Find Lee County Court Records in Dixon, Illinois
Search for Lee County civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, and other circuit court cases through the appropriate court records system. Learn where to start, how to identify a case, and when to request assistance from the Circuit Clerk.
Where to Search Lee County, Illinois Court Records
Lee County is part of Illinois’ 15th Judicial Circuit, which also serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, and Stephenson Counties. Each county maintains its own Circuit Clerk’s office. For a Lee County case, begin with the Lee County Circuit Clerk rather than the clerk in a neighboring county.
The Illinois Courts directory identifies the Lee County Courts Building at 309 South Galena Avenue in Dixon. The Lee County Circuit Clerk’s office is in Suite 320 on the third floor. The court’s public access portal provides online case-record and court-calendar access, subject to available records and access restrictions.
Lee County Circuit Clerk
Address: 309 S. Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021
Telephone: 815-284-5234
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., except holidays.
Location: Third floor of the Lee County Courts Building.
Visit Official Clerk Page ↗Lee County Courts Building
Judicial circuit: 15th Judicial Circuit of Illinois
Judicial district: Fourth District
The Illinois Courts directory also identifies an e-filing kiosk in the third-floor resource room, a fourth-floor law library, and courthouse accessibility resources.
View Illinois Courts Directory ↗Official online case access
Lee County operates a FullCourt public access portal at the county-associated court-records domain. The portal identifies itself as providing online access to court records and the court calendar. Its available functionality, authentication requirements, and displayed records can change, so use the county’s Circuit Clerk page as the authoritative starting point if a direct portal link is unavailable.
Public access portal: Lee County FullCourt Public Access ↗
Official fallback: Lee County Circuit Clerk ↗
The portal may require a login or other access steps. A public access portal does not guarantee public visibility of every filing.
How to Search Lee County Court Records: Seven Steps
Prepare the full name of a party or the case number if available. A filing year, approximate court date, or case category can help distinguish similar records. Follow these steps before contacting the Clerk.
- Confirm Lee County, Illinois. Check the location associated with the case. Lee County’s courthouse is in Dixon, not Fort Myers, Florida or another same-name county.
- Open the official Circuit Clerk resource. Use the county website to reach its court-records access information or the FullCourt public access portal. Avoid assuming a third-party index is complete.
- Choose an available search option. Where the portal provides it, use a party name or case number. Follow the actual fields and login instructions shown on the current portal screen.
- Refine the identifying information. Use the complete name, alternate spelling, known filing year, or case number as permitted. Avoid treating a same-name result as a confirmed identity.
- Review the case summary carefully. Compare the case number, parties, case type, filing date, court events, and other available identifiers before relying on the result.
- Determine whether the required document is available. A case summary or docket entry may describe a filing without providing the actual pleading, judgment, or order. Some documents must be obtained from the Clerk.
- Request official assistance when necessary. Contact the Lee County Circuit Clerk at 815-284-5234 for unavailable records, historical searches, certified copies, or questions about the correct record-request procedure.
What Types of Court Records Can You Find?
Illinois circuit courts handle a broad range of trial-level matters. What you can view online depends on the specific case, court rules, confidentiality protections, and the system’s coverage. A public docket may be available even when the associated documents are not.
| Record category | What to look for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Civil cases | Complaints, case events, judgments, orders, and disputes. | The underlying document may require a separate request. |
| Criminal cases | Charges, hearings, court events, orders, and dispositions. | A charge is not proof of conviction; sealed and expunged information may not be public. |
| Traffic matters | Traffic case information, scheduled court events, and available dispositions. | Administrative payment records and court files are not necessarily the same thing. |
| Family and divorce | Available case events, orders, and domestic-relations records. | Personal and protected information may be withheld. |
| Probate and guardianship | Estate cases, probate orders, and permitted case information. | Confidential personal or financial information may be restricted. |
| Juvenile and protected cases | Access depends on court authorization and applicable law. | Do not expect general public access. |
Court docket versus court document
A docket is a chronological record of case activity, such as a filing, hearing, motion, or order. The document itself is the actual filing or order. If you need the signed judgment, a certified order, a filed complaint, or evidence of final disposition, verify that you have the document rather than merely a docket description.
Trial court versus appeals
Lee County Circuit Court records concern local trial-level matters. If the case was appealed, appellate records may need to be located through the Illinois reviewing-court system. The Illinois Courts announced public remote access through re:SearchIL for eligible, nonconfidential reviewing-court documents filed on or after April 1, 2025. This should not be interpreted as unrestricted access to all Lee County circuit court documents.
How to Request Court Record Copies and Certified Documents
If an online case listing does not provide the document you need, contact the Lee County Circuit Clerk. Describe the requested record as specifically as possible. A case number and document title are particularly helpful, but the Clerk can explain its available search procedure when the number is unknown.
Information to prepare
- Case number, if known.
- Names of the parties or the person whose record is being sought.
- Approximate filing year, disposition date, or hearing date.
- Type of case, such as civil, criminal, traffic, or probate.
- Specific document required, such as an order, judgment, docket sheet, or certified copy.
- Preferred delivery method and mailing address if the Clerk permits a mailed request.
Plain copies, certified copies, and exemplified documents
A plain copy is useful for reading or reference. A certified copy includes the Clerk’s certification, which may be required for an official transaction. An exemplified document may require additional authentication. Ask the receiving agency, attorney, or organization which version it requires before paying for copies.
Older criminal-record searches
The Lee County Circuit Clerk maintains a separate criminal-record-search information page. It states that its Civil/Criminal Division accepts record-search requests in person or by mail. Searches of cases before 1988 have a separate process, including a written request and self-addressed stamped envelope.
The county describes historical criminal-record searches as potentially taking up to four weeks. This processing information relates to that specific records-search service, not every court-record request.
Lee County Criminal Record Search Instructions ↗Lee County Court Record Search and Copy Fees
Costs depend on whether you are searching online, requesting a staffed records search, copying documents, obtaining certification, or filing a case. Lee County publishes court fee schedules and separate criminal-record-search charges. Confirm the applicable category before submitting payment.
| Service | Published information |
|---|---|
| Standard criminal name search | County criminal-record-search page lists $4 per year searched for one name. |
| Criminal cases before 1988 | $6 per name per year searched, according to the county’s historical-search instructions. |
| Criminal search document copies | $1 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, under the published service instructions. |
| Certification for the historical search service | Published page lists $2 per document in addition to copying charges. |
| Civil filing and appearance fees | Depend on case type and fee schedule; do not assume they are records-search fees. |
| Other court copies or authentication | Confirm the applicable charge and current schedule with the Circuit Clerk. |
The criminal-record-search page and published civil fee schedules cover different services. The county’s October 2025 fee schedule should be checked for the applicable civil filing or appearance category. Fees may change.
Court fee schedule
The county publishes an October 2025 schedule covering civil case types, appearance charges, probate, guardianship, and other filing-related amounts.
View Published Fee Schedule ↗Cannot afford court filing fees?
The Circuit Clerk links to an Application for Waiver of Court Fees and Order. Whether a waiver is granted depends on applicable requirements and court review.
Find Court Fee Waiver Information ↗Paying a fine is different from obtaining a record
Lee County provides payment arrangements for traffic fines, criminal fines, court costs, and filing fees, including a linked CitePayUSA service. The Clerk also warns that certain past-due cases may be referred for collection with added charges. Verify your case number and payment destination before paying. A court-record request should not be confused with a fine-payment transaction.
What to Do When a Lee County Court Record Is Missing
Not finding a case online is not the same as proving that no court record exists. Search coverage, entry delays, confidentiality, filing location, and older storage methods can all affect access.
| Problem | Useful next action |
|---|---|
| The portal requests a login. | Review the portal’s access instructions and the Clerk’s official website. Do not assume the account offers unrestricted document access. |
| No result for a person’s name. | Check spelling, available name variants, filing period, and whether the case belongs to a different county. |
| Case appears but the order is unavailable. | Identify the docket entry and ask the Circuit Clerk about permitted document-copy access. |
| Recently filed case is absent. | Allow for record-entry delays and verify with the Clerk, especially if a deadline or hearing is involved. |
| Case predates online coverage. | Request a historical records search and ask whether paper or archived records are available. |
| Protected or sealed matter. | Ask the court about authorized access procedures; do not attempt to bypass restrictions. |
| Incorrect case or matching name. | Compare available case identifiers and obtain official confirmation before relying on the record. |
What if the case is in another county?
Lee County is only one of the five counties in the 15th Judicial Circuit. The circuit website links to separate case-search resources for Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, and Stephenson Counties. Search the county where the case was actually filed rather than assuming one court’s portal includes the entire circuit.
Explore the 15th Judicial Circuit ↗FOIA requests and court files
For a specific court case, the Circuit Clerk and applicable court-record access process are the appropriate starting points. The county’s Freedom of Information Act resources address public records more broadly, but court-file access also follows applicable judicial rules and restrictions. A FOIA submission should not automatically replace a court-record request.
Filing Documents in Lee County Court
Searching an existing case and filing a new document are different tasks. Illinois provides eFileIL for electronic filing in covered courts and cases. Civil e-filing is generally mandatory, subject to recognized exceptions and applicable court procedures.
Self-represented litigants should determine the appropriate statewide court form, select an authorized electronic filing service provider, and follow the court’s instructions. Illinois identifies exceptions involving certain people in custody, wills, juvenile proceedings, disabilities, and qualifying hardship or other good cause.
The Illinois Courts directory identifies an e-filing kiosk in the third-floor resource room of the Lee County Courts Building. If you need assistance with the filing process, consult the official e-filing resources or contact the Circuit Clerk.
Illinois eFileIL
Find statewide e-filing information, providers, training, and filing exemptions.
Open Illinois eFiling ↗Approved court forms
Illinois publishes approved statewide court forms, including resources for people representing themselves.
View Illinois Court Forms ↗When completing fillable statewide PDF forms, follow the Illinois Courts’ instructions for downloading, saving, and flattening documents before electronic submission. An uploaded document that appears blank or incomplete may create a filing problem.
Visiting the Lee County Courts Building in Dixon
For in-person court-record questions, visit the Circuit Clerk’s third-floor office during its published business hours. The Illinois Courts directory separately identifies courthouse features such as an e-filing kiosk, law library, free parking in an adjacent lot, internet resources, and interpreter assistance arranged through court staff.
Visit checklist
- Confirm the office is open, especially around Illinois court holidays.
- Bring the case number and document details if known.
- Call ahead for archive searches or multiple certified copies.
- Ask whether your request can be completed online, by mail, or in person.
- Contact court staff ahead of time for needed language or disability accommodations.
- Do not assume that a court calendar listing guarantees that a hearing will proceed as originally scheduled.
Circuit Clerk: 815-284-5234
View 15th Circuit Contacts and Holidays ↗Frequently Asked Questions About Lee County IL Court Records
Can I search Lee County court records online?
Yes. Lee County provides a FullCourt public access portal for court records and calendars. The information displayed and any login requirements depend on the portal’s current configuration and record restrictions. Start at the official Lee County Circuit Clerk website.
Can I search for a Lee County case by name?
Use the available search options in the official portal. A party name may help locate a record where name searching is supported. If the portal does not return the expected result, contact the Circuit Clerk with the person’s name and an approximate case year.
Where is the Lee County Circuit Clerk located?
The office is at 309 S. Galena Avenue, Suite 320, Dixon, IL 61021, on the third floor of the Lee County Courts Building. Published hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
How do I get a certified copy of a court order?
Contact the Circuit Clerk, identify the case and requested order, and specify that you need a certified copy. Confirm the current copy fee, delivery arrangements, and any access restrictions before submitting your request.
Are Lee County criminal records free to search?
Do not assume all searches are free. The Clerk publishes specific charges for staffed criminal-record searches, including $4 per year searched for a standard one-name search and a separate $6-per-name-per-year process for pre-1988 cases. Online portal terms may differ.
Does Lee County use Judici?
The official 15th Judicial Circuit website provides Judici case-search links for several neighboring counties, while Lee County is listed separately without an equivalent Judici search link. Use Lee County’s own Circuit Clerk and FullCourt portal resources rather than selecting another county in Judici.
Can I find a sealed or expunged case?
Some records are confidential, sealed, expunged, or otherwise unavailable for general public access. If you are legally entitled to a document, request guidance from the court about the authorized procedure.
Is re:SearchIL the same as Lee County’s case-search portal?
No. re:SearchIL is part of Illinois’ statewide court-document access system, with access determined by policy, case category, court level, and user authorization. Lee County’s local FullCourt portal is a separate court-record access resource. Do not assume either system contains every record.
Verified Official Lee County and Illinois Court Resources
The following sources provide the authority for the local court details, published charges, access rules, and filing information discussed in this guide.
- Lee County Circuit Clerk — office contact, access information, payments, and fee-waiver resources.
- Lee County FullCourt Public Access Portal — local online court-record and calendar access.
- Lee County Criminal Record Search — name-search fees, historical cases, copy charges, and request methods.
- Lee County Published Court Fee Schedule — fee categories and filing-related charges.
- Illinois Courts — Lee County Courthouse — courthouse location, circuit, facilities, and accessibility.
- 15th Judicial Circuit of Illinois — court locations, local rules, holidays, and county resources.
- Illinois Courts — eFileIL — filing procedures and re:SearchIL context.
- Illinois Standardized Court Forms — approved forms and filing guidance.