FAQs

Hancock County jury service is handled by the Hancock County Jury Commission Clerk. This clerk is located in the circuit clerk office on the second floor in Room 8.

If you have posted bond for a Defendant in a Traffic or Criminal case, you should read the Bail Bond form that you signed when posting the bond:

Notice to person providing bail money other than the defendant

I hereby acknowledge that I have posted bail for the defendant named above. I further understand that if the defendant fails to comply with the condition of this bail bond, that the court shall enter an order declaring the bail bond to be forfeited. I further understand that any bond so posted may be used to pay costs, attorney’s fees, fines or other purposes authorized by the court.

The above section of the Bail Bond form explains that if the Defendant you posted bond for is sentenced to pay a fine and fees, the bond money will be applied towards the fine and fees. If there is any bond left to be refunded after paying the fine and fees, it will be refunded to the person listed as posting the bond on the Bail Bond form. The Circuit Clerk will mail the refund to the address listed on the Bail Bond form. 

It is the Defendant’s responsibility to keep the Circuit Clerk’s Office informed of their current address. We will mail court notices, bond refunds, driver’s licenses, etc. to whatever address is listed on your ticket or complaint. If this is not your current address, it is your responsibility and to your advantage to update the Circuit Clerk’s Office with your new address. You must notify the Circuit Clerk’s office in writing.

Hancock County Circuit Clerk
PO Box 189
Carthage, IL 62321

It is the Circuit Clerk’s Office responsibility to report traffic convictions to the Illinois Secretary of State. The Circuit Clerk’s Office cannot tell you the following:

• The Circuit Clerk’s Office cannot tell you what appears on your driving record
• The Circuit Clerk’s Office cannot tell you whether your ticket is a moving violation
• The Circuit Clerk’s Office cannot tell you whether your license is valid

These are all questions that must be directed to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. For more information, please call the Illinois Secretary of State at 800-252-8980, 217-782-2720 or 217-785-8619. The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office in Hancock County is located at 319 Buchanan St, Carthage, IL 62321. The Carthage DMV can be reached at 217-357-3869. For more information on the Illinois Secretary of State, see www.cyberdriveillinois.com.

Police reports are NOT filed in the court files. To obtain a copy of a police report contact the arresting agency that was on scene at the incident.