White County Divorce Decree Records
Divorce decree records in White County are filed with the 2nd Judicial Circuit Court Clerk in Carmi. Cases can be searched online for free through Judici.com, certified copies can be requested from the clerk's office, and the IDPH statewide index offers a quick verification option for Illinois divorces from 1962 forward.
White County Quick Facts
Circuit Clerk Office in Carmi
Kelly L. Fulkerson serves as the White County Circuit Court Clerk. Her office keeps the official record of all court cases in the county, including divorce petitions and final decrees from the 2nd Judicial Circuit. All certified copy requests for White County divorce records go through this office.
| Office | White County Circuit Court Clerk |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Kelly L. Fulkerson |
| Address | P.O. Box 310, Carmi, IL 62821-0310 |
| Phone | (618) 382-2321 |
| Fax | (618) 382-2322 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
In-person visits are the fastest way to get copies. Bring valid photo ID and the names of both parties. For mail requests, send to P.O. Box 310, Carmi, IL 62821-0310. Include both party names, the approximate year of the divorce, and a check or money order for the fee. Call (618) 382-2321 ahead of time to confirm current copy fees before sending payment.
Free Online Case Search
White County case records are searchable at no cost through Judici.com, which provides free public access to court records from over 80 Illinois counties without any registration or login required.
Judici provides access to White County divorce case records, letting you search by party name or case number to find dissolution of marriage filings from the 2nd Circuit Court in Carmi.
If you want to check multiple counties at once, re:SearchIL is a cross-county search tool that can locate cases across several Illinois counties in a single query. This is helpful if you are not sure whether the divorce was filed in White County, Wayne County, Wabash County, or Saline County. Both tools are free and do not require registration. They are useful for finding case numbers and confirming that a case exists before you contact the clerk for certified copies.
IDPH Statewide Divorce Verification
The Illinois Department of Public Health runs a statewide divorce index going back to 1962. For $5, IDPH will search the index and mail you a verification letter confirming a divorce occurred in Illinois. This is a useful, low-cost option when you just need proof that a marriage ended.
The verification is not a certified copy of the decree. If you need the full document, contact the White County Circuit Clerk. To request IDPH verification, mail your request to 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include both party names and the approximate year of the divorce. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Call (217) 782-6554 with questions before you send the request.
What Certified Copies Are Used For
Certified copies of divorce decrees are required for many legal tasks. Banks often need them to close joint accounts or remove a spouse from a mortgage. Government agencies may require them to update Social Security records or change beneficiary designations. Foreign governments sometimes need certified copies for visa or remarriage purposes.
Plain copies, even printed from online portals, are not certified. Only the Circuit Clerk's office can issue a certified copy with the court seal. Call the White County clerk at (618) 382-2321 to find out the current fee. Mail requests are accepted, but in-person visits are faster. Processing times for mail requests can vary depending on how busy the office is at the time.
Illinois Divorce Law
White County divorces are governed by 750 ILCS 5/, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Illinois is a no-fault divorce state. The only ground is irreconcilable differences. You do not need to prove that one spouse caused the marriage to fail.
To file for divorce in White County, at least one spouse must have lived in Illinois for 90 days. The case is filed in the county where at least one spouse resides, which means Carmi is the proper courthouse if you or your spouse lives in White County. If the two parties have been separated for six months or more, the law treats that as an irrebuttable presumption of irreconcilable differences. Records access is governed by 735 ILCS 5/.
Forms, Legal Help, and eFileIL
Free standardized divorce forms are available on the Illinois Courts forms page. These forms are approved for use in all circuits, including the 2nd Circuit in White County. Download them, fill them in, and submit at the courthouse in Carmi or through the eFileIL portal.
Illinois Legal Aid Online offers free guidance on filling out forms and navigating the divorce process without an attorney. Attorneys must file through eFileIL, the state's mandatory electronic filing system, as required since July 1, 2018. Self-represented parties in White County can also use eFileIL to file paperwork and pay fees online without a trip to Carmi.
Nearby Counties
Under Illinois law, divorce must be filed in the county where at least one spouse lives. If White County is not the right venue for your situation, check the nearby county pages below.