Search Tazewell County Divorce Records
Tazewell County divorce records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Pekin and cover all dissolution of marriage cases filed in the 10th Judicial Circuit for Tazewell County. This page walks through how to find and request those records, what state-level verification is available, and how Illinois divorce law applies to cases filed here. Pekin is the county seat and the location of the courthouse where all Tazewell County divorce filings are held.
County at a Glance
Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk
Lincoln C. Hobson is the Circuit Court Clerk for Tazewell County. His office at 342 Court Street in Pekin is the official custodian of all divorce case records filed in the county. The Clerk maintains filings from every dissolution of marriage case that has gone through the 10th Judicial Circuit for Tazewell County, from initial petitions through final judgments and any post-decree modifications.
| Clerk | Lincoln C. Hobson |
|---|---|
| Address | 342 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 |
| Phone | (309) 477-2214 |
| Fax | (309) 478-5792 |
| Website | tazewell.com/departments/circuit_clerk |
| Judicial Circuit | 10th Judicial Circuit |
Tazewell County is one of six counties in the 10th Judicial Circuit. The others are Peoria, Woodford, Stark, Marshall, and Putnam counties. Each county in the circuit has its own clerk's office and keeps its own records separately. A divorce filed in Tazewell County is only at the Tazewell County clerk; it does not appear in Peoria County's system even though they share a judicial circuit.
The Clerk's office handles case filings, document requests, and copy fees. Hours are standard weekday business hours. Call (309) 477-2214 before visiting if you need an older file, especially one that may have been moved to off-site storage. Staff can confirm whether a file is readily available or will need to be retrieved.
Note: Court records from the 10th Circuit that predate computerized case management may take longer to locate. Give staff as much detail as possible when requesting older cases.Requesting Tazewell County Divorce Records
You can request Tazewell County divorce records in person, by mail, or potentially through an online case search, depending on what the Clerk's system currently offers. Start with the Clerk's website at tazewell.com to check current online search options.
In-person requests are straightforward. Bring a valid photo ID to 342 Court Street in Pekin. Tell the clerk staff what you need: a copy of the judgment, the full case file, or just verification that a case exists. Staff will search by party name or case number. If you only have names and a general timeframe, that is enough to start a search. Fees apply for photocopies and certified copies. Ask for the current fee schedule before your visit so there are no surprises.
Mail requests require a written request that includes the full names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and any case number you have. Send it with a check or money order for the copy fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope to 342 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits, especially if the file must be pulled from off-site storage. If time is a factor, calling first to ask about the case is often quicker than waiting on a mail response.
The Illinois Courts website maintains a full directory of circuit clerks, organized by circuit and county, which is useful if you need to confirm contact details or find a neighboring county's clerk.
The circuit-by-circuit listing shows all counties within each circuit, which can help you sort out which county holds a record if you are not certain where a case was filed.
Illinois Dissolution of Marriage Law
Illinois law recognizes only one ground for divorce: irreconcilable differences. This is spelled out in 750 ILCS 5 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Illinois removed all fault-based grounds for divorce in 2016. If two spouses have lived apart for six months or more before the judgment is entered, the court presumes irreconcilable differences exist. Shorter separations are also allowed if both spouses agree.
The 90-day residency rule requires that at least one spouse lived in Illinois for 90 days prior to filing. In Tazewell County, the case gets filed at the courthouse in Pekin as long as one spouse lives in the county at the time of filing. The case stays in Tazewell County's records even if both parties move away later. If you are not sure whether a case was filed in Tazewell or a neighboring county, check with clerks in both places.
The Vital Records Act at 410 ILCS 535 governs how dissolution records are reported to the state. Courts are required to report dissolution judgments to the Illinois Department of Public Health, which is how the IDPH index stays current. This is the legal basis for the statewide verification system described below.
IDPH Verification Service
The Illinois Department of Public Health runs a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records going back to 1962. When you need to confirm that a divorce occurred, but do not need the full court file, an IDPH verification may be all you need. IDPH will search their index and send a letter confirming whether a record exists for two named individuals.
The fee is $5 per search. Send a written request to IDPH Division of Vital Records, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702. Call (217) 782-6553 if you have questions before mailing. Plan for four to six weeks. Provide the full names of both parties and the approximate year. IDPH does not issue certified copies of divorce decrees. For those, you need to go to the Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk directly.
Note: IDPH verifications are available for divorces finalized in 1962 or later. For older cases, contact the Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk or the Illinois State Archives.What Tazewell County Divorce Files Contain
Every Tazewell County divorce file starts with the petition for dissolution of marriage. This document lays out who filed, who the other spouse is, the basis for dissolution, and what the petitioner is asking the court to order. The file then grows as documents are added throughout the case.
Typical contents of a divorce file include the petition, any response filed by the other spouse, financial disclosure statements, a marital settlement agreement if the case settled, temporary orders entered during the proceedings, and the final judgment for dissolution of marriage. The judgment is the key document. It sets out the legal end of the marriage, how property was divided, any maintenance ordered, and, when applicable, the terms of the parenting plan and child support order.
Contested cases include much more. Motions, court orders, hearing transcripts, and sometimes expert reports add to the file. Not all of this is available for public inspection. Items the court sealed, information about minor children, and certain financial data may be restricted. The Clerk's staff can tell you which parts of a specific file are open to the public before you pay for copies.
Resources for Records and Legal Help
Tazewell County residents needing help with divorce records or family law matters have several options. The Illinois Courts website lists all circuit clerks statewide and provides links to self-help resources for unrepresented filers. The state courts self-help page has forms and step-by-step guides for common family law proceedings, including dissolution of marriage.
For low-income residents, Central Illinois Legal Services and Land of Lincoln Legal Aid both serve Tazewell County. These organizations can help with divorce filings, modification cases, and related family law matters at no cost to those who qualify. Call to check eligibility requirements before seeking help.
For older or historical records, the Illinois State Archives at (217) 782-4682 is a useful contact. The Illinois Genealogical Society can also help locate historical divorce records for family history research, particularly for cases that predate the IDPH index. Both are good options when the Clerk's records go back further than the computer system does.
Cities in Tazewell County
Tazewell County's largest city is Pekin, with a population around 33,000, and Washington with roughly 16,000 residents. Neither city meets the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Residents of Pekin, Washington, East Peoria, and all other Tazewell County communities file and access divorce records through the Circuit Court Clerk at 342 Court Street in Pekin. A qualifying nearby city with its own page is Peoria, which is in adjacent Peoria County.
Nearby Counties
If you are not sure whether a divorce was filed in Tazewell County or a neighboring county, these pages can help: