Kankakee County Court Records Search: Circuit Clerk, Odyssey Portal, Hearing Lookup, Copies & Federal Routes
Use this guide to search Kankakee County court records through the official Circuit Clerk and Tyler Odyssey Portal, understand Smart Search versus Search Hearings, request copies or certified records, and choose the right route for civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, appeals, recorder records, vital records, federal cases, and bankruptcy records.
Public-Court-Records.us is independent. This website is not the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk, Kankakee County, the Illinois Courts, the Recorder, the County Clerk, PACER, a federal court, a law firm, or a Consumer Reporting Agency. This page is general information only and is not legal advice.
Responsible-use warning: a name match does not prove identity. A complaint, arrest, charge, citation, petition, filing, warrant, docket entry, or lawsuit does not prove guilt or liability. Do not use this guide for employment, tenant, credit, insurance, licensing, or other FCRA-regulated screening decisions.
Kankakee County court records are Circuit Court records held by the Circuit Clerk
The Kankakee County Circuit Clerk maintains and preserves Circuit Court records, processes court documents, and collects court-related fees and fines. For most local court-record searches, start with the Circuit Clerk and the official Tyler Odyssey Portal.
Kankakee County is in Illinois’s 21st Judicial Circuit. The Illinois Courts directory lists Kankakee County Courthouse at 450 East Court Street in Kankakee and identifies it as a Circuit Court in District 3, Circuit 21.
Kankakee County is part of Illinois’s 21st Judicial Circuit with Iroquois County.
Tyler Odyssey shows Smart Search for court records and Search Hearings for hearing dates.
The Circuit Clerk fee schedule lists $2.00 for the first copy page.
Document certification is listed as $10.00 extra per stamp or seal, plus copy fees.
Kankakee County court record route finder
Select the record type. This helper runs in your browser and does not ask for names, birth dates, case numbers, addresses, driver license numbers, or other sensitive information.
Smart Search is the right starting point for locating a Kankakee Circuit Court case, docket, party listing, filing date, case type, or status. Ask the Circuit Clerk for official copies and certified records.
Choose the correct Kankakee County record system
Use this table before searching so you do not confuse court cases with hearings, payments, recorder documents, vital records, appellate matters, or federal cases.
| Need | Correct source | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, criminal, family, probate, order of protection, expungement, appeal, or local court docket | Kankakee County Circuit Clerk / Tyler Odyssey Portal Smart Search | Use Smart Search for a case lookup, then verify official copies with the Circuit Clerk. |
| Court date or hearing schedule | Tyler Odyssey Portal Search Hearings | Use Search Hearings when your question is when a matter is set in court rather than what documents are in the case file. |
| Traffic ticket, court fine, child support, copy fee, certification fee, or over-the-counter fee payment | Circuit Clerk / Municipal Online Payments | Use the linked payment portal and choose the correct payment category. Confirm the case number and balance before paying. |
| Certified copy, exemplified copy, docket sheet, charge and disposition statement, appeal record, or older file | Kankakee County Circuit Clerk | Call or visit the Circuit Clerk with the case number, party names, filing year, document title, and certification need. |
| Transcript or report of proceedings | Court Reporter Supervisor / court reporter route | Illinois Courts directory lists digital recording transcript help through the Court Reporter Supervisor at 815-937-2918. |
| FOIA request for county administrative records | County FOIA route, not court-record route | Use FOIA only for covered county public-body records. The county FOIA page states court records and Chief Judge reporting entities are outside FOIA coverage. |
| Deed, mortgage, release, assignment, property lien, plat, survey, or monument record | Kankakee County Recorder | Use the Recorder, not the court portal. The Recorder’s office retains records dating back to county founding in 1853. |
| Birth, death, marriage certificate, genealogy record, or marriage license | Kankakee County Clerk | Use the County Clerk’s vital records and marriage-license pages, not the Circuit Court docket portal. |
| Appeal from a Kankakee County trial case | Illinois Appellate Court Third District / Illinois Supreme Court / C-Track | Use appellate resources and compare the lower-court Kankakee case number. |
| Federal civil, criminal, or bankruptcy case | PACER / Central District of Illinois / Bankruptcy Court Urbana Division | Use PACER. Kankakee County is in the Central District of Illinois for federal district court, and bankruptcy matters route to the Central District bankruptcy system. |
How to use the Kankakee County Tyler Odyssey Portal
The Circuit Clerk links to an “Online Portal” hosted at portal.k3county.net. The portal page displays two public choices: Smart Search for court records and Search Hearings for court hearings within a date range. It also warns that JavaScript and cookies must be enabled.
Use the Circuit Clerk’s website or the portal.k3county.net address. Avoid commercial look-alike record sites when you need official court information.
The portal states that JavaScript and cookies must be enabled and that unsupported browsers may not work.
Use Smart Search when you need case records, parties, case type, filing date, docket activity, or status.
Use Search Hearings when you are trying to locate a hearing in a specified date range instead of reviewing an entire case file.
Case-number searching reduces false matches. If using a name, compare the case number, court, case type, filing date, party role, and docket entries.
Portal viewing is not the same as a certified copy. Ask the Clerk for copies, certifications, docket sheets, charge and disposition statements, or older files.
Why a Kankakee County court record may not appear online
A missing online result does not always mean the case does not exist. The record may be sealed, restricted, older, filed under a different name, unavailable through a public portal, or held in a different official system.
- Using Search Hearings when Smart Search is needed.
- Searching the Circuit Court portal for recorder or vital records.
- Using a nickname, maiden name, business abbreviation, or wrong filing year.
- Searching county records for federal or bankruptcy cases.
- Assuming a payment portal is a full case-file search.
- Sealed or restricted court files.
- Juvenile or confidential matters.
- Older records requiring clerk retrieval.
- Documents visible only by request or at the courthouse.
- Statewide document access limited by user entitlement.
Kankakee County Circuit Clerk copy, certification, payment, and transcript notes
The Circuit Clerk fee schedule lists copy and certification amounts, but users should verify the current fee with the Clerk before ordering because fees, postage, payment methods, and processing requirements can change.
| Request | Listed amount or rule | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary copy, first page | $2.00 for the first page. | Ask the Clerk for the exact page count before paying. |
| Ordinary copy, pages 2 through 20 | $0.50 each. | Estimate the document size and whether a docket sheet or full filing is needed. |
| Ordinary copy, pages 21 and after | $0.25 each. | Large files may require a quote or clerk review before copying. |
| Document certification | $10.00 extra per stamp or seal, in addition to copy fees. | Ask whether your destination agency requires certification or exemplification. |
| Document exemplification | $10.00 extra per stamp or seal, in addition to copy fees. | Use this only if the receiving office specifically asks for exemplification. |
| Certification of expungement order | $4.00 listed for certification of an expungement order. | Verify whether the order is sealed, restricted, or available to you before requesting it. |
| Online payments | The linked payment website offers “Make a Payment on Your Case” and “Copy, Certification, and Over-the-Counter Fees.” | Confirm the correct case number and payment type before submitting payment. |
| Transcript | Illinois Courts directory notes that transcript requests can go through the Court Reporter Supervisor at 815-937-2918. | Identify hearing date, judge, case number, and whether the proceeding was digitally recorded. |
Copy and certification cost estimator
This browser-only estimator uses listed copy and certification amounts. The official Clerk quote or receipt controls the final amount.
Official Kankakee County court-record links and what to do after opening each one
Use these links in the order that matches your record type. Each official link includes next steps so users do not land on a page without knowing what to do.
Use this as the local starting point for Kankakee Circuit Court records and clerk services.
- Confirm you are on kankakeecountycircuitclerk.com.
- Use Online Portal for case search or hearing search.
- Use Online Help for e-file, portal, forms, payments, child support, and legal-help links.
- Call 815-936-5700 for certified-copy or record-custody questions.
Use this for Smart Search and Search Hearings.
- Enable JavaScript and cookies.
- Choose Smart Search for case records.
- Choose Search Hearings for court-date questions.
- Verify official copies with the Circuit Clerk.
Use this for eFileIL, portal, forms/documents, payments, child support, and legal-help links.
- Select the service that matches your need.
- Use eFileIL for filing, not for ordinary public viewing.
- Use Make a Payment for court payments.
- Use legal-help links if you need procedural assistance.
Use this before ordering copies or certified documents.
- Check the revision/effective date.
- Find copies, certification, exemplification, mailing, or appeal-preparation fees.
- Confirm the current total with the Clerk.
- Save your receipt or confirmation.
Use this for case payments and copy/certification/over-the-counter fees.
- Choose the correct service category.
- Enter the correct case or payment information.
- Review convenience fees and payment terms if shown.
- Keep the payment confirmation.
Use this to understand why ordinary FOIA is not the court-case request route.
- Read the note about court records and Chief Judge entities.
- Use FOIA only for covered public-body records.
- Use the Circuit Clerk for court files.
- Use the official appeal route only for FOIA denials.
Use this for court directory details, ADA resources, transcript notes, parking, interpreter, and self-help information.
- Confirm address and courthouse hours.
- Review accessibility and disability coordinator details.
- Review transcript contact information if needed.
- Check phone, parking, remote proceeding, and self-help notes before visiting.
Use this for electronic filing, not as the main public court-record search.
- Use Active Courts to confirm e-filing participation.
- Review training resources if filing without a lawyer.
- Select an approved service provider if filing documents.
- Use the Circuit Clerk for copy and record-custody questions.
Use this statewide document system only where access rights and coverage allow.
- Understand that access may depend on user type and entitlements.
- Do not treat statewide document access as a replacement for the Circuit Clerk.
- Use the local Odyssey portal for Kankakee public case lookup.
- Ask the Clerk for official copies.
Use this for appeals from trial courts in the 21st Circuit, including Kankakee County.
- Confirm the case has been appealed.
- Compare the trial-court case number.
- Use Third District resources for appellate opinions, calendars, and clerk contact.
- Do not confuse appellate records with trial-court docket entries.
Use this for federal civil or criminal cases tied to Kankakee County.
- Confirm the case is federal, not Illinois state court.
- Use PACER for docket and document access.
- Use the court-location page for Urbana division contact details.
- Contact the federal clerk for federal-certified copies.
Use this for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate records.
- Use Case Locator if you do not know the federal court.
- Use the individual court PACER system for the most current docket.
- Review PACER pricing before opening documents.
- Remember state-court records are not in PACER.
Kankakee County courthouse, Circuit Clerk office, and visit notes
Call before visiting because courthouse access rules, copy procedures, phone availability, holidays, payment methods, and office workflows can change. Bring the case number, party names, approximate filing year, and the exact document you need.
450 E. Court Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: 815-936-5700
Courthouse hours listed by the Clerk: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed on holidays.
Use for local court records, certified copies, docket sheets, charge and disposition statements, traffic assistance, child support assistance, appeals, expungements, probate case files, and family case files.
450 East Court Street
Kankakee, IL 60901
Trial Court Administrator: Lori Wolf
Courthouse phone listed by Illinois Courts: 815-937-2915
Illinois Courts lists ADA/disability coordinator contact, transcript request information, public transportation, remote proceeding information, self-help center notes, parking notes, and language access details.
Room 108: Traffic Office
Room 209: Main Circuit Clerk’s Office
The Clerk page identifies Room 108 for traffic and child support assistance and Room 209 for civil, criminal, family, probate, order of protection, appeals, and expungements.
The Circuit Clerk FAQ states that cell phones, tablets, and laptops are not permitted for general courthouse business, with lockers at the security station. Weapons are not allowed.
Before visiting, review current security rules and bring only what you need for the clerk counter or hearing.
Do not confuse court records with Recorder or County Clerk records
Many users search for “court records” when they actually need a recorded land document, marriage certificate, birth certificate, death certificate, or genealogy record. Those requests do not start with the Circuit Court docket portal.
- Civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and protection-order cases.
- Court dockets, hearing lookups, and case status.
- Certified court documents and docket sheets.
- Charge and disposition statements.
- Appeal record preparation and court-file copying.
- Birth, death, marriage, and genealogy records: County Clerk.
- Marriage licenses: County Clerk.
- Deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, liens, plats, surveys, and monuments: Recorder.
- Federal cases and bankruptcy: PACER and federal courts.
- State appeals: Illinois appellate or Supreme Court resources.
Where Kankakee appeals, federal cases, and bankruptcy records go
Appeals and federal records do not use the same search path as local Circuit Court dockets. Use the correct higher-court or federal record system.
Kankakee County is in the 21st Circuit, and the Illinois Appellate Court Third District hears cases appealed from the 21st Circuit. The Third District is located in Ottawa.
Kankakee County is in the Central District of Illinois. Federal district cases tied to Kankakee County use PACER and the Central District federal court route, not the county portal.
Bankruptcy is federal. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois lists Kankakee County in the Urbana divisional office for bankruptcy filings.
| Record type | Official route | Important caution |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal from a Kankakee County trial case | Illinois Appellate Court Third District / C-Track | Compare the lower-court case number; appellate dockets are separate from trial-court dockets. |
| Illinois Supreme Court matter | Illinois Supreme Court docket and briefs | Supreme Court dockets and trial-court dockets are different systems. |
| Federal civil or criminal case | U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois / PACER | County and state court portals do not contain federal court filings. |
| Bankruptcy case | U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central District of Illinois / PACER | Kankakee County bankruptcy matters route to the Central District bankruptcy system, Urbana division. |
| Unknown federal court | PACER Case Locator | PACER pricing verified September 20, 2026. Review the current PACER fee page before opening billable reports or documents. |
PACER pricing note for Kankakee County federal searches
PACER is relevant only for federal district, bankruptcy, and federal appellate records. It is not used for ordinary Kankakee County Circuit Court records.
- $0.10 per page for many online federal records.
- $3.00 cap for many case-specific documents.
- No maximum fee for name searches, non-case-specific reports, and transcripts.
- Fees are waived when quarterly usage is $30 or less.
- A temporary fee increase is scheduled for January 1, 2027.
- The per-page fee is scheduled to rise from $0.10 to $0.12.
- The quarterly waiver threshold is scheduled to rise from $30 to $40.
- Verify the current PACER page before searching.
How to read a Kankakee County docket without over-interpreting it
A docket is a procedural case history. It can show filings, notices, hearings, orders, judgments, and case movement, but one line on a docket may not show the complete legal result.
Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, appellant, appellee, decedent, personal representative, guardian, ward, creditor, and debtor are roles. A role does not automatically mean wrongdoing.
Complaint, petition, summons, motion, order, hearing, judgment, dismissal, plea, sentence, warrant, continuance, citation, garnishment, and wage deduction may appear.
Filed, pending, active, closed, disposed, dismissed, satisfied, appealed, expunged, sealed, or reopened can mean different things by case type. Verify final status with the Clerk.
Use Kankakee County court records carefully
- Do not identify a person from a common name alone.
- Compare case number, court, filing date, case type, party role, and docket entries.
- Do not assume an arrest, charge, or citation is a conviction.
- Do not assume a civil judgment shows current payment status.
- Do not harass, threaten, shame, or retaliate against anyone.
- Do not publish children’s names, addresses, protected health details, or unnecessary sensitive information.
- Do not bypass sealed, expunged, juvenile, or confidential-record protections.
- Contact the official custodian for corrections, restrictions, expungement, sealing, or certified-copy needs.
Frequently asked questions about Kankakee County court records
What is the official way to search Kankakee County court records?
Start with the Kankakee County Circuit Clerk website and the official Tyler Odyssey Portal. The portal offers Smart Search for court records and Search Hearings for court hearing dates. Certified copies, docket sheets, statements of charge and disposition, and older files should be verified with the Circuit Clerk.
Can I search Kankakee County court records by name?
Yes, when the live portal supports a party-name search. A name match alone does not prove identity. Compare the case number, party role, case type, filing date, court division, docket events, and disposition before relying on a match.
What is the difference between Smart Search and Search Hearings?
Use Smart Search when you need a case record, party listing, docket, filing date, or case status. Use Search Hearings when you mainly need hearing-date information for a specified date range.
Are Kankakee County court records requested through FOIA?
Usually no. Kankakee County’s FOIA page states that court records and records of entities that report to the Chief Judge are outside FOIA coverage. For court files, use the Circuit Clerk, the court portal, or the appropriate court office.
How much are Kankakee County Circuit Clerk copies and certifications?
The Circuit Clerk fee schedule lists ordinary copies at $2.00 for the first page, $0.50 each for pages 2 through 20, and $0.25 each for pages 21 and after. Document certification is listed as an additional $10.00 per stamp or seal. Always verify current fees before ordering.
Where do I pay Kankakee County case payments or copy/certification fees online?
The Circuit Clerk links to Municipal Online Payments for making a payment on a case and for paying copy, certification, and over-the-counter fees. Confirm the case number and payment type before paying.
Where do I find Kankakee County marriage, birth, or death records?
Those are not Circuit Court case records. Use the Kankakee County Clerk for birth, death, marriage, genealogy, marriage license, and related vital-record services.
Where do I search Kankakee County deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats?
Use the Kankakee County Recorder, not the Circuit Court case portal. The Recorder handles deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, property liens, subdivision plats, land surveys, monument records, and related recorded documents.
Where do appeals from Kankakee County cases go?
Kankakee County is in Illinois’s 21st Judicial Circuit and the Illinois Appellate Court Third District. Use the Third District, Illinois Supreme Court docket resources, or Illinois Supreme and Appellate C-Track for appellate-level case information.
Where do I search federal or bankruptcy cases from Kankakee County?
Use PACER and the federal courts. Kankakee County is in the Central District of Illinois for federal district court, with Kankakee listed in the Urbana branch area. Bankruptcy cases use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of Illinois, Urbana division.
Official-source review checklist
This guide was reviewed against official Kankakee County Circuit Clerk pages, the Tyler Odyssey Portal, Circuit Clerk FOIA guidance, Circuit Clerk fee schedule, Circuit Clerk online payments, Illinois Courts Kankakee County Courthouse directory, eFileIL, re:SearchIL, Illinois Appellate Court Third District, Illinois Supreme Court docket resources, Illinois Supreme and Appellate C-Track, U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Central District of Illinois, PACER pricing, Kankakee County Clerk vital records, and Kankakee County Recorder resources. Review date: September 20, 2026.