Greene County Divorce Decree Records

Greene County divorce decree records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Carrollton, the county seat, where dissolution of marriage cases filed in the 8th Judicial Circuit's Greene County division are stored on permanent record and made available to the public. This guide covers how to search for Greene County divorce records, get a certified copy of a decree, use the Illinois IDPH statewide verification service, and access legal help if you are navigating a dissolution of marriage case in this county.

Greene County Circuit Clerk Office

Shirley Thornton serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Greene County. The clerk's office in Carrollton is the official keeper of all civil and domestic court records in the county, including every divorce decree and dissolution of marriage judgment entered by the 8th Judicial Circuit in Greene County. Certified copies of divorce decrees are only available from this office.

The office is open Monday through Friday. Call ahead if you are traveling from outside the Carrollton area. Mail requests are accepted. Send a written request with both parties' full names, the approximate year the divorce was filed, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Payment by check or money order made out to the Greene County Circuit Clerk is the standard method for mail requests.

Greene County Online Resources

The Greene County website provides contact information and general guidance for county offices, including the Circuit Clerk. It is a good first stop before calling the office directly.

Greene County is part of the Judici.com free public case search system. Search by party name or case number to find basic case details such as filing dates, case status, and hearing records. Judici does not display the full decree, but it provides the case number you need for a certified copy request. The re:SearchIL portal also covers Greene County for statewide case lookups.

Note: For older cases, online search results may be limited. A direct call to the Greene County Circuit Clerk at (217) 942-3421 is the most reliable approach for pre-digital records.

How to Get a Certified Copy

A certified copy of a divorce decree is a court-stamped document accepted as legal proof by government agencies, financial institutions, and courts across the country. Only the Greene County Circuit Clerk can issue certified copies of cases filed in this county. No other office or agency can provide this document.

Call (217) 942-3421 to confirm the current fee before submitting a request. Illinois charges per page plus a flat certification fee, with rates varying by county. Bring valid photo ID when visiting in person. For mail requests, include both parties' names, the approximate year of filing, your ID information, and payment by check or money order.

In-person requests during morning hours in Carrollton are generally the fastest option. If you already have the case number from a Judici search, include it in your request. This makes file retrieval significantly faster, especially for cases that may have been filed many years ago.

Note: If you need multiple certified copies, request them all in one visit or letter. Requesting multiple copies at once is more efficient than making separate requests over time.

IDPH Statewide Verification

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a statewide index of dissolutions of marriage filed in Illinois from 1962 to the present. IDPH can issue a verification letter confirming that a divorce occurred in Illinois. A verification is not a certified copy. It does not include decree terms, property orders, or custody details. It simply confirms the state has a record of the dissolution.

Send requests to: Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. The fee is $5 per verification. Processing by mail takes four to six weeks. More information is at the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page.

IDPH verification works well when you only need to confirm a divorce happened. For the actual decree, contact the Greene County Circuit Clerk.

Illinois Divorce Law Overview

All divorces in Illinois are governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/). At least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days before filing. Irreconcilable differences is the only grounds for divorce in the state. Living apart for six continuous months creates an irrebuttable presumption of irreconcilable differences.

Section 104 of the Act requires filing in the county where at least one spouse lives. Greene County holds records for divorces filed while either party lived here. Those records stay in Greene County permanently. Public access to court records is covered by 735 ILCS 5/. The IDPH index operates under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535/).

Legal Help and Forms

Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free guidance on every aspect of divorce in Illinois. It explains residency requirements, filing procedures, what documents you need, and how to handle property and custody issues. The site can also help you find legal aid organizations serving Greene County and the 8th Circuit area.

Approved standardized divorce forms for all Illinois courts are available for free download from the Illinois Courts website. These forms are valid for use in Greene County and every other Illinois county. They cover petitions, financial affidavits, parenting plans, and final judgment orders.

Electronic filing through eFileIL is required for attorneys and available to self-represented parties since July 2018. Ask the Greene County Circuit Clerk whether e-filing is required for your specific situation before you begin.

Nearby Counties

Divorce records stay in the county where the case was filed. If you are unsure whether records are in Greene County, check these neighboring clerk offices.