Search Fayette County Divorce Decree Records

Fayette County divorce decree records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in Vandalia, the county seat, where dissolution of marriage cases filed in the 4th Judicial Circuit's Fayette County division are stored and made available to the public. This guide covers how to search for Fayette County divorce records, get a certified copy of a decree, use the Illinois state verification service, and find legal help if you need to file or respond to a divorce case here.

Fayette County Circuit Clerk Office

Kathy Emerick serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Fayette County. The office in Vandalia is the official keeper of all civil and domestic court records, including every divorce decree and dissolution of marriage judgment entered in Fayette County. Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from this office.

The office is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Call ahead before visiting if you are traveling from outside the Vandalia area, as hours can shift around holidays and court schedules. Mail requests are accepted. You will need to provide the full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payment should be by check or money order made to the Fayette County Circuit Clerk.

Searching for Divorce Records Online

Fayette County participates in the Judici.com public case search system. This free tool lets you search by party name or case number and find case status, hearing information, and filing dates. Judici does not show the full decree text, but it confirms whether a case exists and gives you the case number you need for a certified copy request.

The re:SearchIL portal provides statewide case search access and covers Fayette County. Some cases may have scanned documents available to view. For the full certified decree, you still need to contact the clerk's office directly.

Older cases may not be in digital indexes. If you are searching for a divorce filed before the 1990s, a direct call to the Fayette County Circuit Clerk at (618) 283-5009 is your best first step. Staff can search physical records using party names and the approximate year.

Requesting a Certified Copy of a Decree

A certified copy of a divorce decree is a court-stamped document that carries legal authority. It is commonly required for name changes, Social Security updates, remarriage in some states, and legal proceedings where proof of the dissolution is needed. Only the Fayette County Circuit Clerk can issue these for cases filed in this county.

Call (618) 283-5009 to ask about the current fee. In Illinois, fees are charged per page plus a certification charge, and rates can vary by county. Bring valid photo ID when visiting in person. For mail requests, include a check or money order, your ID information, the names of both parties, and the approximate year of the filing.

In-person requests are usually processed the same day if the file is in the current system. Older paper records may take longer to pull. If you have the case number from a Judici search, include it in your request to speed up the process significantly.

Note: Multiple certified copies can be requested at the same time. If you know you will need more than one copy for different agencies, order them all in one request to save time.

IDPH Statewide Verification Service

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolutions of marriage filed from 1962 to the present. IDPH can issue a verification letter confirming that a divorce occurred in Illinois. This is not a certified copy. The IDPH verification does not include decree terms, property orders, custody details, or any specific terms of the judgment.

Mail your request to: Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. The fee is $5 per verification. Mail processing takes four to six weeks. Full information is at the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page.

IDPH verification is the right tool when you simply need to confirm a divorce happened and do not need the actual decree. For everything else, the Fayette County Circuit Clerk is your source.

Illinois Law and Divorce Procedures

All divorce cases in Illinois fall under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/). One spouse must have lived in Illinois for at least 90 days before filing. The state recognizes only irreconcilable differences as grounds for divorce. Couples who have lived separately for six continuous months are presumed to have irreconcilable differences with no opportunity to rebut that presumption.

Section 104 of the Act requires that the divorce be filed in the county where at least one spouse lives. That is why Fayette County holds the records for divorces filed while either party lived here. Those records stay in Fayette County even if both parties move away. Illinois court record access rules are in 735 ILCS 5/. The IDPH index is governed by the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535/).

Legal Resources and Court Forms

Illinois Legal Aid Online is available for free and covers the full divorce process in plain language. It explains filing requirements, court procedures, and what to expect at hearings. The site also helps you find legal aid providers in the 4th Circuit area if you need hands-on legal assistance and meet income guidelines.

Approved standardized forms for divorce are available free from the Illinois Courts website. These forms cover the petition, financial affidavit, parenting plan, and final judgment order, and are approved for use in all Illinois circuit courts including the 4th Circuit serving Fayette County. Electronic filing is available through eFileIL for both represented and self-represented parties.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records are kept in the county where the case was filed. If you are not certain your records are in Fayette County, check these neighboring clerk offices.