Case Search

When people search for “Cook County IL case search,” they usually want one thing: a clear, fast way to look up a court case without guessing which official site or tool to use. This guide walks you through the official Cook County systems step by step—what “online case information” really shows, how to run a proper case search, what types of cases are available online, when you need to use courthouse terminals or archives instead, and how to get live help from the Clerk’s Office if you get stuck.

Understand your Cook County case search options before you start

Cook County doesn’t have just one single button labeled “Case Search” and nothing else. Instead, there are several related tools and pages maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Cook County Government. Knowing what each one does will save you time and frustration.

Online case information vs. the official court record

The online case information you see through the Clerk of the Circuit Court is a public service designed to show the general status of historical and active court cases. It is not the official court file.

According to the Clerk’s description, the online database is an electronic docket. That means:

You see brief summaries of court documents and events in a case

You do not see the actual documents themselves

The Illinois Supreme Court’s Electronic Access Policy limits remote access to actual case documents, so online access is intentionally restricted

The official record is still the hard-copy file kept in the courthouse or other official Clerk repositories

Because case data is summarized and then uploaded, there can be a lag. It may take a few days for new filings, orders, or events to appear online. If you are searching for something that was just filed or a very recent court date, the Clerk specifically recommends checking again later or using public access terminals in the courthouse.

You can review this explanation and access links to the search tools on the Clerk’s on-line case information page at On-line Case Information.

What types of Cook County cases you can search online

The Online Case Search system is broken into several specific search categories. When you open the main menu, you’ll see separate options for:

Civil, Law, Chancery, and Domestic Relations/Child Support Search
– General civil cases, larger money disputes, chancery matters (like foreclosures or injunctions), and family law/child support matters.

Probate Docket Search
– Cases involving estates, guardianships, and related issues filed in Probate Court.

Probate Will Search
– Searches for wills filed with Cook County.

Traffic Ticket Search
– Cases related to moving violations, DUI, speeding, and suspended licenses.

County Division Search
– Matters such as name changes, election issues, real estate tax matters, and similar actions.

Court Call Search
– Data for cases being heard today and during the next five business days. Helpful when you’re trying to confirm a near-term court date.

Unclaimed Child Support Check Search
– Lets you see if the Clerk’s Office is holding an undeliverable child support check in your name.

Naturalization Declaration of Intention Search
– Historical records for more than 400,000 Declarations of Intention filed by people seeking U.S. citizenship between 1906–1929.

Mortgage Foreclosure Surplus Search
– A list of surplus or equity funds from property foreclosures to see whether the Clerk’s Office is holding money that might belong to you.

Each of these is still part of Cook County case search, but they sit in their own sections so you can go straight to the kind of case you care about.

You can access the central online case search tool from the Clerk’s official site at Online Case Search.

Use the Cook County online case information page the right way

If you’re not sure where to begin, start at the on-line case information page and treat it as your “front door” for Cook County case search.

On that page, the Clerk explains:

What the online case information system is and what it covers

That the data is pulled from paper filings and summarized into an electronic docket

That there can be a short delay before new information appears online

That the system is meant for checking general case status, not for obtaining certified or complete records

From there, you’ll find links into the Online Case Search menus, the CCC Portal for more advanced searches, and other useful court services. Think of this page as the overview that sets expectations and then points you to the specific search tools you need.

Run a Cook County case search step by step

Once you’ve reached the Online Case Search main menu, the process usually follows a few predictable patterns. The exact fields on the screen change based on what type of search you choose (civil, probate, traffic, etc.), but the logic is similar.

Choose the right search category

Before you type anything, pick the section that matches your situation:

Civil, Law, Chancery, and Domestic Relations/Child Support, if your case is a lawsuit, divorce, or similar civil matter

Probate Docket or Probate Will, if it involves an estate or will filed in Probate Court

Traffic Ticket, if you’re dealing with a traffic citation, DUI, or license suspension

County Division, if your issue relates to name changes, elections, or real estate tax matters

Court Call, if your main goal is confirming a court date in the next few days

Choosing the right category narrows the database behind the scenes and makes your search faster and more accurate.

Search by case number whenever possible

If you have a case number, you’re already in the best position. Enter it exactly as it appears on your paperwork. In most categories, you will:

Type the case number into the appropriate field

Submit the search

Review the results, which typically include the case number, party names, file date, type, and status

From there, clicking into the case will open the electronic docket, where you can see a chronological list of events (hearings, motions, orders, etc.) and the basic information about each party.

Because results pages can show many columns, some systems allow you to customize which columns you see and how they are sorted. That helps when you’re looking at multiple cases with similar numbers or many results for a common party name.

Search by name or company if you don’t have a case number

If you don’t know the case number, many search tools let you look up cases by person or business name:

Enter the last name, first name for an individual
Enter the full business name for a company

For example:

“Smith, John”
“Supreme Auto Body”

Once you submit the search, you will see a list of cases that match. From there, you can click into the case number that seems correct based on the parties, file date, and case type.

Where supported, the system allows wildcard searching using an asterisk (*). This is helpful if you’re not sure about spelling. For instance:

“Smith, J*” to pick up John, James, Joseph, etc.
“Supreme*” to pick up variations in a company name

Wildcards usually require:

At least one character in the first name
At least three characters in the last name
At least four characters in a case number

Always check that the case you click actually matches the person or business you’re interested in, especially with common names.

Use ticket numbers and other identifiers for traffic and similar matters

For traffic cases, the system supports specific ticket or citation numbers. This is often the fastest way to locate your case after a traffic stop.

In many search panels you can also search by cross-reference numbers (for example, CB numbers, FBI numbers, IR numbers, SID numbers, or ticket numbers), depending on the type of case and the search options available. In practice, you’ll:

Select a search type that matches your identifier (such as ticket number or case cross-reference number)

Enter the full number (or an allowed wildcard variation)

Submit your search and then click into the matching case

This is especially useful if you received paperwork from law enforcement or another agency that lists those identifiers but not the Cook County case number.

Take your Cook County case search further with CCC Portal and advanced filters

For more sophisticated searching, Cook County uses an Odyssey Portal system. It is accessed through the CCC Portal, and some features require a secure login for justice partners and authorized agencies. Others are available more generally for public case look-ups.

You can begin at the portal’s main site at CCC Portal (Odyssey Portal).

Use Smart Search for simple and flexible lookups

The Odyssey Portal homepage features Smart Search, which is typically the starting point for most users. In Smart Search, you can:

Type a case number directly
Enter a party name (defendant, plaintiff, attorney, judge, company, etc.)
Use wildcards (for example, “Smith, J*”) to catch spelling variations

Once you submit your search, the portal returns up to a set number of results (often 200). Default columns usually include:

Case Number
Defendant or Party Name
File Date
Case Type
Case Status

You can then:

Click on a case number to open the case summary
Sort by different columns (for example, by date)
Choose which columns are displayed, up to the allowed maximum

Turn on advanced search options to narrow Cook County court records

Clicking Advanced Filtering Options in Smart Search opens several additional panels, including:

General Options – lets you choose the area of law (location) and filter by search type

Party Search Criteria – lets you narrow by details like date of birth, FBI number, IR number, driver’s license information, and more

Case Search Criteria – helps you filter case number searches by case type, case status, file date range, and judicial officer

Under Filter by Search Type, you can select powerful options such as:

Attorney bar number (ARDC number)

Attorney name

Business name

Case cross-reference number (including codes like CB, FBI, IR, SID, ticket number, warrant numbers, and others)

Judicial officer

Party name

This is extremely useful when you know a person’s identifying number from another system (for example, an FBI number or an IR number) but do not know the Cook County case number.

If a cross-reference search does not return results, a useful workaround is:

Type an asterisk * into the main Smart Search field
Open Advanced Filtering Options
Scroll down to Party Search Criteria
Enter the identifier (such as IR number) in its specific field
Submit your search

This tells the system to search across parties based on that specific identifier rather than relying on a direct case cross-reference match.

Track court hearings using the hearings search feature

Inside the portal, a separate Search Hearings function allows you to look up future court appearances within a specified date range. This is particularly helpful for criminal cases and, over time, other areas of law as they are added.

Typical steps include:

Choosing a search location (for example, Criminal)

Selecting a hearing type from the dropdown menu

Narrowing by search type, such as
Case number
Party name
Business name
Attorney name or bar number
Judicial officer
Courtroom location

You can also:

Search for hearings in a specific courtroom or district by selecting that courtroom from the list

Limit results to a date range by setting start and end dates

View hearing results in a calendar format for easier scheduling

This is a powerful way to confirm upcoming court dates when you know the courtroom, judge, or general time frame but not the exact case number.

Learn the portal layout with the Odyssey Portal User Guide

If you’ll be using the portal regularly, the Clerk provides a detailed manual explaining:

How to sign in and access Smart Search
How to use wildcards and advanced filters
How to interpret search results and case summaries
How to search for hearings and warrants (where authorized)

You can read that manual directly from the Clerk’s site at the Odyssey Portal User Guide:
Odyssey Portal User Guide.

When your Cook County case search needs more than online access

Because the Illinois Supreme Court’s access policy restricts remote access to actual case documents, there are times when online case information is not enough. Examples include:

You need to view the full text of orders or motions
You need certified copies of filings or dispositions
You are dealing with a very recent filing that hasn’t shown up online yet
The case is older and stored in archives

In those situations, you will often need to:

Visit public access terminals maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court inside the courthouse

Work with the Archives Department for older or archived cases

Request copies or certified records directly from the Clerk’s Office

Cook County Government’s Court Records and Archives service page gives an overview of how online case information fits into the larger records system and reiterates that the official record is the paper file held by the Clerk. You can review that description at Court Records and Archives.

Use public access terminals and archives to view official records

Public access terminals are an important part of Cook County’s case search system. The Clerk’s online information explains:

The electronic docket is a summary; it is not a substitute for the official court file

When updates are new, they may appear first at the Clerk’s public access terminals, then later in the online system

For very recent filings, it is often best to check those terminals or wait and try the online search again at a later date

If your case is older or has been moved to off-site storage, the Archives Department may be involved in retrieving records. The Direct Dial system and the contact list at the end of this guide make it easier to reach the correct division or department for help.

Get live help with your Cook County case search

Not every Cook County case search will go smoothly. Names may be misspelled, numbers may be incomplete, or the information you need may sit in a division you are not familiar with. The Clerk’s Office provides several ways to get direct assistance.

Use the Clerk of the Circuit Court website and webchat

The main site for the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the central hub for:

Links to Online Case Search and On-line Case Information
Court services and division descriptions
A self-help section and brochures for people representing themselves
Information about remote court proceedings and other court resources

You can start at the homepage at Clerk of the Circuit Court.

From there, a Customer Service Webchat feature is available on the site, connecting you to the Customer Call Center during office hours. The live chat:

Operates Monday through Friday during posted business hours

Is meant for general questions or assistance related to your case search

Requires that you agree to the Clerk’s privacy policy and terms and conditions

Prohibits abusive, threatening, or obscene messages, which may be punishable under state law

If you prefer talking to someone, the chat team can help guide you to the correct search tool, division, or resource.

Call Direct Dial numbers for faster phone-based case search

The Clerk also operates a Direct Dial case search feature through its phone system. Instead of listening to every menu in the main call center, you can dial numbers that jump straight into the portion of the interactive voice response (IVR) system that searches by case or citation number.

Key points about Direct Dial:

It is especially helpful when the Customer Call Center is closed and you still need basic case or ticket information

You must have your case or citation number ready; these lines are not for general inquiries

Different divisions (Civil, Criminal, Traffic, Probate, suburban districts, etc.) have their own Direct Dial numbers

For a complete list of division-specific numbers and more detail on how Direct Dial integrates with the call center, the Clerk publishes a PDF titled Direct Dial to Court Information at:
Direct Dial to Court Information handout.

Refer to the contact list below to see which number applies to your type of case.

Case search–related Cook County departments and offices

Customer Call Center (Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County) – 50 W. Washington, Suite 1001, Chicago, Illinois 60602-1305 – (312) 603-5030

Archives Department – (312) 603-6601

Chancery Division – Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington St., Room 802, Chicago, IL 60602 – (312) 603-5133

Criminal Department – (312) 603-4641

Criminal Division – (773) 674-3140

Civil Division – (312) 603-5116

Civil Appeals Division – (312) 603-5406

County Division – (312) 603-5710

Traffic Division – (312) 603-2005

Probate Division – (312) 603-6441

Domestic Relations Division – (312) 603-6300

Domestic Violence – (312) 603-9500

Juvenile Division – (312) 433-5333

Law Division – (312) 603-5426

District 2 – Skokie – (847) 470-7250

District 3 – Rolling Meadows – (847) 818-3000

District 4 – Maywood – (708) 865-6040

District 5 – Bridgeview – (708) 974-6500

District 6 – Markham – (708) 232-4551

Cook County Case Search FAQs

How do I reach the official Cook County case search site online?

To use the official tools, start from the Clerk’s own online case information page, which explains how electronic case data works and links directly into the search system. You can open it here: online case information page. If you already know what you want to search, you can also go straight to the Online Case Search main menu, where you’ll see options for civil, probate, traffic, county division, court call, unclaimed child support, naturalization records, and mortgage foreclosure surplus.

Why doesn’t my Cook County case or ticket show up immediately?

Cook County’s online system is updated from paper filings, so there can be a short delay before new activity appears. If you’re searching for a very recent filing, order, or court date and nothing shows up, the Clerk notes that updates can take a few days. In that situation, they specifically suggest checking the Clerk’s in-courthouse public access terminals or trying the online search again later. You can read the county’s explanation of update timing on the Court Records and Archives service page.

Is what I see online the same as the official court record?

No. The sites described above display an electronic docket—summaries of events and filings in a case. The county explains that the official file is still the paper record kept in the courthouse or other Clerk repositories, and that statewide rules limit remote access to actual case documents. The online search is meant for checking general case status, not for obtaining certified copies or complete paper files. For older, archived, or sensitive matters, the Court Records and Archives page outlines how online information fits into the larger records system.

When should I use CCC Portal instead of the basic Online Case Search?

The CCC Portal case lookup uses the Odyssey system and offers “Smart Search” plus advanced filters. From there, you can search by case number or name, use wildcard characters, and narrow results by things like case type, status, dates, or specific identifiers (for example, certain cross-reference numbers). The Portal also includes a Search Hearings feature, which lets you look up hearings in a selected location and date range, and even view them in a calendar format. Some functions require a secure login for justice partners and authorized agencies, but the public search functions are reachable directly from the Portal homepage.