McHenry County

The McHenry County Circuit Court serves Mchenry County, Illinois and handles civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. The courthouse is located in the county seat of the area. Court records and case filings can be requested in person or through the Illinois online court portal.

The McHenry County Circuit Court in Mchenry County has jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases arising within the county, including family law, probate, small claims, and felony proceedings. Appeals from lower courts are also heard at this level. Case records are maintained by Mchenry Clerk of Courts and are accessible to the public under Illinois open records law.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• Arrest records in McHenry County are public records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.), and requests can be submitted to the arresting agency or the Sheriff's Office.
• Most agencies require written FOIA requests specifying the individual's name and date of birth.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally available through the Sheriff's online inmate search or by submitting a public records request.
• Processing times for arrest record requests typically range from 5 to 10 business days, and fees may apply for copies.

Jail & Inmate Records

• In Illinois, the bond or bail process allows for the release of detainees pending trial, with bond amounts set by the court based on the charges.

• McHenry County Circuit Clerk's office, phone, provides public access to court records during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Fees for copies are established by statute at $2.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page of standard documents.
• Certified copies cost an additional fee.
• Small claims matters involving disputes under $10,000 are heard in the court's Pro Se division.
• Traffic violations and ordinance violations are processed through the Traffic division with online payment options available for many citations.

• The Recorder's Office provides a free online search portal through their website where users can search by grantor/grantee name, document number, or property description.
• Images of recorded documents can be viewed and printed directly from the online system at no charge for viewing, with printing fees applicable.
• The office has digitized records back to the early 1980s, with earlier documents available through the office in person or by mail request.
• Certified copies of recorded documents cost $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, plus a $5.00 certification fee.

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing time for in-person requests is typically immediate during business hours, while mail requests take 1-2 weeks.
• Eligible requestors include the registrant, parents, legal guardian, spouse, adult children, legal representatives, or those with a court order.
• Marriage licenses are issued by McHenry County Clerk's office with a fee of $60.00, requiring both parties to appear in person with valid identification.
• Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5.00.
• Jefferson Street, Springfield, IL 62702, is the state repository for all Illinois vital records and can be contacted for VitalChek offers expedited online ordering for an additional service fee at www.vitalchek.com.