Criminal Felony cases (CF)                                    Tax (TX)
Traffic & DUI cases (TR, DT)                                Miscellaneous Remedies (MR)
Criminal Misdemeanor cases (CM)
Municipal Corporations (MC)
Probate/Guardianships (P)
Adoptions (AD)
Conservation Violations (CV)
Ordinance Violations (OV)
Family Court (F,D)
Eminent Domain (ED)
Child Support
Juvenile cases
Law (L)
Chancery/Foreclosures (CH)
Emergency & Plenary Orders of Protection            LM, except evictions
Small claims (SC)
Civil Law (CL)
Mental Health (MH)
Drug Court & Grand Jury

Special Mention:
Foreclosures: Any foreclosure case involving a federally insured loan is protected by the foreclosure moratorium enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), and may not proceed until the moratorium is lifted. The current moratorium has been extended through March 31, 2021.

 

Special Rules Regarding Eviction Cases (as found on the Illinois Supreme Court website at http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/eviction/eviction.asp

Any eviction complaint filed in Illinois must have a certification attached indicating the landlord has followed the Governor's moratorium. For the full Supreme Court order and the certification form, go to h s://courts.illinois. ov/Su remeCouWAnnounce/2020/122220-l df.

 

Note: Governor's Executive Orders affect evictions in Illinois through February 6, 2021

Governor Pritzker ordered a new moratorium on eviction cases through February 6, 2021 (Read the Executive Orders at https://www2.illinois.gov/government/executive-order. The most recent one is 2021-01)

A landlord may not file eviction cases, unless the landlord serves the tenants with a written declaration that the tenant may fill out and return saying that they should be protected by the COVID Moratorium because they (l) fell behind in rent because of COVID, (2) expect to earn no more than $99,000 ($198,000 ifjoint return), (3) are using best efforts to make timely partial payments, and (4) would become homeless or have to double-up if evicted.

A landlord still may file an eviction case against a tenant who provides a written declaration or who isn't being evicted for owing rent if that person poses a direct threat. (See Circuit Clerk's office for Emergency Exception Affidavit

It is illegal for a landlord to lock out a tenant without a court order.

For questions about evictions during this time, look for legal help in your area at https://www.illinoislegalaid.org.

 

For more information see Illinois Legal Aid Online's Housing, coronavirus, and the law blog. If you are a tenant facing eviction, go to https://covidhelpillinois.org/ for additional information and resources. (Note: the written declaration may be found at: https://www.ihda.org/about-ihda/covid-19housing-resources-information/.)

At each judge's discretion, whenever feasible, and subject to constitutional limitations, all matters and proceedings may continue to be heard remotely, via telephone, video, or other electronic means.

Jury Trials

Unless modified pursuant to periodic review hereafter conducted, or based upon a review of this Administrative Order if so mandated by relevant Illinois Supreme Court order entered hereafter, all civil and criminal jury trials currently scheduled shall be continued until after 3/1/2021, as authorized in Supreme Court Order M.R. 30370. All future jury trial settings must be pre-approved and scheduled through the Presiding Judge.

Rules Regarding Court Appearances

1. Individuals represented by attorneys in traffic, criminal, DUI, OV, conservation, and juvenile cases do not have to appear in court unless a judge orders them to be present.
2. If you are unable to appear because any of the restrictions cited in this Order, please notify the Macoupin County Circuit Clerk at (217) 854-3211 before your court date.
3. Have your witnesses check in with court security as they enter on the ground floor of the Courthouse for further instructions.
4. Court participants requiring special assistance to conduct official business will be permitted entrance with their personal assistant.
5. Unless medically intolerant, face coverings (masks over nose and mouth) are required for all persons entering the courthouse and each person may be questioned regarding any COVID-19 issues and will be required to have their temperature taken with a digital, no-contact thermometer, an identification check (to assist with possible contact tracing if necessary), required use of hand sanitizer, and/or written or verbal questionnaire, and may be asked these questions:
   • Have you had contact with anyone who you are aware was symptomatic or COVID positive for more than 15 minutes and within less than 6 feet in the last 14 days?
   • Are you COVID positive or symptomatic yourself?
   • Have you been directed to quarantine, isolate or self-monitor at home for COIVD by any medical or public health provider?
   • Do you have flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, nausea, diarrhea and/or shortness of breath?
6. Anyone turned away or refusing the screening will be asked to leave his/her name and contact address with security so that this information can be passed along to the appropriate courtroom.
7. Bring your own face-coverings because court security personnel have a limited supply of masks.
8. All persons must wear masks or other face coverings in the courtrooms, but participants shall not be required to wear masks or other face covering while speaking on the record, and sign language interpreters shall not be required to wear masks while interpreting.
9. Nothing in this Order shall require anyone otherwise subject to provisions of this Order to wear a facial covering as directed when doing so would be contrary to their health or safety from a preexisting medical/mental health condition.
10. Nothing in the Order shall require children two and under to wear facial coverings as directed.
11. Everyone who enters the Courthouse must use good personal health habits as recommended by the Center for Disease Control. This includes cleaning hands often with soap and/or hand sanitizer, avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, avoiding close contact, and covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or elbows.
12. Social distancing measures are required to be observed. Everyone should maintain a 6 feet distance whenever reasonably possible. To allow for proper social distancing, the number of people in Court will be restricted by reduced court calls and staggered court-call times, as well as remote appearances and hearings. You may be asked to wait outside or in your car once the Courthouse reaches its maximum capacity.
13. Any attempt to enter the Courthouse or remain in the Courthouse in violation of these rules will cause you to be denied access or removed by security personnel.
14. Civil and criminal lawsuits and any pleadings may still be filed in person or via electronic filing.
15. If you are representing yourself in court and have any questions or concerns, you may contact the Circuit Clerk's Office at (217) 854-3211 or visit the Circuit Clerk's website at JUDICI.com. You are encouraged to call before coming to the Courthouse.
16. Emergency matters are set on a case-by-case basis by contacting the Macoupin County Circuit Clerk at (217) 854-3211 who will then put you in touch with the judge's assistant for scheduling.
17. Any delay resulting from this Order shall not be attributable to either the State or the defendant for purposes of sections 103-5 (speedy trial) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/103-5).
18. Any delay resulting from this Order shall not be attributable to either the State or the juvenile for purposes of section 5-601 of the Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405-601).

COMMON QUESTIONS:

To pay a fine or court fee, please click here

To check on the status of a court case, please click here

To get a certified copy of your birth, marriage or death certificate, please click here.

For information on applying for a marriage license, please click here. To apply, please use this online application to fill in all information. 

For e-recording options of all document types except deeds requiring real estate tax stamps, please click here.

For online access to all documents recorded from 1829 to the present, please click here.

For an estimate of back property taxes, please click here.

For information about getting your notary commission, please click here.

For information about getting your assumed name business application, please click here.

For a copy of your property taxes paid in 2019, please click here.

For property ownership and assessment information, please click here.

For parcel mapping and information, please click here.

Macoupin County exemption renewals for seniors, disabled veterans, and disabled persons will be delayed.  If the delay is for more than a few weeks, exemption renewals will still be accepted after the filing deadline.  Please call the Supervisor of Assessments office at 217-854-8281 ext 710 if you have questions.