This page helps you work through Court Records tasks in McLean County, Illinois, including online case searches, written record checks, document copies, and common next steps.

The McLean County Circuit Clerk is the official keeper of records for judicial matters brought in the Circuit Court of McLean County. The Public Access System can help you search available criminal, traffic, and civil case information before contacting the clerk for official copies or written results.

McLean County Circuit Clerk Public Access System

Use the McLean County Circuit Clerk Public Access System to search available court case information online. Criminal and traffic searches are handled separately from civil searches.

  • For criminal and traffic cases, search by name, case number, or birth date.
  • For a name search, enter a last name and a first name or first initial.
  • For civil cases, search by name, business name, or case number.

Start with the case type that matches your need.

  • Use the criminal and traffic case search for criminal, traffic, and related case lookups.
  • Use the civil case search for civil case lookups by person, business, or case number.
  • Review the search result carefully, especially names, aliases, case numbers, and any collection notation.

Identity check: In criminal and traffic searches, the name at the top of a result may change if the searched name was used as an alias. The system defaults to the person’s primary name, so official confirmation may require writing to or visiting the Circuit Clerk’s office.

Online record limits and coverage

The online case information applies only to cases held before the Courts of McLean County. It is not the official court record, and recent activity may not appear right away because the online information is not drawn from the real-time system.

Traffic and criminal case data is available for full years from 1991 to the present. Searches for years before 1991 may be handled by prepaid written request at $6.00 per year, per person, or by visiting on site to search manual books in person.

Civil case coverage depends on whether the case is open or closed. Open civil case data is available from 2008 to the present. Closed civil case data is available for ten years from today’s date.

If a name and case number appear with a “no information available” message, submit a written inquiry that includes the name and case number to the Circuit Clerk.

Official background checks

For written official documentation of the summary or disposition of McLean County court cases, request a public record background check through the Circuit Clerk. Record checks are available for Criminal or Traffic divisions.

Each record check costs $6.00 per year, per person, within each division searched. The request should include the return mailing address or fax number, daytime phone number or email address for the requester, division to be searched, years to be searched, full name, aliases, and date of birth of the person being searched.

Record checks are generally completed within 10 business days unless a file must be retrieved from storage. Results are not provided by phone.

Written requests with payment should be sent to McLean County Circuit Clerk, Attn: Record Check, P.O. Box 2400, Bloomington IL 61702-2400. Make checks or money orders payable to McLean County Circuit Clerk.

Review the public record background check instructions before mailing a request.

Court record copies and certified documents

Copies of public case files may be obtained from the Circuit Clerk if the file is not impounded, suppressed, or sealed. Criminal files may be reviewed in the office except those that are restricted.

Copy fees are $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 per page for the next nineteen pages, and $0.25 for each additional page. Certification is available for an additional $6.00 for general case file copies.

For divorce decree copies, it helps to have the case caption, case number if available, or the year the case was filed. Divorce records from the 1960s are stored off site and may take 1 to 2 days to retrieve for inspection and copying.

Use the Circuit Clerk document request form for online document requests. For divorce copies, review the divorce decree copy instructions.

The Circuit Clerk provides separate online information for payments and short-term docket review. These services are useful when a court record search leads to an active payment or appearance question.

  • For online case payments, use the county’s online court payment page.
  • For upcoming court scheduling information, review the 14 Day Dockets page.
  • For payment history or court record printouts tied to State Disbursement Unit payments, payment history records in the automated system cost $4.00 per page and may be certified for an additional $6.00.

Expungement and sealing

The Circuit Clerk cannot provide legal advice about expungement or sealing. In McLean County, a request and notice must be completed, signed, and sent with the required copies and payment when filing an expungement or sealing request.

The listed McLean County filing cost is $136 for each request filed. This includes a $60 filing fee, a $60 state police fee, and a $16 fee for four certified copies of the court order. Additional certified copy sets cost $4 per set.

Agencies have 60 days to object. If no objection is filed, the court reviews the request without requiring the defendant or attorney to appear. If an objection is filed, a hearing is set at least 30 days after the objection.

Review the expungement and sealing information for McLean County procedures and related resources.

McLean County Circuit Clerk contact information

Contact the Circuit Clerk for official records, copies, written record checks, and questions that cannot be resolved through the online search tools.

  • McLean County Circuit Clerk, 104 W. Front St. Room 303 / 404 Bloomington, IL 61701
    Phone: (309) 888-5301
    Email: [email protected]
    Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm except legal holidays or court closures
  • McLean County Circuit Clerk, Record Check, P.O. Box 2400 Bloomington IL 61702-2400
  • Illinois Court Help
    Call or text: (833) 411-1121
    Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Common questions

Where can I search McLean County criminal and traffic court records?

Use the criminal and traffic case search. It allows searches by name, case number, or birth date.

Where can I search McLean County civil court records?

Use the civil case search. It allows searches by name, business name, or case number.

Is the online court record the official court record?

No. The online information is a public access service and is not considered the official court record. Contact the Circuit Clerk for official copies or written record check results.

What should I do if an online result says no information is available?

If a name and case number show a “no information available” message, submit a written inquiry to the Circuit Clerk that includes both the name and case number.

How far back do McLean County criminal and traffic searches go?

Full years of Circuit Clerk criminal and traffic data are available from 1991 to the present. Earlier years may require a prepaid written request or an in-person manual book search.

How long does a McLean County background check take?

Record checks are generally completed within 10 business days unless a file has to be retrieved from storage. Results are not provided by phone.

Can sealed or impounded files be reviewed?

No. Criminal files may be reviewed in the office except for files that are impounded, suppressed, or sealed.