Lake County Public Records
Public records in Lake County are held by the county clerk, circuit court clerk, and recorder's office in Waukegan. Lake County is the third most populous county in Illinois with more than 714,000 residents spread across suburban and rural areas north of Chicago. The county clerk handles vital records and elections, while the recording division stores all land documents. Court files are kept by the circuit clerk under the 19th Judicial Circuit. Most Lake County public records can be searched online through the county's website, though some requests still need to be done by mail or in person at the offices in Waukegan.
Lake County Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk Office
Anthony Vega serves as the Lake County Clerk. The main office is at 18 N County Street, Room 101, Waukegan, IL 60085. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. You can call 847-377-2400 with questions about Lake County public records. The fax line is 847-984-5822.
The clerk's office takes care of vital records, elections, property tax data, and business filings. Birth, death, marriage, and civil union records are all kept here. You can order copies by phone at 847-377-2403 (a recorded line with credit card info) or through VitalChek online ordering. Walk-ins are welcome at the Waukegan office too.
The Lake County government website gives an overview of all county departments and services available to the public.
From the homepage you can reach every department that holds Lake County public records, from the clerk to the circuit court to the assessor.
| Office | Lake County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 N County Street, Room 101 Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Phone | 847-377-2400 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | lakecountyil.gov |
Note: Birth records in Illinois are restricted. Only the person named, a parent, or a legal guardian can get a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Lake County Land Records
The Recording Division handles all land documents for Lake County. This includes deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and UCC filings. The division is part of the county clerk's office and operates out of the same Waukegan location.
You can search Lake County land records online at no cost. The recording division's website shows the portal for looking up recorded documents by name, date, or document type.
The search tool is straightforward and lets you pull up property transfer history and other land documents filed in the county.
Lake County also runs a Property Fraud Alert service. This free tool sends you a notice if someone tries to file a document against your property. It is a good way to catch fraud early. Property transfers, liens, and mortgage filings are all part of the public record in Lake County.
Note: If you need certified copies of land records, fees will apply. Contact the recording division for the current fee schedule.
Court Records in Lake County
The Lake County Circuit Clerk keeps all court case files. Lake County is in the 19th Judicial Circuit, which covers Lake County alone. The circuit court hears civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims cases.
The circuit clerk's office has several divisions you can reach by phone. For criminal and traffic matters, call 847-377-3250. Probate is at 847-377-3260. General records requests go to 847-377-3211. Small claims has its own line at 847-377-3226.
The circuit clerk site provides access to case information and docket data for Lake County court records.
Online court data is not the official record. The paper files at the courthouse are what counts. If you need a certified copy of a court document, you will have to go through the circuit clerk's office. E-filing is available for attorneys and self-represented litigants in many case types.
Lake County Vital Records
The county clerk issues birth, death, marriage, and civil union certificates for events that took place in Lake County. You can order these in person at the Waukegan office, by mail, or online.
The vital records page on the Lake County website explains how to request each type of certificate and what ID you need to bring.
The page lists all forms and fees for ordering vital record copies from Lake County.
Marriage certificates are open to the public. Death records require you to show a personal or property interest. Birth certificates are the most restricted. Illinois law limits who can get a certified birth record to the person named, parents, or legal guardians. Genealogy copies may be available for older records at a lower cost.
FOIA Requests in Lake County
Anyone can file a FOIA request for Lake County public records. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) says all public bodies must respond within 5 business days. You do not need a form. Just put your request in writing and send it to the FOIA officer at the department that has what you need.
Lake County also has an Open Data portal where some records are already posted for free public use. This can save you time if the data you want is already on there. Datasets cover things like permits, crime stats, and geographic data.
If a request gets denied, you can appeal to the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General's office. The appeal line is 877-299-3642. Most routine requests are filled quickly, but complex ones may take longer.
Note: FOIA covers government records, not court records. For court files, go through the circuit clerk's office directly.
Cities in Lake County
Lake County has many cities and villages. All use the Lake County circuit court and county clerk for vital records and land documents. Waukegan is the county seat and the largest city. Select a city below for local public records resources.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Lake County. If you live near the edge of Lake County, your records may be filed in a neighboring county based on your exact address.