Franklin County Court Docket Online
Franklin County court docket records are kept by Circuit Court Clerk James Muir at the courthouse in Benton, covering civil, criminal, family, and other cases filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. This page explains how to find, access, and request those records through online search tools and direct contact with the clerk's office.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk
James Muir serves as the Circuit Court Clerk for Franklin County. His office is responsible for maintaining all court docket records in the county, including every case that is filed, every motion that is entered, every order the judge signs, and every court date that is set. The mailing address is P.O. Box 485, Benton, IL 62812-2264. In-person visits go to the courthouse at 202 E. Main St, Benton, IL 62812. Use the P.O. Box when mailing requests and the courthouse address when visiting in person.
The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Franklin County along with several other counties in southern Illinois, including Jefferson, Edwards, Wabash, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline, and Gallatin. Each county maintains its own clerk's office. Franklin County cases are filed and kept locally in Benton. No confirmed county website is available at this time. The Illinois Courts circuit court clerks directory is the most reliable source for current contact information, or call the office at 618-439-2011 during business hours.
| Clerk | James Muir |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 485, Benton, IL 62812-2264 |
| Courthouse | 202 E. Main St, Benton, IL 62812 |
| Phone | 618-439-2011 |
| Fax | 618-439-4119 |
| Circuit | 2nd Judicial Circuit |
| Directory | Illinois Circuit Court Clerks Directory |
Searching the Franklin County Court Docket
Illinois offers free online tools for searching court docket records in most counties, including Franklin County. These save time and do not cost anything to use. For cases that are not available remotely, the clerk's office in Benton handles in-person and mail requests. Knowing which route to take upfront is the most efficient approach.
Judici.com provides free access to court docket records for 82 Illinois counties. Franklin County is part of the Judici system. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney without registering for an account. The results show case type, docket history, and filing dates. For a quick check on whether a case exists in Franklin County, Judici is usually the fastest first step before reaching out to the clerk's office directly.
The official state portal re:SearchIL became fully public on May 1, 2025. It covers reviewing court records and a broad range of trial court filings across all 102 Illinois counties at no cost. No account is required. Some case types are excluded from remote access under Illinois law. Family matters, small claims, probate, guardianship, foreclosure, eviction, traffic, and orders of protection cannot be accessed remotely. For those, you need to go to the Benton courthouse in person.
If you are not sure whether a case exists or what is available, call the clerk at 618-439-2011. Staff can look up cases by name or number and tell you what documents are on file and whether the case is accessible through online tools. This step can save you time and copy fees if the record turns out to be searchable online for free.
What Franklin County Court Docket Records Contain
The court docket in Franklin County is the official running log of every action taken in every case filed with the 2nd Judicial Circuit in Benton. Civil cases are a major part of the docket. These include contract disputes, debt collection matters, personal injury claims, and property cases. Each civil case gets a case number and a docket that tracks all filings, motions, court hearings, and judicial orders from start to finish.
Criminal cases in the Franklin County docket range from low-level misdemeanor offenses to serious felony charges. The docket shows the charges that were filed, when hearings took place, any plea agreements entered, and the final disposition of the case. One important thing to understand: the court docket only shows cases where charges were actually filed. Arrests that did not result in charges do not appear in the court record. Illinois law specifically keeps uncharged arrests out of the docket system.
Family law cases, including divorce, child custody, support orders, and related matters, are part of the Franklin County court record but are excluded from remote online access. You can review these files in person at the courthouse in Benton. Juvenile records, adoptions, sealed cases, and expunged records are permanently off-limits to the public under Illinois law. Beyond these restricted categories, most Franklin County civil and criminal cases are open to the public as a default under Illinois Supreme Court rules.
Illinois Resources for Franklin County Court Docket Research
The Illinois Courts website is the main starting point for Franklin County court docket research. It has a full directory of all circuit court clerks in the state, sorted by district and circuit. The 2nd Circuit section covers Franklin County and all the other counties in that circuit. You can find current clerk contact details, links to online tools, and information about how to access records in person or by mail.
The Illinois Courts homepage below is the central gateway for court docket research statewide, with tools and information relevant to Franklin County cases filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Use this portal to reach the 2nd Circuit directory, navigate to re:SearchIL and eFileIL, and find the latest contact information for the Franklin County clerk in Benton.
If you need guidance on the process of getting copies of court records, Illinois Legal Aid Online has a clear, plain-language guide. It explains what is public, what is restricted, how to submit a request, what fees are typical, and what to do when you run into trouble getting access. This is a helpful resource for anyone researching Franklin County court records who is not familiar with how the Illinois circuit court system works.
E-Filing in Franklin County Courts
Civil cases in Franklin County must be filed electronically through the Illinois eFileIL system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. Electronic filing is mandatory for civil matters across all Illinois circuit courts. Filers in Franklin County select one of 17 approved Electronic Filing Service Providers, open an account with that provider, and submit documents through the provider's platform. The system then routes the filing to the 2nd Judicial Circuit in Benton. Once accepted, the filing becomes part of the official Franklin County court docket and appears in public search tools where remote access applies.
Self-represented filers can get help from the Illinois Courts self-represented litigants page at illinoiscourts.gov. It covers every step of the process from picking a provider to checking on a submission after it is sent. Criminal filings are governed by different rules. Before attempting to file any criminal-related document electronically, contact the Franklin County clerk at 618-439-2011 to ask about current local requirements.
The re:SearchIL portal shown here gives public access to Franklin County court docket records and documents where remote viewing is permitted under Illinois law.
View and search publicly available Franklin County case records through this free state portal without any account or registration requirement.
Getting Copies of Franklin County Court Records
Certified copies of Franklin County court docket records are available from the clerk's office at 202 E. Main St in Benton. Walk in during business hours and staff will look up your case and make copies. If you need to send a mail request, use P.O. Box 485, Benton, IL 62812-2264. Include the case number, party names, a list of the documents you need, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return mail.
Fees apply for copies. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The exact amount depends on the number of pages. Call 618-439-2011 before sending a mail request to confirm the current fee schedule and what payment methods are accepted. Staff can also verify whether your case is available through Judici or re:SearchIL, which may let you get basic information online without paying copy fees.
The Franklin County courthouse in Benton has public access terminals where you can view docket records at no charge as long as you do not need printed or certified copies. Bring photo ID when visiting the clerk's office in person. For complex requests involving many documents or older case files, call ahead to let staff know what you need so they can prepare before your arrival.
Cities in Franklin County
Benton is the county seat and home of the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk's office, with a population of approximately 7,000 residents. No city in Franklin County exceeds the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.
Other communities in Franklin County include West Frankfort, Christopher, Zeigler, Thompsonville, Buckner, and Ewing. All of these municipalities file court cases with the Franklin County Circuit Court at 202 E. Main St in Benton under the 2nd Judicial Circuit.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County is located in southern Illinois and borders three other counties. Each has its own circuit court clerk and courthouse. File in the county where you live or where the events giving rise to the case occurred.