Divorce records in Kane County, Illinois, are available through several channels. KaneCourt.us allows you to search publicly available divorce information in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained directly through the circuit court that issued the judgment, via the Kane County Clerk's Office, and through the Division of Vital Records of the Illinois Department of Public Health. Each of these institutions maintains different types of documents, so the choice depends on the specific document you need.
Kane Divorce Records Search
In Illinois, divorce cases (officially — dissolution of marriage) are handled by Circuit Courts. In Kane County, the responsibility for maintaining court divorce records is assigned to the Clerk's Office of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. The clerk maintains divorce decrees, property settlement agreements, child custody orders, and related procedural documents.
Separate from court materials, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records, maintains a registry of dissolution of marriage certificates starting from January 1962. These certificates are a shortened document confirming the fact of divorce but do not contain the full text of the court decision.
The collection of divorce records includes:
- Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage
- Dissolution certificates from IDPH
- Property settlement and alimony agreements
- Child custody orders and visitation schedules
- Related procedural documents (petitions, responses, motions)
To search court cases online, you can use the Smart Search system, where you can search by last name or case number. The main office of the Circuit Court Clerk is located at:
Kane County Circuit Court Clerk
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Kane
The structure of filing and storing divorce documents in Illinois is divided between two levels — the Circuit Court and the state.
Circuit Court — the main place where a divorce lawsuit is filed and where the full court decision is stored. The Kane County Courthouse handles civil cases, including divorce cases. After a decision is made, it remains in the court clerk's file. If you need a full copy of the decision, property settlement agreement, or custody order — contact here. Standardized forms for divorce cases are approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and available on the standardized forms page.
Kane County Circuit Court Clerk
Illinois Department of Public Health — Division of Vital Records stores dissolution of marriage certificates since 1962. This document confirms the fact of divorce — the date, place, and names of the parties — but does not contain details of the court decision. Certified copies of certificates can be obtained from both the IDPH and the circuit court clerk of the county where the decision was made.
Illinois Department of Public Health — Division of Vital Records
In short:
- Need a full copy of the court decision, agreement, or order → Kane County Circuit Court Clerk
- Need a certificate confirming the fact of divorce → Circuit Court Clerk or IDPH
Additionally, the Kane County Clerk's Office handles requests for vital records, including birth and marriage certificates. For divorce records, contact the Circuit Court Clerk, not the County Clerk.
County public records are also available through a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), although for court documents, it is usually easier to contact the court clerk directly.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Kane
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of dissolution of marriage certificate (IDPH) | $20.00 | 4–6 weeks by mail |
| Certified copy of dissolution of marriage certificate (IDPH, expedited processing) | $20.00 + $5.50 for expedited processing + courier delivery cost | Up to 2 weeks |
| IDPH database search (if record not found) | $10.00 | 4–6 weeks |
| Copy of court document (Kane County Circuit Court Clerk) | $0.50–$2.00 per page | During visit or within a few business days by mail |
| Certification of court document (Circuit Court Clerk) | $6.00 | During visit or within a few business days |