Find Madison County Court Records

How to Search Madison County Court Records

The Madison County Circuit Clerk runs the official online case search. The Circuit Clerk's Court Records Search page links to the live search at clericusmagnus.com on port 8443. The county warns that the search screen can be slow during high-volume use. If the site fails to load, call the JANO support line at (800) 250-9884.

Before you start, gather the case number if you have it, the full name of the party, and any approximate filing year. Case numbers in Madison County follow the format YYYY-CaseType-######, for example 2019-CM-001234 for a misdemeanor and 2022-TR-###### for a traffic case.

1. Open the Circuit Clerk's Court Records Search page.
2. Click through to the case search at clericusmagnus.com:8443 and wait for the system to load.
3. Enter a participant name or the case number you have.
4. Click the case in the result list to open the Case Overview screen.
5. Note the Next/Last Court Date, the case-type code, and the parties.
6. If you need a stamped copy, submit a Circuit Clerk copy request through the web form, email to courtcopy@madisoncountyil.gov, fax to 618-692-0676 or 618-655-2017, or visit Suite 11 on the lower level of the courthouse.

The Circuit Clerk also offers text and email reminders for upcoming court appearances. Case docket subscriptions are available from the same Circuit Clerk menu.

Madison County Court Records Search Fields

The case search at clericusmagnus.com is a name-or-case-number lookup. The county describes the search options in plain text on its Circuit Clerk pages. The host could not be inspected during research, so the table below captures the documented fields rather than guessing at hidden filters.

If a case cannot be found in the public search, the Circuit Clerk can perform a staff record search for $6 per year per case. That fee covers the time staff spend looking up older or offline files.

Types of Madison County Court Records

The Circuit Clerk holds case records for every division of the Madison County Circuit Court. The Probate Division of the Circuit Court keeps wills, estates, and guardianship files. The State's Attorney prosecutes most criminal cases under several divisions, including General Criminal, Violent Crimes, Traffic and Misdemeanor, and Children's Justice.

• Civil records – complaints, motions, answers, judgments, foreclosures, evictions, small claims, and chancery filings.
• Criminal records – felony, misdemeanor, DUI, retail theft, drug, weapons, assault, and post-conviction filings.
• Family and divorce records – dissolution, parenting, child support, name change, and orders of protection.
• Probate records – decedent estates, guardianships, small estate affidavits, annual reports, and estate claims.
• Traffic records – citations, no-court tickets, court-required appearances, and dispositions.
• Juvenile records – delinquency and abuse and neglect filings, generally confidential under the Juvenile Court Act.
• Appeals – notices of appeal, judgments, and post-trial motions ahead of review at the Fifth District.

This image links to the Circuit Clerk's probate page, where the county lists the local probate forms used in Edwardsville filings.

The page links to guardian forms, the small estate affidavit, the annual report, the estate claim form, and a status report for decedent estates.

What a Madison County Court Record Shows

Once you find a case, the Case Overview screen lists the structured fields the court tracks. The Circuit Clerk FAQ confirms that the Next/Last Court Date appears on that screen. Older docket entries, party names, and the case-type code are also part of the same record.

Note: Personal identity information like Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor birth dates is redacted under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138.

Public Access Framework for Madison County Court Records

Most court files in Madison County are public records. The Circuit Clerk states that most court files are public unless restricted by state statute or impounded by court order. Agency records held by county departments fall under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Court files themselves are governed by Supreme Court rules and statutes specific to the judiciary.

This image links to the Illinois FOIA statute table, which is the source document for state public-access law.

FOIA fees are limited by 5 ILCS 140/6 and denials can be reviewed by the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor. Court-record disputes generally go through motion practice or judicial order rather than ordinary FOIA review.

Records That Are Sealed or Confidential in Madison County

Some Madison County court records are not open to the public. Juvenile records are restricted under the Juvenile Court Act, 705 ILCS 405. Adoption files are sealed under 750 ILCS 50. Mental health treatment records and grand jury proceedings are protected. Personal identifiers are redacted under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138. Trade secrets and privileged attorney work product can also be sealed when a judge finds the right showing.

Expungement and sealing are different remedies under Illinois law. Expungement removes or destroys eligible adult records under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2. Sealing limits public access but keeps the underlying record for some government users. Eligibility turns on the charge, the disposition, the sentence, the waiting period, and the petitioner's prior record. Convictions usually cannot be expunged unless a specific statute allows it, but many can be sealed after the waiting period.

The image below links to Illinois Courts' approved expungement and sealing forms, which are the statewide petitions used in Madison County filings.

A petitioner files in the Madison County Circuit Court where the arrest or charge happened, serves notice on the State's Attorney and arresting agency, and waits for an objection period before any hearing.

Requesting Copies of Madison County Court Records

Copies are not the same as a case search. The Circuit Clerk's Archives, Document Storage, and Record Search team handles all copy work. Requests are not accepted over the phone. Methods include the online copy request form, email to courtcopy@madisoncountyil.gov, fillable form by email or mail, in-person at Suite 11 on the lower level of the courthouse, or fax to 618-692-0676 or 618-655-2017.

The image below links to the Circuit Clerk copy request page, which lists the request methods and the full fee schedule.

In-person requests at the courthouse are often the fastest path to a same-day copy. The county notifies the requester of the cost by mail or email before the work is done. Payment is required in advance.

Payment options include CourtMoney online, a phone payment line at 1-877-222-4668 with Form ID 138506, a mailed check to the Madison County Circuit Clerk, or in-person payment at the courthouse Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In-Person Court Record Requests

The Madison County Courthouse holds the Records Division where the public can view court files and use public-access computers. The Law Library and Legal Self Help Center on the same floor can help with locating forms and explaining how the case search works, but staff cannot give legal advice.

Related Madison County Court Searches

You may also need Madison County court dockets for daily call info, criminal records for arrest and charge history, traffic court records, public records, or the Circuit Clerk page for full office details. The image below links to the Circuit Clerk's FAQ, which is a useful starting point for users with case-search questions.

The FAQ explains the case-number format, the continuance process, eFile rejection reasons, and address change procedures used in Edwardsville filings.