Civil

More than 100 cases are filed every day at the Civil Division, in room 405 of the Sangamon County Building. The largest volume of filings are either small claims or law magistrate cases.  Small claims cases are suits filed for money not in excess of $10,000, excluding interest and costs.  Law magistrate cases are similar to small claims cases, except that the money is greater than $10,000 but less than $50,000.

The forms and documents for these cases are filed here. Once filed, summonses may be issued and enables the judicial process to begin. The party issuing the summons must arrange for service. Private process servers or the Sangamon County Sheriff serve summonses.

Civil Division Clerks are NOT attorneys and are PROHIBITED by law from providing any legal advice.  This includes completing paperwork.

The Civil Division handles these case types:
 

Chancery (CH)

Chancery case numbers are assigned to complaints for equitable relief in such matters as foreclosures, trusts, and titles to real property. These cases may be:

Foreclosure
Injunction
Temporary Restraining Order


Law (L)

Law case numbers are assigned to tort, contract and a variety of other cases in which damages sought are greater than $50,000. These cases may be:

Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Negligence
Contract and Suit on Note filed for over $50,000


Law Magistrate (LM)

Law Magistrate case numbers are assigned to tort, contract and a variety of other actions in which damages sought are $50,000 or less. Typical cases are:

Contract, money damages greater than $10,000 and
less than $50,000
Forcible Entry and Detainer


Miscellaneous Remedy (MR)

Miscellaneous Remedy case numbers are assigned to complaints seeking reviews of administrative decisions (other than tax commissions) and a variety of other actions that may include:

Administrative Review
Declaratory Judgment
Habeas Corpus
Mandamus


Probate (P)

Probate case numbers are assigned to estates of decedents and to guardianship matters. These cases may include:

Guardianship - minor and disabled adults
Wills - Living Wills are not accepted
Intestate - Filing with no will
Testate - Filing with a will


Small Claims (SC)

Small Claims numbers are assigned to civil actions with money damages claimed are not in excess of $10,000. Small Claims rules designed to enable individuals to collect debts, or settle small legal controversies, while avoiding the expense and legal proceedings required by a more substantial claim.


Tax (TX)

Tax case numbers are assigned to annual tax sales and a variety of other actions that relate to the collection of taxes.

Tax Objections
Tax Decision Reviews
Deeds
Injunctions

All Forms
 

Family

The Family Division of the Circuit Clerk's Office consists of five offices: family, divorce, child support and adoption. The clerks in this division file the following new cases: 

Adoption (AD)

Adoption case numbers are assigned to every adoption case. Adoption Records and all juvenile case types are impounded pursuant to state law and are not public record.

Dissolution (D)

Dissolution case numbers are assigned to complaints for dissolution of marriage, annulment, or separate maintenance.  Divorce clerks handle any new filings for divorce cases. These filings may include visitation and child support if minor children are involved.  The divorce clerk publishes new divorce judgments and sends all new divorce judgments to the Office of Vital Records. When you file for resolution as "agreed," you must file an appearance and consent  the total amount due is check filing fees.

Family (F)

Family case numbers are assigned to a variety of matters including proceedings to establish the parent-child relationship: child support, custody, visitation and emancipation.  Clerks process new filings for paternity, child support, visitation etc., on cases in which the parties involved are not married.  The family clerk accepts filings by the State’s Attorney and the Illinois Department of Public Aid. The child support clerk records child support payments received by mail.  Clerks are also responsible for establishing and amending new child support judicial orders. The Family Division maintains child support payment records for Sangamon County children of divorce to ensure that financial support reaches children of divorced parents.

The Family Division also collects the fees for persons wishing to be married or joined by civil union by a judge.  This fee is $10.  The parties must visit the Sangamon County Clerk’s Office (Room 101, Sangamon County Courts Complex) and apply for their marriage license before paying for the judicial marriage.

Family Division clerks are available to answer questions Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Room 405, Sangamon County Court Complex.

All Forms