Judicial records of LaSalle County, Illinois, are maintained by the Circuit Clerk and are accessible through official online tools, court portals, and directly at the office. LaSalleCourt.us helps find publicly available information about the county's court records. Additionally, you can use the official Circuit Clerk website, the Illinois Courts portal, and personally visit the court office in Ottawa.
LaSalle Court System Overview
LaSalle County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit of Illinois. The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction and the first instance. In the 13th Judicial Circuit, both Circuit Judges and Associate Judges handle various categories of cases. The 13th Judicial Circuit serves three counties: LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam.
The courthouse is located at:
The court administrator is Lori Wakeman, who coordinates the daily operations of the court and ensures public access to court services.
Courts Serving LaSalle
Residents of LaSalle County are served by several courts — at both the state and federal levels.
State Courts
This court handles all criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile cases, and traffic violations within the county.
Federal Courts
Federal civil and criminal cases involving LaSalle County residents are heard in the Central District of Illinois, Peoria Division.
Municipal Courts
In Illinois, municipal courts as separate entities are rare. Violations of city ordinances within LaSalle County are typically handled by the Circuit Court.
What Types of Cases LaSalle Courts Hear
The Circuit Court of LaSalle County has general jurisdiction and hears virtually all categories of cases:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations
- Civil cases: claims of any amount, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, child custody, alimony, protection orders, paternity
- Probate cases: estate management, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases: juvenile offenses, child protection cases, adoptions
- Traffic violations and DUI
More details about each category can be found in the following sections.
District Court Cases in LaSalle
In Illinois, there are no separate "district courts" at the state level — the Circuit Court fulfills this role. Circuit Judges hear the most serious cases: felonies, large civil claims, and appeals from Associate Judges' decisions. A criminal felony reaches a Circuit Judge after a preliminary hearing, where sufficient grounds for proceeding are determined. Civil claims exceeding the jurisdictional limit for Associate Judges are also heard by Circuit Judges. Cases are distributed among judges according to the internal rules of the 13th Judicial Circuit. After a verdict or decision, parties may appeal to the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District.
Magistrate Court Cases in LaSalle
Associate Judges in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County perform functions similar to magistrate judges in other states. They handle:
- Misdemeanors and minor infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil cases up to $100,000
- Small claims — up to $10,000 according to Illinois law
- Traffic violations
- DUI cases at the initial stage
The case volume is large, so Associate Judges often specialize — one may primarily handle traffic cases, another family or small claims. The exact distribution is determined by the Chief Judge of the 13th Circuit.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in LaSalle
Family Law
Cases of divorce, custody, alimony, protection orders from domestic violence, paternity establishment, and termination of parental rights are heard by the Circuit Court. They are usually handled by an Associate Judge assigned to the family calendar. Note: The Illinois Department of Public Health does not issue certified copies of divorce records — they must be requested from the Circuit Clerk's office.
Probate
Cases of estate management of deceased persons, establishment of guardianship and conservatorship, as well as trust disputes, are heard by the Circuit Court. To open a probate case, a petition must be filed with the Circuit Clerk's office.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile cases — offenses, child protection cases (abuse/neglect), adoptions — are handled separately. Juvenile records are confidential according to Illinois law and are not publicly accessible without court permission.
How Cases Move Through the LaSalle Court System
The general process for case movement in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County:
- Case initiation: a criminal complaint is filed by the prosecution; a civil complaint or petition by the plaintiff or petitioner. Documents are filed through the eFiling system.
- Judge assignment: the case is assigned to a specific judge according to the internal rules of the 13th Judicial Circuit.
- First hearing: in criminal cases — arraignment (charges are presented and bail is set); in civil cases — scheduling conference (scheduling of proceedings).
- Pretrial phase: filing of motions, evidence exchange (discovery), plea negotiations in criminal cases, or settlement discussions in civil cases.
- Trial or resolution: the case concludes with a sentence, jury verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-decision: sentencing, appeal to the Third District Appellate Court, or enforcement of the court's decision.
Electronic filing (eFiling) is mandatory in Illinois courts. The Circuit Clerk of LaSalle County was among the first in the state to implement eFiling and eAppeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in LaSalle
The courts of the 13th Judicial Circuit are administered by the Chief Judge, and daily operations are coordinated by court administrator Lori Wakeman. She can be reached at (815) 434-0787 or via email at lori-wakeman@lasallecounty.com.
Local court rules (Circuit Court Rules) define the procedures for filing documents, conducting hearings, and other procedural requirements for the 13th Judicial Circuit.
Public Access
Most court records in Illinois are public under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exceptions include juvenile cases, sealed and expunged records, and some family cases. Requests for sheriff's records can be submitted through the sheriff's records page or via the FOIA request form.
Attending Hearings
Court hearings are open to the public, except for closed hearings (juvenile cases, some family cases). The court is located at 119 West Madison St., Ottawa. Information on remote participation in hearings should be clarified directly with the office or on the Illinois Courts portal page.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in LaSalle
- Case Search: online case search is available through the Illinois Courts portal, where you can find information about Circuit Court cases.
- Online County Records: Records Online page offers three ways to search documents — Laredo, Tapestry (with document images), and Direct Search (basic information).
- Court Forms and Self-Help Resources: approved standard forms of Illinois are available for download, including fee waiver forms and financial affidavits.
- Circuit Clerk's Office: Circuit Clerk Greg Vaccaro maintains records of civil, criminal, traffic, and juvenile cases. Requests for copies of records can be submitted in person or by mail. A list of clerks by county is on the Circuit Court Clerks page.
- Vital Records (birth, death, marriage): County Clerk of LaSalle County issues birth, death, marriage certificates, and marriage licenses. Additionally — birth records and other vital records through the Illinois Department of Public Health.
- County Inmate Search: iSOMS portal allows viewing admissions and releases from the LaSalle County Jail for the last 24 and 72 hours.
- State Inmate Search (IDOC): Individual in Custody Search on the Illinois Department of Corrections website allows finding individuals in state correctional facilities.
- Criminal History: Bureau of Identification of the Illinois State Police provides a complete criminal history. You can check your own record through the What's on My Record service.
- Sex Offender Registry: Illinois State Police Offender Registry allows searching for registered individuals by address or name.
- State Public Records: Find Public Records portal of Illinois provides access to archival databases.
- Land Records and Real Estate: Recorder of Deeds maintains land records available for public viewing. Online property assessment search is also available.