LaSalle County IL Court Records Search: Circuit Clerk, Case Lookup, Copies & Federal PACER
A practical LaSalle County court records search starts with the Circuit Clerk and the 13th Judicial Circuit, not a people-search site. Use this guide to search by name or case number, choose the correct courthouse division, request civil or criminal copies, understand privacy limits, locate older records and separate Illinois state cases from federal PACER cases.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This page is not the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk, the 13th Judicial Circuit Court, the Illinois Courts, a courthouse, a law firm, PACER, a federal court, a government agency or a Consumer Reporting Agency.
Responsible-use warning: a name match does not prove identity. A complaint, petition, citation, criminal charge, warrant, indictment or docket entry does not prove guilt or liability. Do not use this page for employment, tenant, credit, insurance or other FCRA-regulated screening decisions.
LaSalle County court records are held by the Circuit Clerk, but the right division matters
LaSalle County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Illinois with Bureau and Grundy Counties. The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk maintains records for court cases filed and heard in LaSalle County, but local access is divided between the downtown civil courthouse and the Criminal Justice Center on Etna Road.
LaSalle, Bureau and Grundy Counties share the same Illinois circuit.
Civil-side records and criminal/traffic records use different counters.
The fee schedule notes clerk computerization began in 1989.
LaSalle County appeals route to Illinois reviewing-court resources.
LaSalle County court-record route finder
Select the record type you need. This privacy-safe helper runs only in your browser and does not ask for a name, date of birth, case number, driver license number, address or payment detail.
Use the LaSalle County online court records page or 13th Circuit search cases page. For certified copies, send a written request to 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350 with the case number if known.
How to search LaSalle County court records by name or case number
The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk links to an online court records page, and the 13th Judicial Circuit also provides a county case-search route. If the online search is not enough, the Circuit Clerk states that public viewing terminals are available in both courthouse locations for free public searching during business hours.
Use the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk online court records page or the 13th Judicial Circuit “Search Cases” page. Avoid commercial people-search sites for official court status.
A case number is usually the cleanest way to avoid confusing two people with similar names and is especially useful for clerk copy requests.
Try reasonable spelling variants, initials, maiden names, business punctuation, LLC/Inc. variations or shorter name forms when the exact case number is unknown.
Check the court location, division, case number, filing year, case type, docket entries, party role, disposition and hearing information before assuming the result belongs to a specific person.
Public viewing terminals in both courthouse locations may help when remote information is incomplete, older, document-limited or difficult to confirm online.
Online viewing is not the same as a certified court order. Contact the correct division for official copies, certification, restricted-record questions and manual index searches.
Which LaSalle County court-record route should you use?
Use this table before searching. It prevents the most common error: using the wrong office or treating every public-record request as a court-record request.
| Record needed | Likely custodian or route | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Civil lawsuit, chancery, eviction, foreclosure or judgment | Civil Division, LaSalle County Circuit Clerk | Search online first, then send copy requests to 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201 with the case number and document needed. |
| Divorce, family, parentage, child support or order of protection | Civil / family side of the Circuit Clerk | Use online case lookup for public case information. Expect privacy limits for sensitive family or child-related material. |
| Probate, estate, guardianship or will-related case | Civil / probate route through the Circuit Clerk | Search by case number, decedent name or participant name when supported, then contact the Civil Division for copies or restricted guardianship questions. |
| Small claims | Civil Division, Room 201 | Use the online court records route and confirm the exact case number before requesting a judgment, order or docket copy. |
| Felony, misdemeanor, domestic violence or criminal disposition | Traffic and Criminal Division, Criminal Justice Center | Search online, then use 707 E Etna Road, Room 141 for written criminal copy or certified disposition requests. |
| Traffic, DUI, conservation or ordinance violation | Traffic and Criminal Division | Use the ticket/citation, case number, driver information only on official systems, or the online payment route when appropriate. |
| Juvenile or adoption matter | Restricted court record route | Do not expect public access. The Circuit Clerk warns that adoption and juvenile records are not open to the public. |
| Appeal from a LaSalle County case | Illinois Appellate Court District 3 / reviewing court resources | Use Illinois reviewing-court resources and re:SearchIL when available, but use the circuit clerk for the trial-court file. |
| Older pre-computer or manual-index record | Circuit Clerk and historical/manual indexes | Ask the clerk whether the file is online, manually indexed, microfilmed, archived, impounded or requires an in-office search. |
| Federal civil, criminal or bankruptcy case | PACER / Northern District of Illinois / federal bankruptcy court | Use PACER. LaSalle County Circuit Clerk records are state-court records and do not replace federal CM/ECF or PACER. |
How to request LaSalle County court record copies
The copy route depends on the division. The official civil-location page and criminal-location page both describe written requests. Include enough information for the clerk to locate the correct file.
LaSalle County Circuit Court
119 W. Madison Street, Room 201
Ottawa, IL 61350
- Phone: 815-434-8671
- Fax: 815-433-9198
- Email route shown by the 13th Circuit: CopyRequests@lasallecounty.com
- Use for civil, family, probate, small claims and many order-related requests.
LaSalle County Criminal Justice Center
707 E Etna Road, Room 141
Ottawa, IL 61350
- Phone: 815-434-8271
- Fax: 815-434-8299
- Email route shown by the 13th Circuit: CriminalCopies@lasallecounty.com
- Use for criminal, traffic, DUI, conservation and ordinance matters.
Include your name, mailing address, daytime phone number, case number if known and the specific document or information requested.
A plain copy may be enough for reference, but agencies, courts and official processes often require a certified copy.
The Circuit Clerk states requesters are responsible for statutory fees, which can include copying charges, certification charges if needed and postage.
Do not remove covers, seals, staples or certification pages if the record must be used for an official purpose.
Official LaSalle County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Each link below includes practical next steps so the page does not become a generic link list.
Use this for public case lookup through the Circuit Clerk’s online court records page.
- Confirm you are on lasallecounty.com.
- Use the case-search frame or link provided on the page.
- Search by case number when available.
- For name searches, compare the case type, division and filing year.
- Save the case number for copy requests.
Use this when you want the circuit-level search route for Bureau, Grundy or LaSalle County.
- Choose La Salle County, not Bureau or Grundy.
- Open the official search link.
- Search by name or case number when supported.
- Verify the correct county before contacting a clerk.
Use this for official courthouse location, hours, ADA contact and court resources.
- Confirm the court is District 3, Circuit 13.
- Use the Circuit Clerk Website or Online Records link.
- Review ADA, e-filing, forms, local rules and remote proceeding links.
- Call before visiting if you need a document from an older file.
Use this for civil, family, probate and small-claims location details.
- Check the address, hours and parking note.
- Review the civil copy request instructions.
- Use the listed civil records contact route when a written request is needed.
- Check accessibility and Zoom courtroom details when relevant.
Use this for criminal, traffic, DUI and ordinance-record location details.
- Check the 707 E Etna Road address.
- Review the written criminal records request instructions.
- Use the listed criminal-records contact route when needed.
- Confirm payment and phone-payment options only on official systems.
Use this before requesting certified or plain copies.
- Read the written-request requirements.
- Include your contact information and the case number if known.
- State exactly which document you need.
- Confirm copying, certification and postage fees before payment.
Use this to review the current posted fee booklet and filing/case-code information.
- Open the filing fee schedule PDF from the official page.
- Check the effective date before relying on a fee.
- Confirm copy and certification fees with the clerk for your exact request.
- Do not assume filing fees equal copy fees.
Use this as an Illinois electronic court-record supplement, not a replacement for the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk.
- Review who can access which records.
- Understand that availability depends on user role, court integration and case/document restrictions.
- Use the local clerk when a document is unavailable remotely.
- Do not treat re:SearchIL as a complete background-check database.
Fee schedule notes, case-code clues and old-record limits
The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk fee schedule is useful for more than filing fees. It explains court levels, courthouse divisions, case designations and record-access cautions that help users interpret search results correctly.
- CH — Chancery.
- EV — Eviction.
- GR — Guardianship.
- LA / LM — Law cases by damages level.
- PR — Probate.
- SC — Small claims.
- DC / DN — Dissolution with or without children.
- CF / CM — Felony or misdemeanor.
- DT / TR / OV — DUI, traffic or ordinance violation.
- Public terminals are available in both courthouse locations.
- Electronic access can help look up dates, defendants, record sheets and dispositions.
- The clerk’s computerization started in 1989.
- Older cases may require manual lookup in index books or clerk assistance.
- Impounded, juvenile, adoption and court-restricted records are not ordinary public records.
Copy request readiness checklist
Check each item before contacting the clerk. This does not send information anywhere.
Before requesting copies, identify the correct division, case number, document title, certification need and current fee/payment method.
LaSalle County court locations and when to use each one
119 W. Madison Street
Ottawa, IL 61350
- Civil Division: 815-434-8671
- Child Support: 815-433-0774
- Fax: 815-433-9198
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Use for civil, family, probate, small claims, child support and many certified civil copy requests.
707 E Etna Road
Ottawa, IL 61350
- Traffic / Criminal Division: 815-434-8271
- Fax: 815-434-8299
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Use for criminal, traffic, DUI, conservation, ordinance and related copy requests.
LaSalle County federal court records use PACER, not the Circuit Clerk
Illinois state court records and federal court records are separate. LaSalle County is within the Eastern Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois for federal district-court purposes. Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy and federal appellate records are searched through PACER or the specific federal court’s CM/ECF route.
- Confirm the case is federal, not LaSalle County Circuit Court.
- Use the Eastern Division route for LaSalle County federal matters.
- Use PACER or the federal court’s CM/ECF links for dockets and documents.
- Contact the federal clerk for federal certified-copy questions.
- Use PACER Case Locator if you do not know the federal court.
- Search a specific court for the freshest docket after identifying it.
- Review PACER pricing before opening reports or documents.
- Use date filters to reduce billable docket pages.
PACER cost estimator
PACER pricing verified on August 31, 2026: official PACER pricing pages showed $0.10 per billable page, a $3 cap for many single documents, and a $30 quarterly fee-waiver threshold. PACER announced a temporary increase to $0.12 per page and a $40 quarterly waiver threshold effective January 1, 2027. Always verify current pricing before use.
What to do if a LaSalle County court-record search returns no result
- Wrong county or wrong circuit.
- Wrong division: civil side vs. traffic/criminal side.
- Name spelling, suffix, initials, maiden name or business punctuation.
- Searching by a person who is not listed as a public case participant.
- Using a website search box instead of the actual case-search tool.
- Juvenile or adoption case.
- Impounded, sealed, expunged or court-restricted record.
- Older case requiring manual index search.
- Remote access showing less than courthouse terminal access.
- Federal case that belongs in PACER.
Use LaSalle County court records carefully
- Several people or businesses can share the same name.
- A case filing is not proof that an allegation is true.
- A charge, citation or warrant is not a conviction.
- A judgment may not show whether it was paid, satisfied, vacated or appealed.
- Do not harass, threaten or retaliate against a person listed in a case.
- Do not publish unnecessary personal information.
- Do not bypass sealed, impounded, juvenile, adoption or expunged-record restrictions.
- Do not use this page as a background-check or tenant-screening product.
Frequently asked questions about LaSalle County IL court records
How do I search LaSalle County IL court records by name?
Start with the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk online court records page or the 13th Judicial Circuit search cases page. Search by participant name when you do not have a case number, then compare the division, case number, filing year, case type, docket entries and disposition before relying on a result.
Is the LaSalle County online court records page official?
Yes. The LaSalle County Circuit Clerk links to an online court records page and the 13th Judicial Circuit also links users to LaSalle County case search. Use those official county or circuit links instead of a commercial people-search site.
Can I search LaSalle County court records by case number?
Yes. A case number is usually the best search key because it reduces confusion between people with similar names and helps the clerk locate the exact file for copy or certification requests.
Where do I request civil, family, probate or small-claims copies?
Use the Civil Division route at 119 West Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350. A written request should include your name, address, daytime phone number, case number if known and the specific information or document requested.
Where do I request criminal or traffic copies?
Use the Traffic and Criminal Division route at the LaSalle County Criminal Justice Center, 707 East Etna Road, Room 141, Ottawa, IL 61350. Include the case number if known and enough identifying information for the clerk to locate the correct file.
Are public terminals available for LaSalle County court records?
Yes. The Circuit Clerk states that public viewing terminals are available in both courthouse locations and that the public can do their own searching free of charge during business hours.
Why might a LaSalle County case not appear online?
The case may be sealed, impounded, confidential, juvenile, adoption-related, too old for the online index, filed under a different name, in a different county, or available only through the clerk, courthouse terminal, manual index or archive route.
Are LaSalle County juvenile and adoption records public?
No. The Circuit Clerk public-records and copy-request materials warn that adoption and juvenile records are not open to the public and that no information is available on those cases.
Which appellate court handles LaSalle County appeals?
LaSalle County is in Illinois Appellate Court District 3. Trial-court case records remain with the circuit clerk, while appellate records and reviewing-court documents use Illinois reviewing court and re:SearchIL routes when available.
Where do I search LaSalle County federal court records?
Use PACER for federal district, bankruptcy and federal appellate cases. LaSalle County is within the Eastern Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, but state circuit court records remain separate from federal PACER records.
Official-source review checklist
Information reviewed for this guide included the LaSalle County Circuit Clerk online records, record-search, copy-request and fee-schedule pages; the State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts directory; the 13th Judicial Circuit court-location and search-case pages; Illinois eFileIL and re:SearchIL materials; Illinois reviewing-court public-access announcements; the Northern District of Illinois; and PACER pricing and Find a Case resources. Review date: August 31, 2026.