Bond County Court Records Lookup

Bond County Courts, IL *

Bond County is a very small county (in size and population) located in the south-central part of the State of Illinois. Greenville is the county seat of Bond County. Civil and criminal cases, as well as family matters such as divorce, child support, and child custody cases, are handled in the Bond County Circuit Court. Probate and wills, estates of deceased persons, and juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are also heard in this court.

Overview of the Bond County Court System

Bond County's courts are governed by the unified court system, a means by which citizens may view records of the justice dispensed in the courts, as well as other services. The primary location of the activities of the Bond County courts is found in the historic Bond County Courthouse in the county seat of Greenville. The courts found in the Bond County Courthouse are the Circuit Court and multiple court divisions. The cases heard in the Circuit Court include civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters.

Circuit Courts in Illinois have general jurisdiction, meaning they can hear any civil or criminal case not specifically assigned to another court, such as the Court of Claims or the Illinois Supreme Court. Court sessions for Bond County are held in the 3rd Circuit of Illinois Judicial District 5 and in the Courthouse for the Bond County government seat.

Types of Courts in Bond County, Illinois

An overview of the different divisions within the Bond County Circuit Court helps clarify which one handles certain cases, and how to ensure a case is filed correctly and heard promptly.

Criminal Division

The Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Bond County handles cases involving violations of criminal laws.

The Criminal Division handles:

• Felony cases (such as serious assaults, drug trafficking, and burglaries)
• Misdemeanor cases
• Traffic violations and DUI cases
• Specialty court cases, such as Drug Court

Cases filed in the Criminal Division can have serious consequences, including the possibility of lengthy imprisonment. It is highly recommended that individuals charged with a crime in Bond County retain an experienced attorney before their first court appearance.

Civil Division

The Civil Division of the Circuit Court deals with disputes between private individuals or companies and provides simplified procedures for many types of cases.

The Civil Division handles:

• Civil matters exceeding $10,000
• Contract disputes and personal injury claims
• Mortgage foreclosures and property matters
• Small claims cases of $10,000 or less
• Eviction and landlord/tenant disputes

Any lawsuit for $10,000 or less may be filed in the Circuit Court of the County where the defendant resides or where the issue occurred.

Family Division

The Family Division of the Circuit Court handles cases related to family members and Orders of Protection.

The Family Division handles:

• Divorce, separation, annulment
• Child custody, visitation, and parental rights
• Child and spousal support
• Paternity
• Orders of Protection

Juvenile Division

The Juvenile Division handles all matters affecting children, including criminal and protective actions and proceedings.

The Juvenile Division handles:

• Truancy matters
• Termination of parental rights cases
• Child abuse and neglect cases
• Felony and misdemeanor criminal charges were filed against a minor accused of violating the law

Probate Division

The Probate Division handles court records and probate cases for Bond County.

The Probate Division handles:

• Probate of wills (testate situations)
• Administration of decedents' estates (intestate situations)
• Guardianships of minors and persons with disabilities
• Disputed estate claims and accountings

How to Access Bond County Court Records

Court records in Bond County are considered public records and fall under the Illinois Public Records Act. Several types of records are restricted from public access, including juvenile delinquency and child protection cases, as well as confidential filings such as Social Security numbers, bank account information, and medical information. Additionally, several family law and protective actions are considered confidential to protect the safety and well-being of the parties and any children involved.

Online Access

Each Circuit Court in Illinois is a separate entity with its own records, and most have made their records available online through their website or a public access portal for that court. re:SearchIL is a secure web portal provided by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, utilizing the e-filing database. All cases filed with the Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, and Circuit Courts are included in the system and can be searched by case number, parties, and other fields. The Bond County Circuit Clerk provides access to various resources, including court case information, jury duty information, forms, and online payment options for services.

Alternative Online Options

Some third-party online public records databases have compiled Bond County court records as well as other public records from Illinois and from around the country. These databases are very useful for groups such as employers and landlords performing background checks, checking for prior evictions, and even providing photographs. CourtCaseFinder is an example of a website that has access to civil case files and other public records from individual courthouses, as well as criminal records, eviction records, and other public records from government offices.

In-Person Requests

Printed or official copies with a clerk's stamp can be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk's office. Some counties charge per page for copies and more for certified copies. Offline files will take a few days to retrieve. Some files are sealed, expunged, or impounded and cannot be obtained unless ordered by the court. Parties visiting in person should bring as much information as possible, including their full legal name, the names of all other parties involved in the case, and the case number or docket number.

Archived Records

Historical Bond County Circuit Court records are archived at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at the University of Illinois at Springfield. IRAD holds many civil and criminal cases as well as Chancery cases, including divorces. The Bond County Historical & Genealogical Society, the Greenville Public Library, and the Genealogical Library in Greenville are wonderful resources for researching historic documents, newspapers, and other materials that might not be available at the Courthouse. The Bond County Genealogical Society maintains a collection of over 1,000 titles, including courthouse records, cemetery books, village histories, church histories, census books, family histories, and microfilm of county newspapers from 1858 to the present.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

The re:SearchIL portal provides access to non-confidential case information for licensed Illinois attorneys and legal services providers. Mandatory electronic filing in civil and family cases was implemented by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2018. Each attorney and party filing documents in a case must have their own login credentials.

In-state attorneys must provide their active ARDC (Illinois state bar) number to register for eFiling. Out-of-state attorneys must provide the number for their state bar registration and may also need to register to file pro hac vice in Illinois. All electronically filed documents must include the typed name, email address, street address, and phone number of the attorney or party filing the document. Information about e-filing is found on the Illinois Courts' statewide e-filing application. Questions about e-filing requirements for Bond County should be directed to the Circuit Clerk's office.

How to File a Case in Bond County

The key to avoiding delays in a case is to ensure it is filed correctly from the start. Here are the steps for filing a case in Bond County's Circuit Court.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The Bond County Circuit Court is the appropriate court for filing civil, criminal, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. Information regarding the types of cases handled in each division of the Circuit Court is provided above in the type of courts section. If a party has questions regarding which court division is appropriate for filing a particular matter, they can also contact the Circuit Clerk's office or the Bond County Legal Self-Help Center for information.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

The Bond County Circuit Clerk's Office provides forms for use in the Bond County Circuit Court. Examples of the forms offered include: an Answer Form for a civil case, a Small Claims Form for filing a small claims lawsuit, a Petition Form for requesting the court to take some action, and a Motion Form for setting aside or changing a previous court action. The forms must be completed, signed in the indicated places, and filed with any supporting documentation. Many delays in the court process occur because the documents filed with the court are not complete.

Step 3: File the Case

For many case types, the case is filed with the Bond County Circuit Clerk's office at the Bond County Courthouse. Digital case record-keeping has been integrated in the County, through eFileIL, making it easier to file cases, retrieve case information, and review public records online, where available. Some case types must be filed electronically; the filer should check with the Circuit Clerk's office to determine whether a case must be filed electronically.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Parties should pay fees and costs to start, respond to, or continue a case. The Clerk's office has a copy of the current fee structure for the Bond County Circuit Court. If a party cannot afford the filing fees, then they may apply for a fee waiver. An application for a fee waiver is an Application for Waiver of Civil Court Fees and is available on the Circuit Clerk's website or from the Clerk's office.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

After filing a case with the court, the other parties must be formally served with copies of the court documents. In Illinois, the Bond County Sheriff's Office is considered the process server for service of process. The documentation used to prove service of process on a party must be retained by all parties and filed with the court as required. The time period for serving the other party in a case is specified in the statute and must be observed.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

Both sides can check on their case by searching for court case information online using a person's name or case number through the Bond County Circuit Clerk's Website. Also, both sides can contact the Bond County Circuit Clerk's office or visit the Courthouse to request information about their case. Parties should review the pleadings and evidence filed in the case before the hearing.

Bond County Courthouse Directory

Hours for these offices may change, so it is best for parties to reach out and confirm.

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Free legal help or resources for people who cannot afford a lawyer are available from several local, nonprofit, and statewide organizations serving Bond County residents.

Free Legal Assistance

Land of Lincoln Legal Aid is a free civil legal service to low-income individuals and senior citizens in 65 counties in central and southern Illinois, including Bond County. The mission is to provide access to justice, income security, safe and adequate housing, quality education, healthcare, safety from violence and exploitation, and opportunities to improve the lives of individuals and families in central and southern Illinois. Illinois Legal Aid Online helps Illinois residents get justice by providing free legal forms, referrals, and clear legal information on family, housing, debt, work, and health issues.

Local Legal Support

The Legal Self-Help Center provides information on legal rights and responsibilities, as well as instructions on handling common legal problems. In addition, legal information center personnel can assist with completing some legal documents and forms and make referrals to free and low-cost legal services, but they cannot give legal advice. People needing an attorney can get a referral from the Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. It can refer to an attorney who practices in any area of the State. The Self-Help Center operates at two locations: the Bond County Courthouse and the Greenville Public Library.

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