Mailing Address

All mailings should be sent to 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350.

Attorney Registration Number

In order to ensure accuracy with our records, please include your attorney registration number on the first pleading filed in each case (complaint, appearance, etc.).

Fax: Pleadings and Copies

Acceptance of faxed pleadings is currently at the discretion of each individual judge.

Your office is welcome to send a fax when you are in court at the Downtown Courthouse and have forgotten a needed document. Please send those faxes to (815) 433-9198.

Court Forms

Civil forms are available and stocked for your convenience at the Downtown Courthouse. Forms may also be ordered in advance - a self addressed, stamped envelope is required when requesting forms to be mailed. Please do not remove large quantities of forms from the courtrooms.

Many forms are now on line and can be electronically accessed by clicking on the Forms icon on the site menu. Please note that you must still print the form and provide our office with an original along with any copies for consolidated files as well as your personal files. Statute does not allow electronic filing at this time.

Attorney Civil Mailboxes

Mailboxes for LaSalle County attorneys are provided in Room 201 at the Downtown Courthouse. Civil mail from the Circuit Clerk and services you have requested will be left in your mailbox. The boxes are used for the pick-up of documents (saves postage) and announcements from the Court and Circuit Clerk. Mailboxes are available upon request by sending a letter of request to the Circuit Clerk, 119 W. Madison Street, Room 201, Ottawa, IL 61350. Boxes will be assigned as they are available.

Filing New Cases and Documents

Local Rule 1.7 sets out the standard format and requirements for forms and documents filed with the Circuit Clerk's office.  All original documents submitted to the Circuit Clerk's office are not to be stapled or bound.  Please use removable clips, rubberbands or other temporary means of securing your documentation.

New Cases

Cases can be filed by mail when accompanied by the proper fee. Fee lists are available at the Clerk's office and are also available by clicking on the General Information tab. Always give full addresses including zip codes for all defendants.

New cases filed by mail should include all pertinent documents and the correct fees based upon case type and documents sent. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of stamped documents. If you have a mailbox at the Clerk's office, your paperwork will be placed in your box. Documents will not be mailed out if the self-addressed stamped envelope is not provided.

Information Required on Court Forms

The single best thing you can do for us when filling out hand-written documents is to please write legibly - not neat . . . legible. Time spent deciphering is one of our unnecessary cost factors. There is case law that says the Clerk is not required to file any document he or she cannot read.

Case Numbers

The statutory fee for correction of the case number, case title, or any document is $25.00 per document. Please make sure the number and title is correct - this saves us time when trying to process the documents and saves you $25.00 or more.

Civil Exhibits

The Circuit Clerk's office does not store exhibits after the case in concluded. If the case is disposed and not appealed (30 days after final order), the exhibits are to be picked up or they will be destroyed. A letter will be sent regarding your options, no response means the exhibits will be destroyed.

Criminal Bond Refund

Please allow up to two weeks for the receipt of a bond refund.