Find Will County Courthouse
Use the map for orientation. Your court notice, citation, or bond paperwork controls the exact courtroom and arrival instructions.
If you were arrested in Will County, your case is most likely heard at the Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet. We defend criminal charges and DUI charges here. This page covers what people ask us before a first court date: where to go, which floor, how security works, and where to park.
Will County is the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Illinois. The courthouse is at 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. The state court directory lists it as open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Most criminal and DUI cases from Will County are heard at the Will County Courthouse, 100 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet. Misdemeanor cases, including a first DUI, are heard on the third floor. Felony cases are heard on the fourth floor. The building is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Will County Courthouse Hours, Security, and Parking in Downtown Joliet
The Circuit Clerk’s office is inside the courthouse. You can reach it at (815) 727-8592.
Visitors may enter only through the northeast and southeast doors, and everyone goes through security. Weapons, recording devices, scissors, pepper spray, and food and drink are not allowed. Firearms are not permitted in any Illinois Circuit Court building. The court has allowed cell phones since February 28, 2022.
Public parking is in the lot just east of the courthouse. That lot gets very tight from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. At those times, plan on the City of Joliet parking decks on Ottawa Street or Scott Street, and leave extra time to walk over. A few metered spaces are nearby.
Which Floor Hears Your Case
The Circuit Clerk publishes the floor for each type of case. Your case number tells you which one you have.
| Type of case | Case number prefix | Floor |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor, including a first DUI | DT or CV | Third floor |
| Felony | CF | Fourth floor |
The courtroom within each floor can change. Your notice lists your room. You can also search the Circuit Clerk’s public court schedule by case number or ticket number, or call the Clerk at (815) 727-8592.
Felony cases filed here are prosecuted by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office. A felony case moves on a different timeline than a misdemeanor, with its own deadlines for a preliminary hearing or an indictment.
Joliet Courthouse or a Branch Court: Check Your Paperwork
Will County also lists branch courts in Bolingbrook (375 West Briarcliff Road), Plainfield (14300 South Coil Plus Drive), and Frankfort (11008 West Lincoln Highway). The Clerk lists each one as a court-only location with no clerk services.
Which building hears your case depends on the charge and on the agency that wrote it, so do not guess. Check the building and room on your citation or notice. If it is unclear, look up your case in the Clerk’s public schedule before you travel.
What Happens at a First Appearance in Joliet
At a first appearance, the judge tells you the charge, and the court addresses pretrial release. Cash bail ended in Illinois on September 18, 2023. The question now is usually whether you are released, with or without conditions, or whether the State asks the court to detain you.
Our guide to pretrial release in Will County walks through that process. A DUI arrest also has separate license deadlines. We cover them in what happens after a DUI arrest in Will County.
Why Local Experience Matters in Joliet
One of our attorneys is a former Will County prosecutor. Nick Ktenas defends DUI and criminal cases primarily in Cook, Will, and DuPage Counties. Our attorneys have all stood on the State’s side of the courtroom.
That background does not decide a case. It does mean we know how a charge gets built, how the State weighs it, and where it can be tested before you reach a courtroom.
Before You Walk Into the Joliet Courthouse
- Bring your citation or notice, any release paperwork, and a photo ID.
- Leave anything on the prohibited list in your car.
- Allow extra time for security and for parking, especially mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
- Confirm your room in the Clerk’s public schedule or on your notice.
- Talk with an attorney before the date if you can.
Adult Probation is in the Court Annex at 57 North Ottawa Street. The court lists its number as (815) 727-8446.
How We Help Clients With a Case in Will County
- DUI defense for first-time, repeat, and felony DUI arrests
- Criminal defense for misdemeanor and felony charges
- Drug charge defense and gun charge defense
If your case was filed in Cook County instead, see our guide to Cook County court districts.
Questions About Your Will County Court Date
The Will County Courthouse is at 100 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432. It is in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Circuit Clerk lists misdemeanor cases, including DUI, on the third floor and felony cases on the fourth. Your notice shows the exact courtroom, and the Clerk can confirm it at (815) 727-8592.
Yes. The court has allowed cell phones since February 28, 2022. Recording video or audio is not allowed without permission from the Chief Judge’s office.
Use the public lot just east of the courthouse if you arrive early. It fills up from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., so the City of Joliet decks on Ottawa Street and Scott Street are the backup.
Those are Will County branch courts, and your paperwork controls. If the notice names a branch court, go there. If you are unsure, check the Clerk’s public schedule or call the Clerk before you travel.
The Circuit Clerk says defendants charged with offenses that carry possible jail time can ask for one. You may also speak with a private attorney before your first appearance and decide which you prefer.
A missed date typically leads to a warrant. If something comes up, reach out to an attorney right away rather than waiting. Our guide to what to do if there is a warrant explains the next steps.
Our Frankfort office is the closest of our locations to Will County. You can meet with an attorney there before or after a court date.
Ready to Talk About Your Joliet Court Date
You will speak with an attorney, not an intake screener. Tell us what you were charged with and when your court date is, and you will get a straight read on what the charge carries and what is realistically arguable.
If we are not the right firm for your case, we will say so. Call our Frankfort office at (815) 384-0050 or reach out through our contact page before your Will County court date.
For current building details, see the Illinois Courts directory listing for the Will County Courthouse (opens in a new tab).
This page is general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice. Which courtroom hears your case, and when, depends on the charge and the agency that filed it. Speak with an attorney about your situation.
Last reviewed 11/03/2026
