Court records of Whiteside County, Illinois, are available through several channels. WhitesideCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be viewed through official court resources — including the Whiteside County Courthouse page on the Illinois Courts portal, — as well as by visiting the county court clerk's office in person or using public terminals in the courthouse.
Whiteside Court System & Jurisdictions
Whiteside County is part of the 14th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. The only court of general jurisdiction here is the Circuit Court, but it operates through several specialized divisions.
- Criminal Division — handles felonies and misdemeanors. This is where DUI, theft, assault, and drug-related cases are heard.
- Civil Division — lawsuits for damages, contract violations, debt collection. Small claims cases are heard by this same court but under a simplified procedure.
- Family Division — divorce, child custody, alimony. Standardized forms for such cases are approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and available on the divorce and child support forms page.
- Probate — inheritance, wills, guardianship of incapacitated persons.
- Traffic Division — traffic violations, driver's license suspensions.
There is no separate magistrate court in the county. All the listed categories of cases are handled by the Circuit Court at the Whiteside County Courthouse.
Whiteside Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
To find out which hearings are scheduled for today, tomorrow, or within the week, start with the court's official page. The Whiteside County Courthouse portal publishes links to session calendars, judges' schedules, and local rules.
How to find the required session:
- Go to the court's page on the Illinois Courts website.
- Find the section with calendars or schedules (Calendars / Schedules).
- Select the appropriate division — criminal, civil, family, or traffic.
- If the online calendar does not contain the necessary information, call the court clerk's office and provide the case number.
The court clerk's office is located at:
Note: The schedule may change due to case rescheduling or extraordinary circumstances. Always check the current information before visiting.
How to Get a Copy of a Whiteside Court Document
Copies of court documents are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Whiteside County. There are two types of copies:
- Uncertified copy — suitable for review but does not have legal force as an official document.
- Certified copy — contains the clerk's seal and signature, accepted by other courts, government agencies, and banks.
Ways to obtain
- In person — visit the clerk's office at the address above. Provide the case number or full name of the party and the approximate date of filing. The clerk will find the document and make a copy on-site.
- By mail — send a written request specifying the case number, type of document, and number of copies. Include a check or money order for the appropriate amount. Mailing address:
- Via eFileIL — if you are a registered user of the eFileIL system, some documents are available for viewing and downloading electronically. This platform is mandatory for electronic filing in most Illinois courts.
Records of divorce are kept by the court clerk's office of the county where the decision was made. The Illinois Department of Public Health does not issue certified copies of such documents — only confirmation of registration.
Some records have restricted access: cases involving minors, adoptions, sealed, and expunged cases are usually closed to the public.
Whiteside Court Records Fees & Payment
Fees are set according to Illinois law (705 ILCS 105/27.2) and local administrative orders. Below are approximate rates — check with the clerk's office for exact amounts, as they may be updated.
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Record search by name | $6.00 |
| Uncertified copy (per page) | $0.50–$2.00 |
| Certified document copy | $6.00–$10.00 |
| Certification of an additional copy (in the same request) | $2.00 |
| Civil case filing fee | Depends on the claim amount |
| Electronic filing fee (eFileIL) | Service fee charged by the provider |
Payment is accepted in cash, check, or money order payable to "Whiteside County Circuit Clerk." Check directly with the clerk's office for card payment options.
Additional resources you may need:
- Inmate search in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) system — allows you to check if a person is in state custody.
- Sex offender registry of the Illinois State Police — open for public viewing.
On WhitesideCourt.us, you can also check basic case information in the county before contacting the clerk's office for official copies.