Perry County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Perry County in 2026
PerryCountyRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to court records in Perry County, Illinois. Members of the public seeking case filings, hearing schedules, judgments, or related judicial documents may find relevant data through this resource. The information available may include, depending on case type and applicable access rules:
- Civil case filings and judgments
- Criminal case dockets and disposition records
- Family law matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic citations and infractions
- Small claims case information
Court records in Perry County may be searched through several established channels. The five primary methods are as follows:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office. The Circuit Clerk of Perry County maintains the official record of all cases filed in the 24th Judicial Circuit. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person, present a case number or party name, and request access to available case files. Staff can assist in locating records, though they are not authorized to provide legal advice.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals. Public computer terminals are available at the Perry County Courthouse for on-site case searches. These terminals allow members of the public to search docket information without charge during regular business hours.
3. Online Court Search. The State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts maintains electronic resources that may support case lookups at the circuit court level. Availability of online case data varies by case type and filing date.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools. Illinois provides statewide judicial search tools through the Illinois Courts portal, which may allow users to locate case information across multiple circuits, including the 24th Judicial Circuit serving Perry County.
5. Written or Mail Requests. Members of the public who cannot appear in person may submit written requests to the Circuit Clerk's office. Requests should include the full name of a party, approximate filing date, and case number if known. Fees for copies apply to mail requests.
Perry County Circuit Clerk
1 Public Square, Floor 2
Pinckneyville, IL 62274
Phone: (618) 357-6726
Perry County Courthouse
Are Court Records Public In Perry County
Court records in Perry County are public documents under current Illinois law. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) establishes the general right of public access to government records, and Illinois Supreme Court rules further govern access to judicial records. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, courts are required to protect certain personal identifiers within public filings, but the underlying records remain accessible.
Records that are public under current law include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
- Hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Filed motions, complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation terms in criminal matters
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect proceedings
- Adoption records
- Mental health commitment proceedings under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110)
- Sealed criminal records and expunged matters
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
- Certain exhibits and attachments designated confidential by court order
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect most case files in person at the clerk's office, not all records are available through electronic or online systems. Older paper files, sealed matters, and certain restricted case types may only be reviewed at the courthouse under supervised conditions.
What Are Court Records in Perry County?
Court records are the official documents created, filed, and maintained by a court in connection with judicial proceedings. In practical terms, a court record encompasses every document submitted to or generated by the court from the initial filing of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
The distinction between a docket entry and a full case file is significant. A docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a case — it lists filings, hearings, orders, and status changes but does not reproduce the full text of each document. A case file, by contrast, contains the actual pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders, and other materials submitted to the court.
Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract claims, personal injury actions, property disputes, and family law proceedings. Criminal court records document the prosecution of individuals charged with violations of state law, including felonies, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations.
Filed pleadings initiate or respond to legal actions and become part of the permanent record upon filing. Final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of a matter and carry legal effect beyond the case itself. Public filings are accessible to any member of the public; sealed or restricted filings require a court order or statutory authority to access.
Trial court records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk of Perry County. Appellate records — arising from appeals of trial court decisions — are maintained by the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fifth District, which has jurisdiction over Perry County. The State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts oversees the statewide judicial records framework.
Court records are created at the moment of filing and updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, orders, and final disposition. Upon conclusion of a case, the record is closed and retained according to applicable retention schedules.
What's Included in a Perry County Court Record?
A Perry County court record may include the following information, depending on case type and applicable public-access rules:
- Case number — the unique identifier assigned at filing
- Court name and division — the specific court and courtroom handling the matter
- Filing date — the date the initial pleading or petition was submitted
- Party names — names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
- Case type and status — classification of the matter (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) and current procedural status
- Docket entries — chronological log of all actions, filings, and orders
- Hearing dates — scheduled and completed court appearances
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, orders, judgments, notices, minute entries, decrees — the substantive documents comprising the case file
- Outcome information — dismissals, judgments, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, or appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial information — filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged criminal matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal data redacted under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, and certain exhibits designated confidential by court order or statute.
Types of Courts in Perry County
Perry County is served by the 24th Judicial Circuit of Illinois, which is part of the Fifth Judicial District. The 24th Judicial Circuit is a court of general jurisdiction, meaning it has authority to hear virtually all categories of civil and criminal cases arising within its geographic boundaries.
The Circuit Court of Perry County currently operates under the following judicial officers:
- Circuit Judge James Campanella
- Associate Judge Jennifer Becker-Roscow
- Associate Judge Lucas Liefer
- Associate Judge Daniel R. Janowski
The Trial Court Administrator for Perry County is Jeff Twardowski, based at the Perry County Courthouse.
Perry County Circuit Court — 24th Judicial Circuit
1 Public Square, Floor 2
Pinckneyville, IL 62274
Phone: (618) 357-6726
Perry County Courthouse
What Types of Cases Do Perry County Courts Hear
The Circuit Court of Perry County, as a court of general jurisdiction, hears the following categories of cases:
- Criminal matters — felony and misdemeanor prosecutions under Illinois law
- Civil matters — contract disputes, tort claims, property actions, and other civil litigation
- Family law — divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and orders of protection
- Probate — estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings
- Juvenile matters — delinquency, abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings (restricted access)
- Traffic — moving violations, DUI proceedings, and related infractions
- Small claims — civil disputes involving amounts at or below the statutory threshold under 735 ILCS 5/2-209
- Appeals — certain administrative appeals and post-judgment motions at the trial court level
Appeals from the Circuit Court of Perry County are heard by the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, located in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
How to Search Perry County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search Perry County court records at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection at the Circuit Clerk's office is free of charge; staff will assist in locating a case file upon presentation of identifying information such as a party name or case number. Public access terminals at the courthouse also provide free electronic docket searches during regular business hours.
The Illinois Courts portal provides online access to certain case information at no charge, though the scope of available data varies by case type and filing period.
The following activities carry fees:
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Paper copies of court documents | $0.25–$2.00 per page (varies) |
| Certified copies of court records | $6.00–$10.00 per document |
| Exemplified copies | Additional certification fee applies |
| Mail request processing | Postage and copy fees apply |
Fee schedules for the Circuit Clerk are governed by Illinois statute. Members of the public may also access public records through Illinois.gov, which provides links to statewide archives and databases maintained by the Office of the Secretary of State.
How Long Does Perry County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in Perry County is governed by the Illinois Supreme Court's records retention schedules, which establish minimum periods for which different categories of judicial records must be preserved. Retention periods vary significantly by case type.
Under current judicial records policy in Illinois:
- Felony criminal records — retained permanently or for extended periods given the severity of the underlying offense
- Misdemeanor and ordinance violation records — retained for a minimum of seven years following final disposition
- Civil case files — retained for a minimum of seven years after the case closes, with longer retention for matters involving judgments
- Probate records — retained permanently in many instances, given their significance to property and estate matters
- Juvenile records — subject to separate retention and destruction rules, with some records eligible for sealing or expungement upon the subject reaching adulthood
- Docket books and minute records — retained permanently as the official chronological record of court activity
- Traffic records — retained for periods ranging from three to seven years depending on the nature of the violation
Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the content is preserved in an accessible format. Destruction of a paper file does not constitute expungement or sealing; the record remains accessible in its preserved form. Expungement, by contrast, is a legal process under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2 that results in the physical or electronic obliteration of a record, distinct from archival retention.
Older records — particularly those predating electronic filing systems — may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Illinois State Archives in Springfield.
How To Find a Court Docket in Perry County
A court docket is a formal index of all proceedings, filings, and orders entered in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than reproducing the full text of each document. The docket serves as the official chronological record of a case's progress from filing through final disposition.
Dockets for Perry County cases may be accessed through the following channels:
- In-person at the Circuit Clerk's office — Staff can retrieve docket information for any case upon request. Providing a case number or party name expedites the search.
- Courthouse public access terminals — On-site terminals at the Perry County Courthouse allow members of the public to search docket entries electronically at no charge.
- Statewide judicial search tools — The State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts provides electronic resources that may include docket-level information for cases in the 24th Judicial Circuit.
A typical Perry County court docket contains:
- Case number and party names
- Filing date and case type
- Chronological list of all filings, motions, and orders with dates
- Hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
- Minute entries summarizing court proceedings
- Status updates and current case posture
A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential exhibits, or attachments restricted by court order. Hearing rosters and daily court calendars may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. Members of the public seeking docket information for a specific case should have the case number, the full name of at least one party, and the approximate filing year available when making a request.