Wayne County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Divorce decree records in Wayne County are filed with the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court Clerk in Fairfield. Cases can be searched online through Judici.com, certified copies can be requested from the clerk's office, and the IDPH statewide index offers a low-cost verification option for divorces in Illinois from 1962 to present.
Wayne County Quick Facts
Circuit Clerk Office, Fairfield
Georgiana Fletcher is the Wayne County Circuit Court Clerk. Her office is the official record keeper for all civil court cases in the county, including dissolution of marriage petitions, orders, and final decrees. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree filed in Wayne County, this office handles all such requests.
| Office | Wayne County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Georgiana Fletcher |
| Address | 301 East Main Street, Suite 204, Fairfield, IL 62837-0096 |
| Phone | (618) 842-7684 |
| Fax | (618) 842-2556 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Bring valid photo ID when visiting in person. Know the names of both parties and, if possible, the approximate year the divorce was filed. For mail requests, write to 301 East Main Street, Suite 204, Fairfield, IL 62837-0096. Include party names, the filing year, and a check or money order for the copy fee. Call (618) 842-7684 first to confirm the current per-page fee before mailing payment.
Illinois Divorce Law in Wayne County
The full text of Illinois divorce law is available through 750 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which governs every divorce filed in Wayne County.
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act under 750 ILCS 5/ governs all Wayne County divorce filings, setting out residency requirements, grounds for dissolution, and property division rules.
Under this law, Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. The only ground is irreconcilable differences. Neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing. At least one spouse must have been an Illinois resident for 90 days before the petition is filed. Wayne County is the proper venue if you or your spouse lives here. A separation of six months or more creates an irrebuttable presumption that the marriage has broken down. Access to court records falls under 735 ILCS 5/, which generally makes closed civil cases public.
Online Case Search
Wayne County court records, including divorce cases, can be searched for free on Judici.com. No login or registration is needed. Search by name or case number to find dissolution of marriage filings from the 2nd Circuit.
For a broader search, re:SearchIL searches multiple Illinois counties at once. This helps when you are not sure whether a divorce was filed in Wayne, White, Marion, or another nearby county. Both tools show case status, filing dates, and party names but do not issue certified copies. Once you locate a case, contact the clerk's office in Fairfield to request official documents.
Getting Certified Copies
Only the Circuit Court Clerk can issue a certified copy. Certified copies include the court seal and clerk's signature, making them valid for legal and government use. Plain printouts or informal photocopies do not serve the same purpose.
In-person requests are generally completed the same day. Mail requests can take a week or more, depending on office volume. When mailing, include both party names, the year of the divorce, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Call the office at (618) 842-7684 to confirm current fees before sending anything. If you do not know the case number, staff can look it up by party name.
IDPH Statewide Index
The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps a statewide divorce index covering records from 1962 through the present. For $5, IDPH will search the index and send you a verification letter confirming the divorce. This is not a certified copy of the decree.
Mail your request to IDPH, 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include both party names and the approximate year. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Call (217) 782-6554 with questions. If you need the full decree with supporting orders, go through the Wayne County Circuit Clerk. IDPH verification is useful when you only need proof that a divorce occurred without needing the actual court paperwork.
Forms and Legal Resources
Free standardized divorce forms are available on the Illinois Courts forms page. These are approved for all Illinois circuit courts, including the 2nd Circuit in Wayne County. The forms cover uncontested divorce, child support, and maintenance orders. Download them as PDFs, fill them in, and file at the Fairfield courthouse or through eFileIL.
Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free help understanding the process and filling out forms correctly. Attorneys practicing in Wayne County must file electronically through eFileIL, which has been required since July 1, 2018. Self-represented parties may also use eFileIL to submit documents and pay fees online without visiting the courthouse in Fairfield.
Nearby Counties
Under Illinois law, divorce must be filed in the county where at least one spouse lives. If Wayne County is not the right venue for your situation, check the nearby county pages below.