Hancock County Adoptions
Adoption proceedings are handled with special care to protect the privacy of the families involved. We provide information about how adoption records are maintained by the Hancock County Circuit Clerk's Office and the process for obtaining certified copies of an adoption judgment.
Confidentiality & Requesting Copies
Under the Illinois Adoption Act, all adoption records maintained by the Circuit Clerk are impounded while pending and permanently sealed 30 days after the case is closed. This means these files are not available for public inspection. How you can access a copy of the judgment depends on how much time has passed.
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On Your Court Date
On the day your adoption judgment is entered, go immediately to the Circuit Clerk’s Office in Room 8 to obtain certified copies for your personal records.
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Within 30 Days of Judgment
Only the individuals named in the case or the attorney of record may obtain copies directly from the Circuit Clerk.
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More Than 30 Days After Judgment
Because the file is now permanently sealed, you must file a Motion and Notice of Motion and schedule a court date. If a judge grants your motion and issues a court order to unseal the file, the Circuit Clerk can then provide you with a certified copy.
