Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Role of the Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Clerk's official duties come from the Clerks of Courts Act at 705 ILCS 105. The office files and indexes all pleadings, motions, orders, and judgments. It collects court costs, fines, restitution, bond money, and filing fees. It issues certified copies of orders and judgments. It also keeps the case-management system used by judges, attorneys, and the public.

The Lake County office runs from the lower level of the Lake County Courthouse at 18 North County Street, Waukegan. The Records team handles older files and helps with bulk image requests at 847-377-3211. The Records Searches counter processes mailed background checks. The Probate Division line at 847-377-3260 handles probate cases. Each function feeds the same case-management system, so an entry made at the counter shows up in the online portal once posted.

The Circuit Clerk's homepage links the online portal, E-Certify, record searches, certified copies, fee schedule, expungement instructions, dissolution information, traffic citation options, and supervision and diversion guides.

Lake County Circuit Clerk Online Portal

The Clerk publishes case information through the online portal hosted by Journal Technologies. The Clerk's Online Portal information page explains that users must register under Illinois Remote Access Policy before viewing case information. The portal covers civil, criminal, and traffic public records of the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Attorneys must make sure that their ARDC number and the email used to register match the Clerk's case-management directory. Public users and parties of record can request access through a Case Access Request, which the Clerk reviews for eligibility. The Clerk says these requests may take one to two business days. After access, users click their name, choose My Cases, then View Case to see docket entries and any document images their access tier allows.

The portal info page also publishes help tickets for firm administrators, party-of-record access, and technical issues.

Record Searches and Background Checks

For background checks by name and year, the Clerk runs a paper record-search procedure. The Record Searches page says the Circuit Clerk maintains records of all criminal, traffic, and civil actions in Lake County. The Clerk excludes juvenile records, which are sealed by statute. Requests can be made by mail or in person.

Include the name of the person or business, the years to search, the case types (criminal, traffic, or civil), and a date of birth if the request is for an individual. For mailed responses, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The fee is $6 per name per year. Pay by money order, certified check, or cashier's check made out to "Clerk of the Circuit Court." Personal checks are not accepted; cash and credit cards are accepted in person only.

Certified Copies and Clerk E-Certify

Many uses for a Lake County court record require a certified copy. Lawyers ask for them. Other states ask for them. Public benefits offices ask for them. The Clerk solved the online certified-copy problem with Clerk E-Certify, a separate storefront at clerkecertify.com that does not require an account or sign-in. Eligible non-restricted cases and non-restricted documents can be requested through E-Certify; sealed cases are not available online.

Older files sometimes appear as bulk "Case Document Images" rather than individual document names. In that case, request the whole bulk image or submit a Need Case Document Image ticket with the document name. The Records team aims for 48 hours to attach the right image to the docket entry. If the user does not know the document name, the Clerk lists Records at 847-377-3211.

1. Open Clerk E-Certify at clerkecertify.com.
2. Search by case number or party name for non-restricted records.
3. Select the document you need; verify the docket entry matches your request.
4. Add the document to the cart and check out. Pay the listed fee.
5. Download the certified copy or wait for the delivery method you chose.

Filing Fees and Payment Methods

The Clerk's Filing Fees page collects fee tables for civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, and small claims cases. Common items include filing fees, appearance fees, jury demand fees, certified copy fees, and search fees. Eligible filers can apply for an Application for Waiver of Court Fees when they cannot afford the listed cost.

Counter payments accept cash, credit cards, and other methods that mail orders do not. The Clerk also accepts e-filing payments through approved Electronic Filing Service Providers.

E-Filing in Lake County

Civil cases in Lake County require e-filing under Illinois Supreme Court Order M.R. 18368, effective January 1, 2018. Self-represented filers must register with an Electronic Filing Service Provider before filing. The Illinois Courts directory notes e-filing kiosks and Clerk assistance in the courthouse for people who need help submitting documents.

Common e-filed case types include dissolution of marriage, civil complaints, evictions, small claims, name changes, fee waiver applications, and expungement / sealing petitions filed as MX cases. The Clerk's expungement instructions walk filers through the MX subtype and the supporting Illinois Supreme Court forms.

Records Request Form Fields

The Clerk's paper record search request asks for a small set of fields. The list below mirrors the published procedure.

Branch Court Contacts

The Clerk's office staffs the central counter in Waukegan and supports branch courts across Lake County. Each branch contact below is published by the Clerk for filing and counter services tied to that location.

Branch counters at Mundelein, Park City, Round Lake, and the Juvenile Complex Center in Vernon Hills handle filings tied to those locations. See court dockets for the full branch table.

Differences From the County Clerk

The County Clerk is a separate office. The County Clerk handles vital records, marriage licenses, civil union licenses, recorded official documents, elections, and county board records. The Circuit Clerk does not issue marriage certificates and does not record deeds. For marriage records, see County Clerk and marriage and divorce records. For recorded land instruments, use the County Clerk's official-record portal.

For more information on each office, see the related pages on this site: court records, court dockets, probate records, public records, and Circuit Court.