Search Bloomington Divorce Decree Records
Bloomington divorce decree records are held by the McLean County Circuit Court in the 11th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to find cases online, where to get certified copies, and which state and county resources are available to Bloomington residents.
Bloomington Quick Facts
McLean County Circuit Court Clerk
All divorce cases filed by Bloomington residents go to the McLean County Circuit Court, which is part of the 11th Judicial Circuit. The circuit clerk is Donald R. Everhart Jr. His office is in the McLean County Law and Justice Center in downtown Bloomington. The courthouse handles all civil filings for McLean County, including dissolution of marriage cases.
The clerk's office holds case files, collects fees, and issues certified copies of court documents. If you need to file a divorce petition, this is where you start. If you need records from an older case, staff can search the index by name or case number. Call ahead if you have questions about what to bring or how to pay. Procedures for older archived records may differ slightly from active case requests.
| Office | McLean County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Donald R. Everhart Jr. |
| Address | 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, IL 61701 |
| Phone | (309) 888-5301 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
McLean County maintains an online court records search portal. Visit McLean County's court records search portal to look up cases by name or case number without visiting the courthouse in person.
McLean County's court records portal allows Bloomington residents to search for divorce cases and review basic case information directly online.
Online Case Search Options
Judici.com covers McLean County and provides free case lookups. No account needed. Search by name or case number and get results showing filing dates, case status, and parties. Judici is a good starting point when you have a name but not a case number. It covers over 80 Illinois counties, so you can check McLean and nearby counties in the same session.
Another option is re:SearchIL. That platform runs one search across multiple participating counties at the same time. It is useful when you are not sure which county has the record. For McLean County specifically, the county's own portal (linked above) may have more complete results for recently filed cases. Online searches do not give you certified copies. They are tools for finding a case and confirming it exists, not for getting official documents.
How to Get a Certified Copy of a Decree
Certified copies of a divorce decree come from the McLean County Circuit Court Clerk. You can request in person at 104 W. Front Street in Bloomington. Bring the case number if you have it, or the full names of both parties and an approximate year. The clerk charges a fee per page for certified copies. Call (309) 888-5301 to ask about the current fee before your visit.
Mail requests are possible in some cases. Ask the clerk's office about their mail request process and what information to include. Payment by money order or personal check is typical for mail requests, but confirm that before sending anything. For very old cases that have been archived, retrieval may add time to your request. In-person requests for active or recent cases are usually handled the same day.
Certified copies are what you need for legal matters. A printout from Judici or re:SearchIL will not substitute for a court-certified document when dealing with banks, courts, or government agencies.
Illinois IDPH Divorce Record Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health runs a statewide divorce index that goes back to 1962. For $5, IDPH will verify that a divorce is recorded in the state index and send a letter confirming it. This is not the same as a certified copy of the decree. The letter just confirms the divorce occurred. For the actual decree, you still need the McLean County Circuit Court.
To use the IDPH service, mail your request to 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include names, county if known, and approximate year. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Call (217) 782-6554 with questions. IDPH is a reasonable first step if you need quick verification and do not yet need the full document. Once you have the case details from IDPH, you can then get the certified copy from the court if needed.
Illinois Divorce Law and Requirements
Illinois law allows only one ground for divorce: irreconcilable differences. You do not have to prove fault on either side. The statute governing divorce in Illinois is the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/. That law sets out filing requirements, residency rules, and the process from petition to final decree.
One spouse must have lived in Illinois for at least 90 days before filing. Bloomington is the county seat of McLean County, so filings go here for all McLean County residents. Under Illinois law, venue is proper in the county where either spouse lives at the time of filing. If both spouses have been separated for 6 months or more, the law presumes irreconcilable differences exist. That makes the showing easier, though the full process still applies.
Access to court records is governed by 735 ILCS 5/. Divorce decrees are civil records and are generally available to the public. Courts can seal specific parts of a file, but the core decree document is usually accessible.
Free Forms and Legal Resources
The Illinois Courts forms page provides free standardized divorce forms. These are the official forms used in all Illinois circuits, including the 11th. They cover the petition, financial disclosures, and parenting documents when children are involved. Read the instructions for each form before completing them. Mistakes in the forms cause delays that could have been avoided.
Illinois Legal Aid Online offers step-by-step guidance on every stage of an Illinois divorce. The site is free and covers property division, maintenance, child support, and custody. McLean County also has local legal aid resources. If you need an attorney and cannot afford one, Legal Aid may be able to connect you with free representation based on your income.
Electronic filing is available through eFileIL. The system accepts filings for McLean County and most other Illinois circuits. Self-represented parties can file this way without needing to appear in person for every submission. Attorneys have been required to use eFileIL since July 2018.
eFileIL and Electronic Access
Bloomington residents can file divorce documents through eFileIL without making a trip to the courthouse for routine submissions. The process is straightforward. Create an account, upload your completed forms in the required format, pay the filing fee, and submit. The clerk reviews the submission and accepts or rejects it. If rejected, you get a notice and can correct and refile.
Case status updates after filing are also viewable through the system. This is convenient for keeping track of where things stand without calling the clerk's office each time. For questions about what documents to include or what the clerk needs for your specific case type, contact the McLean County Circuit Court Clerk directly at (309) 888-5301.
Nearby Cities
Normal is directly adjacent to Bloomington and uses the same McLean County court system. Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, and Peoria are served by their own circuit courts in nearby counties.
McLean County Court Records
The McLean County page has full clerk contact details, courthouse address, and more information on how to access divorce decree records for Bloomington and all of McLean County.