Though the court creates numerous records and files that are open to the public (Public Records), we in the court, do not maintain these files. This function is aptly performed by the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the applicable county in which the court hears cases brought before it. Policy on Public Access to Compiled Court Records
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The Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining a record of all traffic, civil and criminal cases filed and heard in Lake County. On a daily basis, the office interacts with the public and attorneys, performing several functions including collection and disbursement of traffic and criminal fines, civil fees and child support. Office staff are also responsible for recording filed documents and attending court for the purposes of maintaining a record of all proceedings.
Court Clerk Records Online Public Access
There is now online access to court-related public record files. CLICK HERE for access from the Circuit Court Clerk's website. Numerous court forms are available and fillable online, then printed locally. These forms are then brought into the Circuit Court Clerk's office for filing. Most files maintained by the Circuit Clerk’s office are available by visiting their offices at 18 N. County Street, Waukegan, IL. The closest entrance to the office is located off Washington Street.
Public Records are also available from the following Lake County agencies:
The Lake County Clerk is the chief election authority administering elections throughout Lake County. This entails providing a myriad of services for the voters, candidates and providing election results. Voter registration has increased to an all-time high of over 405,000 voters! We process an average of 1,200 new applications each week
In addition the Clerk's office maintains vital (birth, marriage and death) records, public filings, tax and real estate services as well as recording the activities of the Lake County Board.
The strength of the County Clerk's office lies in our staff and their knowledge. It is our mission to provide prompt, courteous and knowledgeable service to all of our customers, whether at our counter, by mail or telephone, or via the World Wide Web. Just "click away" on the topics you choose. Please visit often, for new web services are being added frequently.
Improved Services in the Lake County Clerk's Office include:
Telephone assistance (TTY) for hearing impaired customers 847.377.2022Phone: (847) 377-2929
The Department of Finance and Administrative Services supports the county by providing financial support to departments, elected officials and the public. This includes assisting Lake County staff in purchasing products and services and providing fiscal and budgetary services. In addition to financial support, the department provides enhances and preserves the physical assets of the County, ensuring quality construction on major projects and supporting County departments, comprehensive document production, mail, and delivery services.
Divisions of the Department of Financial and Administrative Services include:
The department provides on-line information in the following areas:
Phone: (847) 377-2575
The Lake County Recorder of Deeds Office is responsible for recording, archiving and retrieving any document submitted to be recorded.
Between 800 and 1,400 transactions are processed daily. Most of these transactions involve the real estate transfers of people who have purchased a home or property. This purchase could very well be the largest investment they'll ever make.
In addition to these deeds and mortgages, the staff records plats of subdivision, ordinances and annexations, liens and releases, articles of incorporation, Uniform Commercial Code filings, military service discharge papers and other various document types that have been submitted to become public record.
Since 1844, over 5 million documents have been recorded by the dedicated staff of the Recorder's Office and although the methods used to record documents have evolved over the years, our commitment to providing quality service in a friendly manner remains unchanged.
Phone: (847) 377-4000
Civil Process Division
The Civil Process Division functions as an administrative arm of the courts and fulfill the Sheriff's statutory responsibility to serve all civil papers directed to him.
Service of writs, summonses, subpoenas and civil warrants constitute the major portion of civil papers served.
The Civil Process Division, also by order of the court, are responsible to execute Writs of Replevin (an order to recover goods wrongfully taken by another), Orders for Judgment (debt resulting from a court order) and levies on goods and real property; perform court-ordered evictions, conduct mortgage foreclosures sales and Sheriff's sales, and issue tax deed notices and other notices directed by the court.
Records Division
The Records Division provides key resources for the Sheriff's Office. It is a clearinghouse of information for various law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies. The primary responsibilities of this division are both statutory and functional in nature.
Records personnel are trained to fingerprint. They provide fingerprint service which is required for adoptions, new employees, security trades, and for citizens in need of criminal background checks requiring fingerprint identification.
Records personnel provide other police agencies and the general public with police reports that have been generated by the Sheriff's Office.
Records clerks also enter all complaint card information, arrest files, offense and accident reports into the computer system. This division is fully computerized and employs microfilming for record storage. There are nine in-house computer terminals and a printer located in this section.
The Records Division also maintains the Sex Offender lists and files for Lake County.
Billing for parking tickets and expungement processing are also handled here.
Warrants Division
The Warrants Division is responsible for serving criminal warrants issued by the Court of county, state and foreign jurisdictions. In addition, they serve domestic violence orders and are assigned to coordinate and execute extraditions of wanted persons from other states to Illinois and from Illinois to other states. Information from active warrants is entered into the computer and updated daily for active and closed dispositions. The computer is capable of accessing the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Warrants Division personnel monitor the LEADS and NCIC terminals Monday through Friday during normal business hours along with the Communications Division, who monitors the terminals in Libertyville.
The Warrants Division also is responsible for maintaining the “Most Wanted” offenders with active warrants and the “Deadbeat Parents Most Wanted” offenders on active civil warrants. Since the inception of the Most Wanted and the Deadbeat Parents Most Wanted Program, over 300 of these fugitives have been arrested. Further responsibilities include maintaining a current list of persons wanted on outstanding warrants, entering these offenders into the LEADS and NCIC computer systems. The whereabouts of these offenders are actively pursued, ultimately resulting in arrest.