Statewide record requests cover numerous areas, in some instances serving as the central depository such as criminal records and numerous certificates. A number of Illinois state, county and city government departments offer instant…
Statewide record requests cover numerous areas, in some instances serving as the central depository such as criminal records and numerous certificates. A number of Illinois state, county and city government departments offer instant results from simple online queries. Agencies such as the Secretary of State searching for business information, treasurer queries of property and taxes, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation instant license look up, Illinois Department of Corrections inmate searches and various court calendars and dockets instant results. There are many other examples of open free queries of data across Illinois governing agencies, either at the local level or state. Department websites are independently expanding online services to their communities without a central index.
In efforts to keep the state of Illinois government open and honest, the Pro Disclosure Freedom of Information Act was enacted in 1984. This gives the residents of Illinois access to public information regarding the workings of the state government with the right to inspect, copy or reproduce public records. The statutes is in largely based on the federal freedom of information act, also known as the FOIA. As there are limitations to information that can be released, the state's statutes provide descriptions and details of what is made available as public records. This act also outlines the procedures of the government and the entity's duties in responding to its residents information requests.
While the FOIA lets it's residents request information from their government for purposes of scrutiny and transparency, this right is also extended to other government records. The Illinois state police can be requested to conduct criminal history record searches of convictions. This allows anyone to look into another person's past criminal background. Home ownership in Illinois is above the national average at nearly 70 percent. These property and real estate records are held by county recorders where you can request deed information of Illinois homeowners. The department of public health maintains information of deaths, births, divorces and marriages occurring in Illinois where a request can be simply made by anyone online. State and local courts are also under the FOIA rules which allows the public to request courthouse records of trials, cases, filings and its operations. There are limitations in place to where personal information of a person will not be revealed.
Illinois became part of the union December 3rd, 1818. With approximately 13 million residents and nearly 58,000 square miles, the prairie state is the 25th largest state by land and the 5th most populated after California, New York, Texas and Florida. It's major industries are agriculture, mining, cattle and manufacturing.
The government of Illinois is based on a 3 branch system. The executive branch is divided in several state offices such as the governor's office, agencies, boards and commissions as well as the management, budgeting and taxes amongst other duties. The legislative branch is the state's general assembly made of the its senate and house of representatives. Divided in 59 districts, the legislature deals with the laws and constitution of the state. The judicial branch is the state's court system which includes its supreme, appellate and circuit courts. There are 23 judicial circuits in 130 locations throughout the state and is the general trial court.
There are 102 counties in Illinois, it has 1,299 municipalities with 1,431 townships and 3,145 special districts. City government includes the mayor's office, treasurer, clerk, city council and other local offices and services. Chicago is the largest city in Illinois with more than half of the state's residence living within its borders. It is the 3rd most populated city in the U.S. after New York and Los Angeles. Forming cities and municipalities is a way to give residents of Illinois local power and a voice in governing their areas.
The Illinois circuit courts have exclusive civil jurisdiction (including administrative agency appeals), and small claims jurisdiction, where the amount in controversy is $2,500 and below, exclusive domestic relations, criminal cases, traffic, juvenile jurisdiction and hold venue to preliminary hearings.
The appellate courts must hear (have "mandatory jurisdiction" over) various civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, original proceedings, interlocutory decision cases and may hear (have "discretionary jurisdiction" over) various civil, and interlocutory decision cases.
The state's supreme court is the highest court with mandatory jurisdiction in various civil, capital criminal, criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, disciplinary, original proceeding and interlocutory decision cases. Discretionary jurisdiction in various civil, noncapital criminal, administrative agency, juvenile, certified questions from federal courts, original proceeding and interlocutory decision cases.
Illinois court records are maintained by county circuit courts and the Illinois Courts system. Circuit Courts serve as the trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Appellate Court hears appeals from circuit courts.
Case information is searchable through individual county circuit court websites and the Illinois e-filing system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov.
Illinois criminal records are maintained by the Illinois State Police (ISP), Bureau of Identification. ISP provides both name-based background checks through the Criminal History Information Response Process (CHIRP) and fingerprint-based checks through licensed LiveScan vendors. All criminal history record conviction information collected by ISP is available to the public. Court records for Cook County are accessible through the Clerk of the Circuit Court online case search. The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) provides an individual in custody search and parolee sex registrant search. ISP also operates the Illinois Sex Offender Registry.
Statewide Illinois vital records. Search births, marriage records and death certificates. Divorces filed with courts. State vital records offices. Link to the agencies in Illinois and order vital records. Many records are public information available to the public from private and government entities. You can use information to verify your records. Look up vital statistics and free vital searches in Illinois to conduct research online. Illinois Department of Public Health records questions and answers. Division of Vital Records can verify the facts of a divorce that has taken place from 1962 through the current index date available. Verifications can be obtained by mail, by fax or in person. A number of resources are available for individuals doing genealogical research using vital records filed in the state of Illinois, application for verification of marriage record files and ordering information.
Search for assets in Illinois and obtain records of property, business ownership, professional license verification and other personal or corporate assets. Find bankruptcies, liens, UCC judgment filings and find out about information that can effect a person's or company's asset. See the status of a business and verify ownership, DBA, status, activity and whether the corporation or business filed in Illinois owns property, vehicles, real estate and more. Unclaimed property and asset search from official government databases open to the public.
Access Illinois government agencies and obtain information on executive branches, legislative branches and jucidial branches within state jurisdiction. Link below to the state government agencies as well as state government information and services. Other state government resources such as codified state law, voters registration and other state government departments
Direct Illinois official government links to driver license and registration resources. Vehicle registration, tags, driving history, online forms, office locations, and hours.
Expunge your criminal past of felonies, misdemeanors, D.U.I convictions and more in the state of Illinois. Get information regarding expungements and begin to erase your previous Illinois criminal records statewide as well as nationwide. Some records can contain inaccurate or erroneous information that can be amended. Both juvenile and adult cases that can be corrected and begin your search for employment without a tainted past showing.
Illinois genealogy related links and topics. Individual state search of your ancestors, start a family tree, browse census records and more online. Resources and data from the Family History Resources in Regional Archives Depositories, State and Federal Governmental Records in the State Archives, Vital Records, Local Governmental Records Holdings Database, University of Illinois Newspaper Project, State Library, Genealogy at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, USGenWeb Project and National Archives Great Lakes Region in Chicago.