Find Will County Bench Warrants

Will County bench warrants are issued by judges in the 12th Judicial Circuit when someone does not appear in court or breaks a court order. Will County has a population of more than 708,000 and sits south of Cook and DuPage Counties. The Circuit Clerk office in Joliet keeps all bench warrant records as part of the case files. You can look up warrants through the clerk office, the Will County Sheriff, or the county's online warrant search tool. This page explains how to search for bench warrants in Will County.

Will County Circuit Clerk Office

The Will County Circuit Clerk keeps all court records for the 12th Judicial Circuit. Clerk Andrea Chasteen runs the office. All bench warrants, criminal cases, civil filings, traffic cases, and family court records go through this office. Bench warrant info is part of each case file. You can look it up by name or case number at the clerk office in Joliet.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can help with bench warrant searches during those hours. You can request copies of court files in person or by mail. The clerk also handles filing fees and case inquiries for the public. If you need a copy of a bench warrant or want to check a case status, the clerk staff can help during business hours.

The Will County Circuit Clerk website has tools for searching case records and getting info about court files.

This screenshot shows the Will County Circuit Clerk site where you can find case search tools and clerk office info.

Will County Warrant Search Tool

Will County offers a separate online warrant search tool. This is different from the standard case search and focuses on active warrants. The Will County Warrants site lets you search by name to find out if someone has an active bench warrant in the county.

The Will County warrant search site provides a direct way to look up active bench warrants without going through the full case search system.

This tool is available around the clock. It is a good starting point if you just need to check for active warrants. But the info should be confirmed with the clerk office or sheriff, since the site may not show warrants that were just issued or recently recalled. For the most accurate and up-to-date info, contact the clerk office in person.

Note: The online warrant search tool is helpful but may not reflect the most recent warrant activity in Will County.

Search Will County Bench Warrants

There are several ways to search for bench warrants in Will County. You can use the online warrant search, visit the clerk office, contact the sheriff, or use the state electronic filing system.

The eFile Illinois portal lets lawyers and self-represented people access case files. You need to create an account. Some records may be sealed or restricted. The state system covers all Illinois counties, so it is useful if you need to check warrants in more than one county.

For in-person requests, go to the clerk office at 100 West Jefferson Street in Joliet. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff will search for bench warrants by name or case number. Under 725 ILCS 5/110-3, if a person fails to appear in court on the date set for them, the judge may issue a bench warrant for their arrest.

You can also file a FOIA request for bench warrant records. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), the first 50 pages of any records request are free. Pages after that cost $0.15 each.

Will County Sheriff and Bench Warrants

The Will County Sheriff's Office handles warrant execution across the county. The Warrant Division takes care of all warrant-related matters, including bench warrants issued by the 12th Judicial Circuit. The sheriff maintains records of active warrants and works with local police departments on warrant service.

You can reach the Will County Sheriff's Office at (815) 727-8575. The office is at 95 S. Chicago Street in Joliet. The sheriff provides an online warrant search tool as well. Warrant inquiries can be made in person with a valid ID.

People with active bench warrants in Will County should talk to a lawyer before turning themselves in. The sheriff office can verify warrants in person. This is the best way to confirm if a bench warrant is still active.

How Bench Warrants Work in Will County

A bench warrant in Will County gets issued when someone does not follow a court order. Missing a court date is the main reason. Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 556, if a person charged with an offense does not appear on the set date, the court can continue the case for at least 30 days, issue a bench warrant for arrest, or try the person in their absence.

Bench warrants do not expire on their own. They stay active until the judge recalls the warrant or law enforcement serves it. A bench warrant in Will County can show up during a traffic stop, at a license renewal, or during any contact with police. The warrant tells law enforcement to bring that person before a judge.

• Missing a court date is the top reason for bench warrants
• Not paying court-ordered fines can trigger a warrant
• Breaking probation terms may lead to one
• Warrants stay active until recalled or served
• Any police contact can lead to arrest on an active warrant

Note: If you think you have an active bench warrant in Will County, check the online warrant search tool or contact the clerk office to confirm.

Requesting Will County Warrant Records

Anyone can request bench warrant records in Will County under state law. The Will County government portal has FOIA request forms and other public records resources.

The county portal connects you to all Will County departments, including the Circuit Clerk, Sheriff, and other offices that handle bench warrant records.

Under the Illinois Uniform Conviction Information Act (20 ILCS 2635), conviction and criminal history info collected by the Illinois State Police is open for public inspection. This includes bench warrant records tied to criminal cases in Will County. The office must respond to FOIA requests within five working days.

Cities in Will County

Will County has many cities and villages. All bench warrants in these areas are handled by the Will County Circuit Court in the 12th Judicial Circuit. Joliet is the county seat and the largest city in the county.

Other cities in Will County include Romeoville, Plainfield, Lockport, New Lenox, and Crest Hill. All of them file cases through the Will County Circuit Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Will County. If you are not sure which county handles your case, check the address where the court date was set. Bench warrants are filed in the county where the case was opened.