Find Court Docket Records in Madison County
Madison County court docket records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Patrick McRae at the courthouse in Edwardsville, Illinois. The 3rd Judicial Circuit handles all civil, criminal, traffic, and family cases filed in Madison County. This page covers how to search the docket online, how to request copies, and what records are available to the public from the Madison County court system.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Circuit Clerk Contact Information
Patrick McRae is the Circuit Clerk for Madison County, Illinois. His office at 155 N. Main Street in Edwardsville handles the filing, storage, and retrieval of all court docket records from the 3rd Judicial Circuit. Whether you need a case lookup, a certified copy of a judgment, or general filing information, the Circuit Clerk's office is your primary contact in Madison County.
The office phone is 618-692-6240. The fax is 618-692-0676. The clerk's website is available for reference at madisoncountyil.gov/circuit-clerk, though the site may have periodic access issues. For the most current hours and procedures, calling the office directly before your visit is the safest approach. Staff can confirm what ID or information you need to bring when searching for docket records in Madison County.
| Circuit Clerk | Patrick McRae |
|---|---|
| Address | 155 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025-1955 |
| Phone | 618-692-6240 |
| Fax | 618-692-0676 |
| Judicial Circuit | 3rd Judicial Circuit |
| Website | madisoncountyil.gov/circuit-clerk (reference only) |
How to Search the Madison County Court Docket
Judici.com offers free docket searches for Madison County and 81 other Illinois counties. You can search by party name, case number, attorney, or judge. The site shows case type, filing date, and recent court activity. No fee or login is required for basic case lookups. Go to judici.com and pick Madison County from the list to start your search.
The statewide Illinois Courts portal at illinoiscourts.gov connects to court resources across all 24 judicial circuits, including the 3rd Circuit that serves Madison County. The re:SearchIL portal launched public access in May 2025 for appellate and Supreme Court documents. If a Madison County case was appealed to a higher court, you can find those records through re:SearchIL at no cost.
For in-person searches, visit the Circuit Clerk's office in Edwardsville. Staff can pull up case records by name or case number and can print or certify documents while you wait. Bring your photo ID and the name of at least one party in the case you need.
The Judici.com portal provides free access to Madison County court docket information alongside records from 81 other Illinois counties.
Searches are free, and no account is required to view basic docket information for Madison County cases.
E-Record and E-Filing in Madison County
Madison County has been approved for E-Record under Illinois court rules. This means the county uses enhanced digital record management for civil cases. Filing is done electronically through the statewide eFileIL system at efile.illinoiscourts.gov. Illinois has 17 approved Electronic Filing Service Providers. Each one connects to the same court backend, so you can use whichever EFSP works best for your needs in Madison County.
Once documents are submitted electronically in Madison County, the Circuit Clerk reviews and accepts them through the eFileIL platform. Filed documents then appear on the public court docket. Self-represented litigants in Madison County can find step-by-step e-filing guidance at the Illinois Courts self-help page: illinoiscourts.gov/eservices/information-for-filers-without-lawyers. That page covers everything from creating an account to submitting your first filing in Madison County.
Public Records and Privacy in the Madison County Court Docket
Most civil and criminal court records in the Madison County docket are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to the case to look up docket information. As Illinois Legal Aid Online notes, in Illinois you can look up most criminal and civil court records without paying for a background check service. See illinoislegalaid.org for a guide to accessing court records in Madison County and statewide.
Some records are not available through the public docket. Juvenile court records are confidential under Illinois law. Adoption files are sealed. Expunged and sealed criminal records do not show in public searches. Remote access is also restricted for eviction cases, foreclosure matters, orders of protection, guardianship, probate, small claims, and certain family cases under state court rules. If a case is not appearing in the public docket for Madison County, it may fall into one of these restricted categories. Call the clerk at 618-692-6240 to ask about your specific situation.
It is also worth noting that the Illinois judicial branch is not subject to the state Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). Court records are open under separate provisions of law. You access them directly through the clerk or through the public search tools, not through a FOIA request.
The Illinois Circuit Court Clerks directory lists contact information for all county clerk offices, including the Madison County Circuit Clerk in Edwardsville.
This resource helps confirm the correct clerk's office when searching for records across multiple Illinois counties.
Getting Copies of Madison County Court Documents
Certified copies of documents from the Madison County court docket are available from the Circuit Clerk's office in Edwardsville. You can request copies in person or by mail. For mail requests, include the full case number, the names of both parties, the type of document you need, and payment. The clerk will confirm current copy fees when you call. Certified copies carry a raised seal and are accepted for legal purposes.
Plain (uncertified) copies cost less and are fine for research or reference. The Judici portal may also show document images for some Madison County cases at no charge, depending on when the case was filed and how the clerk has set up access. For cases that predate electronic filing, only in-person or mail requests will work. Allow extra time for older files. If you are searching for a specific case type and cannot find it online, the clerk can tell you whether it exists in the archive and how to obtain it.
Cities in Madison County
Madison County includes several cities and communities, all of which file their court cases at the 3rd Judicial Circuit courthouse in Edwardsville. No cities in Madison County currently exceed the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page.
Cities and communities in Madison County include Edwardsville, Alton, Granite City, Collinsville, Maryville, Troy, Highland, Wood River, and Bethalto. All of these communities fall under the jurisdiction of the Madison County Circuit Clerk for court docket purposes.
Nearby Counties
Madison County shares borders with several surrounding Illinois counties. Court filings are made in the county where the relevant events occurred or where the parties reside. If you are not sure which county has your case, check the address listed in the original filing or contact the Madison County clerk for guidance.