Mason County Divorce Decree Records
Mason County divorce decree records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk in Havana, the county seat and home of the 8th Judicial Circuit. This page covers how to search dissolution of marriage cases online, get certified copies from the clerk, verify records through the Illinois Department of Public Health, and find legal resources for people dealing with a divorce in Mason County.
Mason County Quick Facts
Mason County Circuit Court Clerk
Debbie Friend is the Circuit Court Clerk for Mason County. The clerk's office at 125 North Plum in Havana holds all civil and domestic court records for the county. This includes divorce decrees, dissolution of marriage judgments, and all related case documents. The clerk's office is where certified copies are issued and where new cases are formally filed.
| Office | Mason County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Debbie Friend |
| Address | 125 North Plum, Havana, IL 62644-0377 |
| Phone | (309) 543-6619 |
| Fax | (309) 543-4214 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
If you are looking for a divorce record, call the office first. The clerk can confirm whether the case is in their system and what information you need to bring. Having the full names of both parties and the approximate year of filing makes any record search go faster. For older records that may be in storage, calling ahead is especially helpful.
Online Search for Mason County Divorce Cases
Mason County cases are accessible through Judici.com, a free public search tool that covers over 80 Illinois counties. You can look up cases by party name or case number and see the case type, filing date, and a list of events on the court record. This is useful when you need to find a case number before requesting a certified copy.
The re:SearchIL system lets you search multiple Illinois courts at one time. If you are not sure whether a dissolution was filed in Mason County or a neighboring county, this cross-county search can help narrow things down. Neither Judici nor re:SearchIL provides certified copies. They are reference tools, not official document sources.
The image below shows the Judici court records search tool, which includes Mason County divorce and dissolution of marriage cases.
Judici is free and does not require an account or login. It covers Mason County along with more than 80 other Illinois counties and is regularly updated with new case information.
Requesting Certified Copies of a Divorce Decree
Certified copies of Mason County divorce decrees come only from the Circuit Court Clerk in Havana. The copies have the court seal and the clerk's certification, which makes them the legally accepted form of a divorce record. You need a certified copy for things like a name change, applying for a new marriage license, or updating legal documents that depend on your marital status.
In person, bring a valid photo ID and whatever information you have about the case: the names of both parties, the year filed, and the case number if available. By mail, include a written request with the same details, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee. Call (309) 543-6619 to confirm the current fee per page before you send anything.
Mail requests take longer. If the record is an older one, it may be in off-site storage, which adds time even for in-person visits. The clerk's staff can tell you when to expect your copy when you make the request.
IDPH Divorce Verification for Mason County
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide index of dissolution of marriage records from 1962 to the present. For $5, IDPH sends a verification letter that confirms a divorce occurred, giving the county of filing and the year. This is not a certified copy. It cannot replace the court document for legal use, but it is useful for confirming basic facts about a dissolution.
| Agency | Illinois Department of Public Health - Division of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737 |
| Phone | (217) 782-6554 |
| Fee | $5 per verification |
| Records Available | 1962 to present |
| Processing Time | Approximately 4-6 weeks |
Visit the IDPH dissolution of marriage records page for instructions on submitting a mail request. For certified copies with the court seal, contact the Mason County Circuit Court Clerk in Havana.
Illinois Divorce Laws That Apply in Mason County
Mason County divorce cases follow 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. The case is filed in the county where one of the spouses lives. For Mason County residents, that means filing in Havana.
Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. There is only one recognized ground for divorce: irreconcilable differences. If both parties have lived separately for at least six months, the court treats that as an irrebuttable presumption that the marriage is irretrievably broken. This makes it easier for couples who agree on the terms to finalize the case without a contested hearing.
Vital records law is in the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535/). Court access rules fall under the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/).
Filing a Divorce Case and Legal Resources
Mason County courts use the statewide eFileIL portal for electronic filing. Illinois made electronic filing mandatory for most civil cases as of July 1, 2018. The eFileIL system allows attorneys and self-represented parties to submit documents from any location. If you need help accessing the system, ask the clerk's office in Havana about available resources.
Free standardized divorce forms approved by the Illinois Supreme Court are available on the Illinois Courts forms page. These forms are accepted in every Illinois circuit, including Mason County's 8th Circuit. They include the petition for dissolution, financial affidavit, and final judgment form.
Illinois Legal Aid Online provides free self-help guides and fillable forms for divorce. Low-income Mason County residents may qualify for free legal representation through Prairie State Legal Services or another organization serving central Illinois. Contact Illinois Legal Aid Online at (312) 341-1070 to check eligibility and find a program near Havana.
The image below is from the Illinois Legal Aid divorce resources page, which offers step-by-step guidance for people navigating dissolution cases in Mason County and across the state.
Illinois Legal Aid Online covers every major step in the divorce process, from how to start a case to what happens after the judge signs the final order.
Nearby Counties
Mason County is bordered by several counties in central Illinois. Each neighboring county has its own circuit court clerk and separate records for divorce cases filed there.