Effingham County
Named for the 3rd Earl of Effingham, Effingham County was created in 1831 from territories owned by Crawford and Fayette counties. The county occupies a land area of about 479 square miles in south central Illinois and is home to 34,594 residents. Its county seat and most populous city is Effingham.
The Circuit Court is the only trial court in Effingham County. It features two major court divisions: Civil and Criminal Divisions. The Civil Division handles all non-criminal proceedings, including monetary disputes, evictions, mortgage foreclosures, tort claims, and civil equity cases. Other legal matters resolved at the Civil Division include juvenile delinquencies, domestic relations cases, probates, and small claims. On the other hand, the Circuit Court Criminal Division typically adjudicates felonies, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations. The traffic department of the Circuit Court handles all traffic violations in Effingham County
Effingham County court records are legal documents created, filed, or received by the Circuit Clerk during court proceedings. These documents typically contain initial complaints, charges, defendants/plaintiffs' names, petitions, evidence, court transcripts, orders, and judgments. Individuals often request court records for research and academic purposes. According to the Freedom of Information Act in Illinois, public court records typically ensure transparent and fair legal processes. Examples of court records open to the public include the following:
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Probate records
- Traffic records
- Family law records
- Property records
- Small claims records
However, mental health, juvenile, and adoption records are confidential and available to recognized parties to records. To obtain confidential court records in Effingham County, requesters must obtain special court permissions. Individuals interested in public court documents can email, phone, or visit the Court Clerk at:
Effingham County Circuit Clerk
120 West Jefferson, Suite 101
Effingham, IL 62401
Phone: (217) 342-4065
Email: circuitclerkinfo@effinghamcountyil.gov
Note that the Circuit Clerk may request search and copy fees before providing desired court documents. An alternative way to access Effingham County public court records is through the Illinois re:SearchIL database. Registered users can search the online database by providing case numbers or party names.
