About

The Office of the Circuit Clerk is a state constitutional officer elected by the citizens of Hamilton County for a four year term. It is a non-judicial office of the Judicial Branch of Illinois State government. The Circuit Clerk’s office is committed to serving the citizens of Hamilton County and all participants in the judicial system in a timely, efficient, and competent manner. The Circuit Clerk maintains records for the entire Court system and is the official record keeper of all court related documents. The office serves as a source of data and information for various government agencies and the general public. The Circuit Clerk collects all fines, fees, costs, and penalties assessed pursuant to state statutes and county board resolutions and distributes those monies on a monthly basis to the county, state, and municipalities. In addition to standard fines and fees, the statutes allow for collections of these funds through filing fees that are used to support specific functions of the office. These funds allow the clerk to maintain records more efficiently and economically through computerization without the expenditure of tax dollars.