The overall mission of the Circuit Clerk's office is to file state and local court cases, maintain court records, collect fees and fines, and process all paperwork on behalf of the courts. The Circuit Clerk's office is divided into four main divisions: Civil, Family, Felony and Traffic. A separate section, court document storage, stores thousands of archival records, such as wills and case files, as well as evidence and exhibits from trials.

The Civil Division deals with a variety of cases: product liability, personal injury, breach of contract, class actions, eminent domain, railroad cases, probate (wills), small claims, evictions, and defamation of character - to name a few. Once civil matters are filed with the Clerk's office, division clerks determine the categories into which cases fall and often issue summonses that enable the judicial process to begin. Passport applications are also taken in the Civil Division.

Family/Domestic Relations Division processes and maintains records for divorces, no contact orders, orders of protection, child adoptions, and paternity suits. Child support payment records for St. Clair County children of divorce are maintained by the Clerk's Family division, enabling the Courts and State’s Attorney to ensure that financial support reaches some 12,000 children of divorced parents.

Felony Division, is where criminal charges are filed and processed. Charges filed here are initiated by either the State's Attorney, Attorney General, or the grand jury on behalf of law enforcement agencies. Cases range from homicide, armed robbery, home invasion, and felony drug charges to repeat DUI offenders. Felony clerks initiate and manage case files, set dockets for trial and preliminary hearings, and process the paperwork for incarcerating and placing defendants on probation.

Traffic Division handles traffic violations, DUIs, misdemeanors, municipal ordinance violations, and conservation cases. State, municipal and county police agencies deposit all traffic tickets, warrants and citations issued in St. Clair County with the Traffic Division. Traffic clerks set court dockets, clerk court hearings, and collects fines and fees.

You may contact the Circuit Clerks Office by calling:
618-277-6600 ext. 2351 for Small Claims
618-277-6600 ext. 2350 for Family Division
618-277-6600 ext. 2344 for Child Support
618-277-6600 ext. 2322 for Felony Division
618-277-6600 ext. 2339 for Traffic Division
618-277-6600 ext. 2307 for Probate
618-277-6600 ext. 2310 for Juvenile Division