• Open Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
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Circuit Clerk

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Circuit Clerk

  • Circuit Clerk: Crystal Ballard
  • (618) 665-3523
  • (618) 665-3543
  • 111 Chestnut Street
    Louisville, IL 62858

The mission of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Clay County is to serve the citizens of Clay County & the participants of the Judicial System in accordance with the statutes in a professional, efficient & ethical manner.

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Common Questions & Services

The duty of the Clerk of the Court is to be the administrative arm of the County Court System. I am charged with keeping the official seal and record of the Court in each and every case that comes before the Court. My duty is to the Judges, attorneys, law enforcement officials and other elected officials, but most importantly, to the public who elected me.

Being the keeper of all the records and files, the Clerk shall attend the sessions of their respective courts, preserve all the files and papers thereof, make, keep and preserve complete records of all the proceedings and determinations. This all being done as set forth by the Illinois Statutes, Supreme Court Rules, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and local Circuit Court.

The office of the Circuit Clerk has enormous financial responsibilities as well as administrative and managerial duties. We collect and disburse all money owed to the court by criminal defendants and filing fees paid by civil litigants. This money is distributed each month to the State, County, Municipalities, and restitution recipients.

The Circuit Clerk is responsible for summonsing Petit Jurors, Grand Jurors and Quick Notice Jurors. For the convenience of the jurors summoned, an answering machine provides updated information to the prospective jurors.

Child Support

  • For Information on Child Support you can go to www.childsupport.illinois.gov or call 1-800-447-4278
  • To get forms for Child Support on a self help website you can go to hfs.illinois.gov
  • For questions on Child Support payments the website is www.ilsdu.com or you can call 1-877-225-7077

Zoom Information

If you have criminal or traffic court and have been permitted to appear by Zoom, you may click the link below or log in using the Zoom ID and Password listed below.  If calling in by phone rename your device or call the clerks office with the last four of phone number.

(ZOOM LINK)


Civil Court
Zoom ID: 615 746 1907
Password: 62858

Criminal/Traffic Court
Zoom ID: 615 746 1907
Password: 62858

Genealogy searches, and public terminal at the counter for pro se filings.

Record Searches are done for the statutory fee of $6.00 per name searched. A written request with payment for search and self-stamped, addressed envelope are required. Copies are $2.00 for the first page, $.50 cents for the next 19 pages, and $.25 cents for each page thereafter. Any computer-generated information is $6.00 per page.

NO PERSONAL CHECKS FROM INDIVIDUALS OR PRO SE FILINGS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR PAYMENT OF FINES, COSTS, FILING FEES AND ETC..

Do I need to return the Questionnaire if I no longer live in Clay County?

If you no longer live in Clay County, fill in your name and current address at the top of the enclosed questionnaire, indicate “no longer live in Clay County” on the questionnaire, and return the questionnaire in the enclosed self-addressed envelope. You will then be excused from jury duty. (If the questionnaire was mailed to a family member, who does not live with you in Clay County anymore, please fill in their name, present city they live in, and sign questionnaire, indicating your relation to that person.)

In the event you receive a jury notification for a person who is deceased, please write their name on the top of the questionnaire, indicate “deceased” and return the same in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope.

In the event you receive a jury notification for a person who is a resident of a nursing home or health care facility, please write their name on the top of the questionnaire, indicate where he/she is a resident and return the same in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope. He/she will be excused from jury duty.

If you have a medical condition that would prohibit you from being a juror, a note from your attending physician indicating your inability to serve as a juror is necessary. We cannot excuse jurors who do not supply us with the requested medical excuse.

By state statute, if you have served within a year of your last jury service, you can request not to serve when called again in the 12-month period. If you have been called within the year of your last service, please indicate what month/year you last served on your questionnaire. If you do not wish to serve again, please indicate so on the questionnaire and you will be excused from this jury service term; otherwise, you will be added to our jury pool.

You must complete the enclosed questionnaire and indicate on the questionnaire your situation with the time parameters that you have a conflict. Once we have received your questionnaire, you will likely be deferred to another jury term (of your choice) when you will no longer have a conflict or we will accommodate your appointment for that day, and you may be required to serve the rest of the jury term.

We require something in writing by your employer or supervisor on your employer’s letterhead indicating the conflict your employer will have if you are called for jury duty, and requesting that your jury service be deferred to a less demanding jury term. You will still need to fill the enclosed questionnaire and return it with your employer letter to my office. We will notify you and your employer whether you have been deferred from jury service.

Please fill in the name field as it was addressed to you on the envelope and then show name change and reason why it was changed.