Kendall County, Illinois Court Records
In Kendall County, Illinois, court records refer to official documents generated during civil and criminal trials in the Kendall County Circuit Court and in the Oswego and Yorkville Administrative Adjudications. These documents serve as evidence of legal processes under the county’s judicial trial system; they ensure transparency, equity, fairness, and accountability of the county’s judiciary. Furthermore, court records provide public oversight of the judicial process.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court serves as the official custodian of Kendall County court records. Under the Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, this agency must provide these records to interested parties upon request. While these documents remain legally distinct, they often intersect with other public records. For example, the court incorporates arrest records and reports into criminal case files as precursor documents. Similarly, probate adjudications may utilize vital records, such as birth and death certificates, to resolve legal matters.
Are Kendall County Court Records Public?
Yes, Kendall County court records are public documents. Chapter 705 Act 86/5 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act) guarantees the public’s right to access government records, including Kendall County court records. Public access is also implemented through Illinois Supreme Court Rule 8 (Case and Document Accessibility),
However, while state laws grant access to these documents, they also balance the public’s right to know with individual privacy and due-process protections. Hence, there are some exemptions. Under Illinois law, the following court records are not publicly disclosable:
- Juvenile delinquency and child protection cases
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitment cases
- Guardianship matters involving minors
- Expunged or sealed criminal cases
- Certain domestic violence filings (especially where confidentiality orders apply)
- Documents containing protected personal identifiers, such as Social Security Numbers, financial account details, or medical records.
What Information is Available in Kendall County Court Records?
The Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act and the Illinois Supreme Court Rule 8 mandate access to court records. However, individuals can only access public-facing information about legal proceedings. Therefore, a typical Kendall County court record contains the following categories of information:
Case Identification Details
- Case Number
- Case type
- Names of the plaintiffs and defendants
- Filing date
- Name of the presiding judge and courtroom
- Case status (open, pending, or closed)
Docket Entries and Case History
- Motions and pleadings
- Hearing dates and court appearances
- Continuances or rescheduled dates
- Judicial rulings and minutes
- Final case disposition
Filing and Pleading Documents
- Complaints or petitions
- Answers and responses
- Motions and supporting memorandums
- Affidavits and sworn statements
- Exhibits entered into the record
- Court orders and written opinions
Hearing and Judgment Information
- Hearing summaries and minute orders
- Jury verdict (when applicable)
- Sentencing orders (in criminal cases)
- Judgment and decrees (in civil or family matters)
- Probation terms or compliance requirements
Financial and Administrative Information
- Filing fees and payment records
- Fines, restitutions, and court costs
- Bond and bail information (criminal cases)
- Compliance or payment status.
Kendall County Court Records Search
Several options are available for a Kendall County court record search. These documents are accessible online, by phone, mail, or in person through their custodian agencies.
Online Access
Interested parties can access Kendall County’s court records online through the Kendall County Online Court Records Portal. This official tool permits name-based and case number searches for Kendall County’s Circuit Court case information. Kendall County’s court records are also accessible through Pubic Access Terminal at the Kendall County Courthouse. Individuals seeking records of legal proceedings within the Oswego Administrative Adjudications, information seekers should fill out the Village of Oswego Public Records Request Form, and those searching for Yorkville’s Administrative Adjudication case files should submit Freedom of Information Act requests by email to the Yorkville City Clerk’s Office.
Phone Request
Interested parties can also make phone searches for Kendall County’s court records. To inquire about Kendall County court records, call the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at (630) 553-4183, the Oswego Village Government at (630) 551-7300, and theYorkville Administrative Office at (630) 553-4340.
In-person and Mail-In Requests
Under the Illinois judicial structure, Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, while Administrative Adjudications handle ordinance violation cases. For an in-person or mail search for Kendall County’s court records, interested parties should contact Kendall County’s Circuit Clerk’s Office and THE Oswego and Yorkville Administrative Adjudication locations at the following addresses:
Kendall County Circuit Court (23rd Judicial Circuit)
807 W. John Street,
Yorkville,
IL 60560
Phone: (630) 553-4183
Email: Web_Email_Circuit_Clerk@kendallcountyil.gov
Oswego Administrative Adjudication
Hearing Location
Oswego Police Department
3355 Woolley Road,
Oswego,
IL 60543
Phone: (630) 551-7300 (Administrative Adjudication / Police Department)
Email: PoliceInfo@oswegoil.org
Mailing Address
100 Parkers Mill,
Oswego,
IL 60543
Yorkville Administrative Adjudication
Administrative Office Contact
804 Game Farm Road,
Yorkville,
IL 60560
Phone: (630) 553-4340
Administrative Hearing Location
United City of Yorkville
651 Prairie Pointe Drive,
Yorkville,
IL 60560
Phone: (630) 553-4350.
Individuals seeking Kendall County court records should note that:
- Access to certain records may require identification
- Fees apply for printed or certified copies.
- Confidential, sealed, or expunged records are not accessible to the public.
- Processing times vary depending on record availability and request volume.
Additionally, a mail request for copies of Kendall County court records should include:
- The requester’s name, mailing address, and daytime telephone number
- Case number (if known)
- Names of parties involved
- The required copies of the documents
- A self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage
- Check or money order to cover the copy fees (payable to the appropriate clerk’s office).
Fees for Court Records in Kendall County
While Illinois law mandates public access to court records, obtaining copies of these documents from their custodians incurs fees. The Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office charges the following fees for copies of court records:
- Uncertified copies:
- First page: $2.00
- Next 19 pages: $0.50 per page
- Subsequent pages: $0.25 each
- Certified copies - $6.00 per page
- Criminal history - $4.00 per page, in addition to a $6.00 certification fee
- Record search - $6.00.
Interested parties can request uncertified copies of Kendall County’s court records by logging in to the re:SearchIL court records web portal. Record seekers should also note the following costs for copies of Kendall County’s vital records through the Kendall County Clerk’s Office:
Birth Certificates
- First certified copy: $10.00
- Additional copies: $2.00 each
Marriage or Civil Union Certificates
- First certified copy: $10.00
- Additional copies: $2.00 each
Death Certificates
- First certified copy: $12.00
- Additional copies: $6.00 each.
Kendall County Courthouse Locations
In Kendall County, the court system consists of a Circuit Court and Administrative Adjudication courts. Excluding ordinance violations, the Kendall County Circuit Court handles all local civil and criminal cases. The Kendall County Circuit Court has several divisions for various types of cases. The courthouse is the central judicial facility for Kendall County and handles nearly all circuit court matters through the following divisions:
Civil Division
- Lawsuits, contracts, property disputes
Small claims cases
Criminal Division
- Felony and misdemeanor prosecutions
- Arraignments and trials
Traffic Court
- Traffic citations and ordinance violations
Family Division
- Divorce and legal separation
- Child custody and support
- Orders of protection
Probate Division
- Estates and guardianships
Juvenile Division
- Delinquency and child protection matters (restricted public access)
Problem-Solving Courts
- Drug Court and Veterans Court programs
Probation Services
- Supervision and compliance hearings.
In addition to the Circuit Court, Kendall County also has Administrative Adjudication Courts that handle ordinance cases for Oswego Village and Yorkville City.
Information seekers can contact the Kendall County Circuit Court and the Oswego and Yorkville Administrative Adjudication Courts at the following addresses:
Kendall County Circuit Court
Kendall County Courthouse
807 W. John Street,
Yorkville,
IL 60560
Phone: (630) 553-4183
Email: Web_Email_Circuit_Clerk@kendallcountyil.gov
Oswego Administrative Adjudication
100 Parkers Mill,
Oswego,
IL 60543
Phone: (630) 554-3618
Yorkville Administrative Adjudication
Administrative Office
804 Game Farm Road,
Yorkville,
IL 60560
Hearing Location
Yorkville City Hall - Council Chambers
800 Game Farm Road,
Yorkville,
IL 60560
Phone: (630) 553-4340.
Criminal Records Access in Kendall County
A Criminal history (criminal record or rap sheet) is an official documentation of a person’s past interactions with the criminal justice system. The Kendall County Circuit Court does not conduct criminal background checks or issue criminal history reports. Access to criminal history reports is at the state level through the Illinois State Police (ISP) Bureau of Identification. This agency provides statewide access to:
- Arrest entries by local law enforcement agencies
- Filed criminal charges
- Court disposition information reported to the state
- Convictions and sentencing outcomes.
While the Illinois Bureau of Identification handles criminal history checks, access to Kendall County’s criminal case files is through the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office and its Online Court Records Portal. Individuals seeking access to Kendall County’s criminal case records can perform a name or number-based search through the Kendall County Online Court Records Portal or visit the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
Kendall County Probate Records
Kendall County probate records are official documents on the adjudication of deceased persons’ estates within the Probate Division of the Kendall County Circuit Court. These records relate, but are not limited to:
- Will and probate filings
- Estate administration
- Guardianship
- Conservatorship.
Generally, probate records include the following categories of documents:
Estate Records and Administration Documents
- Petition to Open Probate
- Last will (if one exists)
- Letters of Office (official authorization appointing an executor or administrator)
- Executor or Administrator Oath and Bond
- Inventory of estate assets (listing property, accounts, and valuables)
- Claims Against the estate (creditor filings for debts owed)
- Accounting reports (financial summaries showing estate transactions)
- Receipts and releases from heirs or beneficiaries
- Final report and petition to close the estate
Guardianship and Conservatorship Records
- Petition for guardianship or conservatorship
- Physician or evaluation reports (may be restricted)
- Guardianship orders issued by the court
- Annual status or financial reports
- Court Review Orders
Court Proceedings and Administrative Filings
- Notices of hearing
- Proof of service documents
- Court orders and judgments
- Motions and supporting filings
- Fee payment records.
Per the Illinois Court Record and Document Accessibility Act, anyone can access Kendall County’s probate court records. Nonetheless, record seekers should note that certain probate matters are confidential. For instance, sensitive details in guardianship proceedings are not open to public inspection. Additionally, while recent probate records may be accessible through the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Online Portal, comprehensive or historical files often require an in-person visit to the courthouse in Yorkville.
Kendall County Family Court Records
Kendall County family court records are official documents on family case trials within the Family Division of the county’s Circuit Court. These include case files on:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Parenting time
- Child support
- Adoption
- Parentage (paternity).
While basic summaries of Kendall County’s family court records, such as case status, scheduled hearings, filed motions, and docket entries, are publicly accessible online through the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office Online Court Records Portal or Public Access Terminals at the county’s courthouse, access to full case files may be limited to individuals with legal tangible interests and requires an in-person visit or mail request through the Kendall County Circuit Clerk’s Office. Additionally, requesters must provide valid government-issued photo identification and may need proof of relationship to obtain certified copies of full case files. To obtain copies of Kendall County’s family court records:
- Submit a formal in-person or mail request to the Kendall County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
- Provide the case number or party names, a valid government-issued photo ID, and proof of relationship to the subjects of the records (if applicable).
- Pay applicable copy and certification fees.
Federal Court Records in Kendall County
Local and state courts do not maintain federal case records. Federal cases originating from Kendall County fall under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Access to U.S. District court records is through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) Case Locator. This federal resource provides access to public-facing information on civil and criminal trials under federal laws. Access to federal case records through PACER requires registration and costs $0.10 per page. However, the cost limit for a single document search is $3.00, and search costs that are $30.00 or less in a single quarter are waived.