Free Kane County Divorce Records: Dissolution Search

Look up free Kane County, IL, divorce records today. Documents on these legal separations are considered public records and are available for anyone to view. Unless the court has sealed these records, any interested party should be able to access them per state and federal laws.

This streamlined resource outlines the most effective ways to obtain Kane County divorce records, decrees, certificates, and more at no cost.

How Do I Search Kane County, IL, Divorce Records for Free?

The Kane County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is responsible for recording, managing and storing local divorce records, including documentation for a common law divorce.¹

As the custodian of divorce records, this office also makes these records available to the public. Those seeking records for a divorce filed in another county must contact that county’s circuit court clerk’s office to obtain the right records.

Interested parties looking for free Kane County divorce information can do so through the county’s Circuit Court Clerk Office. Requesters can view this information online or in person at the circuit court clerk’s office.

Those wishing to search for this information online can do so through the county’s court records portal.² By selecting the smart search options, requestors can search these records by one of the party’s first and last names. These records provide the first and last names of both parties, including maiden names, if applicable, as well as the date of the divorce that was finalized and the location of the divorce.

If the divorce has not been finalized by the judge and is still in court, requesters may be able to find information about upcoming court proceedings by selecting the Search Hearings option.⁴ It’s important to note that only divorce proceedings with active hearing dates are listed on this database.

Those wishing to view the records in person may do so by visiting the clerk’s office or contacting them via phone, email or mail with a formal request. This request should include the full name of both parties involved in the divorce, including any maiden names, the date and location of the divorce, if available, and the requestor’s name and address.

Kane County Circuit Court Clerk Office
540 South Randall Road
St. Charles, IL 60174

Phone: (630)232-3413
Email: [email protected]

There is a nominal fee of $2 for the first page of any search and $0.5 for the next 20 pages.⁵ Certified copies of court documents cost between $6 and $10, depending on the document requested.

It’s important to note that sometimes, the judge seals all or a portion of divorce records. This could happen if one or both parties request sealed records or if a portion of the records involves a minor.

While anyone can access these public records, only the parties involved in the divorce can request a certified copy of a divorce certificate. All requestors must also show proof of identification through a government-issued ID card or driver’s license. Additionally, there may be a nominal fee associated with requesting certified records.

Track Down Divorce & Dissolution Information via Cities in Kane County Illinois

Divorce and dissolution records and information are not held at the city or town level. Instead, the county circuit court clerk’s office manages divorce records and all other county public court records.

Therefore, it’s important to start by determining the county where the divorce was handled. Kane County is broken down into dozens of smaller cities and towns, including St. Charles, Geneva and Elgin. Interested parties can contact the local or county office in the area to find out exactly what county the divorce parties reside in.

Once the location of the divorce is identified, requesters can contact the circuit clerk’s office for the right county.⁶ Those searching for records in Kane County can follow the directions in the guide. Those searching for records in other Illinois counties should contact the circuit clerk’s office in that specific county for more information about how to obtain these records.

How To Find Statewide Divorce Records via the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records

Searchers who are unsure which county finalized the divorce may prefer to search records through the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records.⁷ While this department doesn’t provide certified copies, it does maintain a divorce index for all divorces occurring after 1961.

Requesters can receive verification of a dissolution of marriage for any divorce occurring after this date. These public divorce records include the names of both parties, date of birth, date of the divorce and the location of the divorce.

Interested parties can request this verification by mail, fax or in person.

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 Ridgely Avenue
Springfield, IL 62702-2737

Fax: (217)523-2648

To do so, complete the Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Record or submit a letter that includes the names of both parties, their date of birth and the county where the dissolution occurred if known.⁸

If making a request in person or by mail, requestors must include a check or money order for $5 made out to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Requestors using a credit card incur an additional $12.95 fee. All fax requests require a credit card payment.

In addition to the application or letter, all fax requests must include the requestor’s credit card number and expiration date, phone number and return address.

Requests made by mail can take up to four to six weeks to receive, while requests made by fax can take up to 7 days. Alternatively, requests made in person can take up to three business days to process.

Whether ordering by mail, fax or in person, all requestors must provide proof of a valid government-issued identification. If this identification is not included or is not legible, the department will not complete the request.

Can Anyone View Divorce Records in Kane County?

In nearly all cases, Kane County divorce papers are available to anyone due to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1).⁹ These papers verify the dissolution of a marriage, the location of the divorce filings and the date of the divorce. On the other hand, specific details about the divorce are typically in the decree.

In Illinois, these decrees are not always made available to the public. Typically, only those named in the divorce documents have access to them.

Requesters looking for information about a divorce and who have at least one of the party’s names, along with the date and location of the divorce, should be able to find the right information. Anyone can search for these records online, view them at the appropriate circuit court clerk’s office or request a verification by mail, fax or in person.

These records provide a variety of information, such as both party’s full names, the grounds of divorce, the age of the children and any distribution of property.

The only exception to this is if the judge rules to seal these records. Judges make these decisions on a case-by-case basis and typically only at the request of one or both parties. A judge may also seal a portion of a decree if the information pertains to a minor.

If the divorce records are open to the public, then anyone can review them. However, only those parties involved in the divorce can obtain a certified record of the decree. These certified records are only available through the county circuit court clerk’s office, where the divorce was finalized.

Interested parties must show official identification and pay a nominal fee to receive a certified copy. Those who are conducting research into historic divorces may find third-party databases such as those on genealogy websites useful. However, these databases can’t be used for official purposes and are for information only.

This article helps requestors find the Kane County, IL, divorce records they need along with vital information included in the divorce decree; keep in mind that many of these public records are free, but requesters could incur a nominal fee for certified or printed copies.