Fulton County Public Records /Fulton County Court Records

Fulton County Court Records

How To Find Court Records in Fulton County in 2026

FultonCountyRecords.org provides access to publicly available information related to court records maintained by government agencies in Fulton County, Illinois. Members of the public seeking court records may find case-level data including party names, case numbers, filing dates, hearing schedules, docket entries, and disposition information, subject to applicable access restrictions under Illinois law. Record categories available through official channels include:

Civil court filings and judgments
Criminal case records and dispositions
Family law matters, including dissolution of marriage and custody proceedings
Probate filings and estate records
Traffic and ordinance violation records
Small claims court filings

Court records in Fulton County may be searched through five primary methods:

Clerk of Court or court records office — The Fulton County Circuit Clerk maintains the official record of all cases filed in the Fulton County Circuit Court. Members of the public may present a case number, party name, or approximate filing date to staff during regular business hours to request a records search.
Courthouse public access terminals — Public-access computer terminals are available at the Fulton County Courthouse. These terminals allow in-person inspection of case index data and, in some instances, document images without charge. Terminal access is limited to courthouse hours and does not require advance registration.
Online court search — The Illinois Courts system provides case search functionality through the Illinois e-filing and case management portal, where available case data may be retrieved by case number or party name. Access to full document images may be restricted depending on case type and filing date.
State-level judicial search tools — The Illinois Courts website maintains a courts directory and links to circuit-level case management systems. Statewide tools may return summary-level docket information for cases filed across multiple counties.
Written or mail requests — Members of the public may submit written requests to the Circuit Clerk's office specifying the case number, party name, and type of record sought. Fees for copies and certified copies apply. Requests should be directed to the office at 100 N. Main St., P.O. Box 152, Room 207, Lewistown, IL 61542.

Are Court Records Public In Fulton County

Court records filed in Fulton County are public records under current Illinois law. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) establishes the general right of public access to government records, and the Illinois Supreme Court's access policies further govern inspection of judicial records. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138, certain personal identifiers must be redacted from publicly filed documents.

The following categories of records are public and available for inspection:

Case dockets and index entries
Party names and case numbers
Filing dates and hearing schedules
Motions, orders, and judgments
Final dispositions, including pleas, verdicts, and sentencing entries

The following categories are confidential, sealed, or restricted from public access under applicable law:

Juvenile delinquency and abuse/neglect records, sealed pursuant to 705 ILCS 405/1-8
Adoption records
Mental health and developmental disability proceedings
Expunged or sealed criminal records
Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings

A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the public may inspect physical case files at the courthouse during business hours, online access to document images may be limited by the court's case management system capabilities and applicable confidentiality rules. Docket-level information is more broadly available online than full document images.

What Are Court Records in Fulton County?

Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appellate proceedings.

A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file includes the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court. Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of law. Filed pleadings are the initial documents that frame the legal dispute, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.

Public filings are accessible to any member of the public, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or operation of law. Trial court records are maintained by the circuit clerk at the county level, while appellate records are maintained by the relevant appellate court — in Fulton County's case, the Illinois Third District Appellate Court.

The Fulton County Circuit Clerk is the official custodian of all trial court records filed in the Fulton County Circuit Court. Records are created at the time of filing, updated with each subsequent court action, and retained according to the Illinois Supreme Court's records retention schedule. Upon final disposition, records remain in the clerk's custody and may be transferred to archival storage over time.

What's Included in a Fulton County Court Record?

A court record in Fulton County may include the following information, depending on case type and applicable public-access rules:

Case identification: case number, court name and division, and filing date
Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and other named parties
Case classification: case type, such as civil, criminal, family, probate, or traffic, and current case status
Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, orders, and actions taken in the case
Hearing information: scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
Filed documents: motions, complaints, petitions, answers, responses, notices, affidavits, and similar pleadings
Court orders and judgments: interim orders, final judgments, decrees, minute entries, and rulings on motions
Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
Financial and administrative data: filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown

The following categories are excluded or restricted from public court records:

Sealed filings and expunged matters
Juvenile case files
Adoption records
Protected personal data, including Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
Certain exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information or subject to protective orders

Types of Courts in Fulton County

Fulton County is served by the Tenth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, which encompasses Fulton, Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, and Tazewell counties. The Fulton County Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction serving the county. As a circuit court, it holds authority to hear virtually all categories of civil and criminal cases arising within the county.

The Fulton County Circuit Clerk maintains the official record for all cases filed in the circuit court. Appellate matters from Fulton County are heard by the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, located in Ottawa, Illinois.

What Types of Cases Do Fulton County Courts Hear

The Fulton County Circuit Court hears the following categories of cases:

Criminal matters: felony and misdemeanor prosecutions, including cases handled through the Criminal Division of the Circuit Clerk's office
Civil matters: contract disputes, personal injury actions, property disputes, and other civil litigation
Family law: dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, child support, and orders of protection
Probate: estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings
Juvenile matters: delinquency, abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings
Traffic and ordinance violations: moving violations, DUI proceedings, and local ordinance matters
Small claims: civil disputes involving amounts within the statutory small claims limit under Illinois Supreme Court rules

The circuit court is a court of general jurisdiction, meaning it is not limited to a specific subject matter. Small claims and traffic matters are handled as divisions within the circuit court rather than as separate limited-jurisdiction courts.

Fulton County Circuit Court
100 N. Main St.
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: (309) 547-3041
Fulton County Circuit Court

Fulton County Circuit Clerk
100 N. Main St., P.O. Box 152, Room 207
Lewistown, IL 61542
Phone: (309) 547-3041
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fulton County Circuit Clerk

How to Search Fulton County Court Records for Free?

Members of the public may search Fulton County court records at no cost through in-person inspection at the courthouse and through available online tools. The following methods are free of charge:

In-person inspection: Any member of the public may visit the Fulton County Circuit Clerk's office during business hours to inspect case files and docket entries. No fee is charged for inspection alone.
Courthouse public access terminals: Terminals located at the courthouse allow free electronic access to case index data and, where available, document images.
Online case search: The Illinois Courts website provides access to case information through its online directory and linked circuit court portals at no charge for basic docket searches.

The following services carry fees:

Service	Typical Fee
Standard paper copies	$0.25–$1.00 per page
Certified copies of court documents	$2.00–$6.00 per document
Exemplified copies	Variable by document
Written research requests	Variable by complexity

Fee schedules for the Fulton County Circuit Clerk are governed by the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Under 705 ILCS 105/27.1, the clerk is authorized to collect fees for copies and certified copies of court records. Members of the public seeking fee waivers based on indigency may inquire with the clerk's office directly.

How Long Does Fulton County Keep Court Records?

The retention of court records in Fulton County is governed by the Illinois Supreme Court's records retention schedule, which establishes minimum retention periods by case type and record category. Retention periods vary as follows:

Felony criminal records: retained permanently in most instances, including docket books and judgment records
Misdemeanor and traffic records: retained for a minimum of seven years following final disposition, with some categories retained longer
Civil case files: retained for a minimum of seven years following final disposition; cases involving real property may be retained longer
Family law and dissolution records: retained for a minimum of twenty years in many jurisdictions, with permanent retention of judgment records
Probate records: retained permanently in many instances due to their ongoing legal significance
Juvenile records: subject to separate retention and destruction rules under 705 ILCS 405/1-8, with some records eligible for sealing or expungement upon the subject's reaching adulthood

Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the retention period has been satisfied and the destruction is authorized under the applicable schedule. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement: destruction removes the physical or electronic file entirely, while sealing restricts access without eliminating the record, and expungement removes the record from public indexes and may involve physical destruction of certain documents.

Older records, particularly those predating electronic case management, may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county archives. Members of the public seeking records from earlier periods should contact the Fulton County Circuit Clerk to determine the format and location of archived materials.

How To Find a Court Docket in Fulton County

A court docket is the official chronological record of all actions taken in a case, distinct from the full case file. While a full case file contains the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court, a docket is an index or log that records what was filed, when it was filed, and what orders or hearings occurred. The docket does not itself contain the text of filed documents but serves as the navigational record of a case's history.

Dockets for cases filed in the Fulton County Circuit Court may be accessed through the following channels:

Clerk's office in person: Members of the public may request a docket printout from the Fulton County Circuit Clerk during business hours. A case number or party name is sufficient to initiate a search.
Courthouse public terminals: Terminals at the courthouse provide electronic access to docket entries for cases in the court's case management system.
Illinois Courts online portal: The Illinois Courts website links to circuit-level case search tools where docket-level information may be available for cases entered into the statewide system.
Hearing calendars: The Circuit Clerk's office may maintain daily or weekly hearing calendars that list scheduled proceedings by courtroom and date.

A court docket entry contains the date of the action, a description of the filing or order, and the name of the judicial officer involved. Docket entries do not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits subject to protective orders. Members of the public seeking the underlying documents referenced in a docket entry must request those documents separately, subject to applicable access rules and copy fees under 705 ILCS 105/27.1.

Motion calendars and hearing rosters, where maintained separately from the main docket, may be available at the clerk's counter or posted in the courthouse. The availability of these calendars in electronic form varies by division and case type.