Find Divorce Records in Kendall County
Kendall County divorce records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Yorkville and cover all dissolution of marriage proceedings handled by the 16th Judicial Circuit. This guide covers how to search for cases, what records are available, how to request copies, and where to turn for state-level verification. Kendall County has grown quickly over the past two decades, so the volume of court filings here has increased substantially.
County at a Glance
Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk
Matthew Prochaska is the Circuit Court Clerk for Kendall County. His office in Yorkville handles all official court records for the county, including divorce case filings, judgments, and certified copies. The courthouse is located at 807 West John Street in Yorkville, which is the county seat.
| Clerk | Matthew Prochaska |
|---|---|
| Address | 807 West John Street, Yorkville, IL 60560-0259 |
| Phone | (630) 553-4183 |
| Fax | (630) 553-4964 |
| Website | co.kendall.il.us/circuitclerk |
| Judicial Circuit | 16th Judicial Circuit |
Kendall County is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Kane and DeKalb counties. Kendall's courthouse handles only cases filed in Kendall County. If you believe a divorce may have been filed in Kane County, for example, you would need to contact that county's clerk separately. The 16th Circuit does not consolidate records across counties.
The Clerk's office processes record requests during regular business hours. Before visiting, check the website for current hours and any instructions for requesting older archived files. Kendall County has experienced rapid population growth, and case volume has grown with it. Busy periods may affect same-day retrieval of older cases.
Note: Kendall County's courthouse handles both civil and criminal records. When you arrive, ask specifically for the civil records division to access divorce filings.How to Search and Request Records
The Kendall County Circuit Clerk's website is a good starting point. Many Illinois courts provide an online case lookup tool where you can search by party name or case number. Check the Clerk's site for whether this is available for Kendall County. Online searches typically show the case status, filing date, and a log of documents on file. Full document images, when they are not available online, require a direct request to the Clerk's office.
If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or any specific court order, in-person visits are the most reliable approach. Go to 807 West John Street in Yorkville and bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. Staff can search by party name or case number. For cases going back more than a few years, files may be stored off-site, so it is smart to call ahead and give them a heads-up. That way, staff can retrieve the file before you arrive.
Mail requests are also accepted. Write to the Clerk's office at 807 West John Street, Yorkville, IL 60560, and include the names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and a check or money order for any applicable copy fees. A self-addressed stamped envelope will speed up the return of your copies. Processing times depend on current office workload and whether the file needs to be pulled from storage. For cases with a known case number, include it to reduce search time.
The IDPH guide on valid government-issued photo ID explains what types of identification are accepted when making in-person records requests.
Having the right ID ready before you visit the courthouse saves time and avoids a wasted trip.
Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act
Illinois uses a no-fault system for divorce. The sole ground for dissolution is irreconcilable differences, as set out in 750 ILCS 5 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Illinois eliminated fault-based grounds in 2016. Courts presume that irreconcilable differences exist when spouses have lived apart for at least six months before the court enters judgment.
The residency requirement is 90 days. At least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days prior to filing. In Kendall County, the petition goes to the 16th Circuit courthouse in Yorkville if one or both spouses reside in the county at the time of filing. Cases are assigned to the county where a spouse lives, not necessarily where the couple last lived together.
The final product of an Illinois divorce case is a judgment for dissolution of marriage. This document formally ends the marriage and sets out all terms the court ordered or that the parties agreed to, including property division, any spousal maintenance, and a parenting plan if children were involved. Once entered, this judgment is part of the public court record in Kendall County and can be accessed through the Circuit Court Clerk.
IDPH Dissolution Records Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records dating back to 1962. IDPH verifications are not the same as certified copies from the court. A verification is simply a letter from IDPH confirming that their records show a dissolution for two named individuals. It does not include the terms of the divorce or any documents from the court file.
Verifications cost $5 each. Submit your request by mail to IDPH Division of Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702. You can also reach them by phone at (217) 782-6553. Mail processing takes four to six weeks. Provide both parties' full names and the approximate year of the divorce. If you need the actual decree or court orders, those come from the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk, not from IDPH.
Note: IDPH verifications cover records from 1962 to the present. Divorces finalized before 1962 are not in the IDPH index and must be found through the county circuit court directly.What Divorce Files Contain
Kendall County divorce files are compiled from the documents filed by the parties and any orders entered by the court throughout the case. The contents vary based on whether the case was contested or uncontested, and whether children were involved.
A typical uncontested divorce file includes the petition for dissolution of marriage, proof that the other spouse was served, a marital settlement agreement, and the final judgment. When both parties agree on everything, the file is usually short. Contested cases are more complex. They can include multiple motions, temporary orders, financial disclosure forms, depositions, expert reports, and transcripts of court hearings. A file from a high-conflict case can run to several hundred pages.
Cases with children also include a parenting plan, any child support worksheets, and possibly a guardian ad litem report if the court appointed one. All of these are public records unless a specific item was sealed by court order. Some financial records and information about minor children may be restricted. Ask the Clerk which documents are available for public access before requesting the full file.
Finding Legal Help
Kendall County residents who need legal help with a divorce or records-related question have a few options. The Illinois Courts website provides a full list of circuit court clerks, including Kendall County, and links to self-help resources for people without attorneys. The state courts self-help center has forms and guides for common family law filings.
Prairie State Legal Services provides civil legal aid across Kendall County and surrounding areas for those who qualify. Income limits apply, but they can help with divorce filings, modification proceedings, and accessing court records. Call their office to check eligibility before requesting help.
For historical or genealogical research, the Illinois Genealogical Society is a good resource for older divorce records. The Illinois State Archives at (217) 782-4682 also holds some older court records and can help with research going back before the 1962 IDPH index starts. For recent records, the Clerk's office in Yorkville is the right place to start.
Cities in Kendall County
Kendall County's largest community is Oswego, with a population around 40,000, which does not meet the threshold for a dedicated city records page. Parts of Aurora and Joliet extend into Kendall County, but those cities' divorce records pages reflect their primary county locations. Residents of all Kendall County communities file divorce records at the Circuit Court Clerk in Yorkville.
Nearby qualifying cities with their own records pages: Aurora (primarily Kane County) and Joliet (primarily Will County).
Nearby Counties
Kendall County is surrounded by several other counties. If a divorce may have been filed elsewhere, these pages can help: