Marion County
Marion County was established on January 24, 1823. Its county seat is Salem, and its largest city is Centralia. It comprises 576 square miles and is occupied by a population of 36,673 people. It was named in honor of Francis Marion, a Revolutionary War general. Marion County was created from parts of Jefferson and Fayette Counties.
There is only one court that makes up the justice system in Marion County, which is the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court handles all cases, including those of a civil and criminal nature. It handles small claims cases —disputes involving small amounts of money within certain thresholds. Furthermore, it presides over adoption, child support, guardianship, probate of wills, estate administration, and all juvenile cases.
The Circuit Court Clerk is the official record keeper of all court-related documents. The clerk also provides administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the court system. The collection of fines by the clerk forms a part of court records. To create court records, during hearings and trials, transcripts and evidence are recorded as part of documenting a case. Records of court proceedings are scanned into a more secure and accessible format using electronic means. These records are backed up to prevent loss over time. This is a diversion from the traditional and paper-based approach of storing court records. Court records are open for public inspection in the Marion County courthouse. The following court records are within the reach of the public when requested:
- Probate Court Records
- Civil Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Small Claims Court Records
- Traffic Court Records
Interested persons who are seeking court records can visit the Judici website at no cost. Attorneys and judges can utilize the CourtLook website to view cases that have been updated by the court. It is subscription-based and allows access to information compiled from every case. Alternatively, if you have specific questions as regards how to obtain court records, you can reach out to the Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The office is located at:
100 E. Main Street
Salem, IL 62881
(618) 548-3856
