of parental responsibilities agreement, along with any child support orders issued by the court. The last document in the file is the final judgment of dissolution, which is the decree most people are looking for. It confirms the date the marriage ended and contains the court's orders on property, debt, maintenance, and child-related matters.
Contested cases tend to have much thicker files. They may include hearing transcripts, exhibits, expert reports, and a series of interim orders issued over a longer period. Uncontested divorces where both parties agreed on everything from the start are generally shorter. Either way, the clerk keeps the full case file. You can ask for one specific document like the final decree or request a copy of the entire file. Fees depend on how many pages are copied and whether you need certified or plain versions.
Most Jefferson County divorce records are open public files. Records sealed by court order are not accessible. Some child-related documents may be restricted. If you are unsure what is available in a specific case, call the clerk's office at 618/244-8008 before making a trip.
Illinois Divorce Law and the 2nd Circuit
Illinois divorce law is governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). Illinois uses a no-fault system. The only ground for divorce recognized in the state is irreconcilable differences. Neither spouse needs to prove wrongdoing. The law simply requires both parties to show the marriage has broken down with no real chance of being repaired.
Before filing, at least one spouse must have been an Illinois resident for 90 days, under 750 ILCS 5/413. Jefferson County residents file with the 2nd Judicial Circuit in Mt. Vernon. Cases with no disagreements over property, finances, or children tend to move through the court more quickly. Contested cases take longer and usually require several court appearances before a judge makes final rulings. All cases end with a signed final decree entered into the clerk's records.
Illinois courts are required to report every dissolution of marriage to the state under the Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535). That reporting is what lets IDPH maintain a statewide index of divorce records going back to 1962.
State Verification Through IDPH
When you only need to confirm a divorce happened and don't need the full court file, the Illinois Department of Public Health is a useful alternative. IDPH holds statewide records of Illinois dissolutions of marriage from 1962 to the present. They issue a verification letter showing that a dissolution was recorded in the state database for a specific individual. This is not a certified court copy, but it works for many situations where you simply need proof that a divorce occurred.
Submit your request to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Avenue, Springfield, IL 62702. You can also call (217) 782-6553 with questions. The fee is $5 per search. Mail requests typically take four to six weeks. The IDPH dissolution of marriage records page has the request form and full submission instructions. You must include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID with your paperwork.
IDPH maintains a statewide index of Illinois divorce records, offering verification letters for $5 per search by mail request from their Springfield office.
Note: An IDPH verification letter is not a substitute for a certified court copy. For name changes, estate proceedings, or other legal matters requiring official court documentation, get the certified decree from the Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk in Mt. Vernon.
Older Records and Genealogy Research
Divorce records from earlier decades in Jefferson County may still be at the circuit clerk's office, or they may have been transferred to the Illinois State Archives in Springfield. The Archives hold historical court records that counties have sent over the years. Call (217) 782-4682 to ask whether Jefferson County court records from a particular era are in their collection. They can also tell you how to request copies if they have what you need.
The Illinois State Genealogical Society publishes research guides and maintains indexes that can help with older records. Early Jefferson County divorce cases were typically logged in large bound docket books. Some of those have been microfilmed. Libraries in the Mt. Vernon area and regional genealogy collections may have indexes or other finding aids that can help you figure out where to look. Pre-1900 and early 1900s records were frequently indexed under the husband's name only, which can make searches harder when you only know the wife's name.
Legal Resources in Jefferson County
Residents who need help with a divorce case or accessing court records can turn to Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, which serves southern Illinois including Jefferson County. They offer free or reduced-cost civil legal assistance to income-qualifying individuals on family law matters including divorce and record access. The clerk's office at 618/244-8008 can explain procedures and fee schedules but cannot offer legal advice.
People who represent themselves in court can find forms and guidance on the Illinois Courts website. The Illinois Courts circuit clerk directory provides up-to-date contact information for every county in Illinois, which is useful if you need to locate a case that may have been filed in a different county. The directory covers all 102 Illinois counties and is maintained by the state courts office.
Cities in Jefferson County
Mt. Vernon is the county seat and the largest city in Jefferson County, with a population of approximately 15,000. It is also the seat of the 2nd Judicial Circuit. No cities in Jefferson County meet the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated city page. All divorce records for Jefferson County residents are maintained by the circuit court clerk's office at 100 S. 10th Street in Mt. Vernon.
Nearby Counties
Jefferson County is located in southern Illinois and is surrounded by several counties, each of which maintains separate circuit court divorce records.