Waukegan People Search Records
Waukegan people search records are held at city and county offices right in town. As the county seat of Lake County, Waukegan is home to the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, the County Clerk, and the Recorder's office, all at 18 N. County St. The Waukegan Police Department and city clerk also keep files that can help you find a person. With close to 89,000 residents, Waukegan is the largest city in Lake County and the center for all public records in the area. This guide walks you through each source so you know where to look and what to expect.
Waukegan Quick Facts
Waukegan City Records
The City of Waukegan keeps its own set of public records. The city clerk handles meeting minutes, ordinances, and business licenses. Call the clerk at (847) 599-2530 for help. The office is at 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Waukegan. If you need a record tied to city business, this is the place to start.
City council minutes are public. They show who spoke at meetings, what votes took place, and what business the city handled. If a person had dealings with the city, such as a zoning request, a permit, or a complaint, the clerk may have records on file. You can ask for copies in person or file a written FOIA request. The clerk can also point you to the right county office if the record you need is not at the city level. Since Waukegan is the county seat, most county offices are just a short walk from city hall, which makes it easy to check both in a single trip.
| Office | Waukegan City Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Phone | (847) 599-2530 |
Waukegan Police Department Records
The Waukegan Police Department is at 420 Robert V. Sabonjian Pl. The main line is (847) 599-2500. Police records include arrest reports, incident reports, and accident reports. These files can help in a people search if you need to check for a criminal history or find facts about a past event in Waukegan.
To get a police report, file a FOIA request with the department. Put the request in writing. Include the person's name, the date of the event, and the type of report you want. The department has 5 business days to respond. Some parts of a report may be held back for privacy, but the basic facts are public. Arrest records show the name, charges, date, and location. If the case went to court, the 19th Judicial Circuit Court has the full case file on record.
Waukegan PD also handles city-level calls for service. If you need data on incidents at a specific address or involving a specific person, a FOIA request can pull those records. The department is one of the larger forces in Lake County, so they process a high volume of reports each year.
| Department | Waukegan Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 420 Robert V. Sabonjian Pl., Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Phone | (847) 599-2500 |
Note: For emergencies call 911. Use the non-emergency line at (847) 599-2500 for records requests and general questions.
Lake County Records in Waukegan
Because Waukegan is the county seat, all Lake County offices sit right here in town. The 19th Judicial Circuit Court, County Clerk, Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer, and Sheriff are all based in Waukegan. That makes this city the hub for every type of public record in Lake County. You can search court cases, vital records, property files, and tax data without leaving town.
The 19th Judicial Circuit Court handles all civil, criminal, family, and traffic cases in Lake County. Keith Doyle is the Circuit Clerk. His office is at 18 N. County St. Call (847) 377-3380 for help. Court records are a key part of any people search. They show lawsuits, judgments, criminal charges, and family law matters. E-filing is mandatory for most case types through eFileIL. You can look up cases on the 19th Circuit's website for free.
The County Clerk, Anthony Parillo, runs vital records and recording services from the same building. His office has birth certificates, death records, marriage licenses, and land documents going back decades. Birth certificates cost $16 for the first copy. Death records cost $22. Marriage certificates are $16 each. The Recorder side of the office has deeds, mortgages, and liens with online records back to 1992. Call (847) 377-2400 to reach the clerk.
The Lake County Treasurer, Holly Kim, handles property tax records. Call (847) 377-2323 to reach her office. Tax records show who pays taxes on a property, which often confirms who owns it. The Assessor's office at (847) 377-2050 has property values and assessment data for the whole county.
State Tools for Waukegan People Search
Illinois runs several free databases that cover Waukegan and all of Lake County. These go past what city and county offices have on file. Each one can help you find records tied to a person in Waukegan.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has a license lookup tool. Search by name to see if someone holds a state license in nursing, real estate, or other fields. This is free and shows the person's name, license type, status, and any past discipline. Go to IDFPR License Lookup to start. The Illinois Department of Corrections runs an offender search at IDOC Offender Search where you can look up current and past inmates by name.
The Illinois Sex Offender Registry at sor.isp.illinois.gov shows registered offenders by name or location. You can search the full state or narrow it to Waukegan. Each listing shows the name, address, photo, and offense. VINE at vinelink.vineapps.com lets you track an offender's custody status. If someone was arrested in Waukegan, VINE sends alerts when their status changes.
Illinois voter registration records are public too. Check if a person is registered and see the address on file. Contact the Lake County elections office at (847) 377-2400 for voter data tied to Waukegan residents.
FOIA Requests in Waukegan
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to ask for public records from any government office. This covers Waukegan city offices, Lake County agencies, and state bodies. You do not need to live in Waukegan or Lake County to file a request. Anyone can ask.
Put the request in writing. Include your name, contact info, and a clear description of what you want. Be specific. Give the full name of the person and a date range if you can. The more detail you put in, the faster the office can find your records. Agencies must respond within 5 business days. They can ask for a 5-day extension on large requests. If they deny your request, they must explain why in writing. You can appeal to the Illinois Attorney General's Public Access Counselor if you think the denial was wrong.
Fees vary by office. Some charge per page for copies. Others may bill for staff time on big requests. Ask for a fee estimate before they start pulling records. Most basic searches cost little or nothing.
Nearby Lake County Cities
These cities are near Waukegan in Lake County. If the person you are looking for may have moved or worked in the area, check these pages for local records and search tools.
Lake County People Records
Waukegan is the county seat of Lake County. All public records for Waukegan residents are filed at Lake County offices right here in town. The county handles vital records, land files, court cases, tax data, and law enforcement records for the whole county. For the full list of every Lake County office and search tool, visit the county page.