Illinois Marriage License Records
Illinois marriage license records are kept by the county clerk in each of the state's 102 counties. You need a marriage license before you can legally marry in Illinois, and both people must go to the clerk's office in person to apply. The license works only in the county that issued it. It takes effect one day after you get it and stays good for 60 days. There is no residency rule in Illinois, so anyone can apply for a marriage license here. Fees range from $30 to $90 depending on which county you visit. You can search for marriage license records, check requirements, and find your local county clerk office on this page.
Illinois Marriage License Quick Facts
How to Get an Illinois Marriage License
The process starts at your local county clerk's office. Both you and your partner must show up together. You fill out a marriage license application, show valid photo ID, and pay the fee. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the county clerk issues the license once both parties sign the form and the fee is paid. You can't send just one person. Both names go on the form, and both people must be there in Illinois.
Many Illinois counties now let you fill out the application online before your visit. Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Peoria County, Sangamon County, and others all have online systems. This cuts down time at the office. But you still have to go in person together to show your IDs and pick up the marriage license. The IDPH marriage records page notes that certified copies of marriage records are only available from the county clerk in the county where the marriage took place.
The Illinois Department of Public Health does not keep marriage license records itself. Their Division of Vital Records can verify the facts of a marriage that took place from 1962 to the present. A verification costs $5 and confirms names, dates of birth, date of the event, and the county. You can request one by mail, fax, or in person at the IDPH office in Springfield.
Illinois Marriage License Requirements
Both people must be at least 18 years old. Under 750 ILCS 5/208, a person who is 16 or 17 can get a marriage license with consent from both parents. No one under 16 can apply in Illinois. You must bring proof of age to the county clerk's office when you apply for your marriage license.
You need a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID card. Some Illinois counties also accept a foreign passport. The IDPH valid ID requirements page has the full list of what works.
Blood tests have not been needed in Illinois since September 11, 1989. You must give your full name, address, date and place of birth, social security number, and occupation. If you were married before, you need the date, county, and state where that marriage ended. If it ended within the last six months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate to your marriage license appointment in Illinois.
Under 750 ILCS 5/212, certain marriages are not allowed in Illinois. You cannot marry if you are still in a prior marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can marry only if both are over 50 years of age, or if one provides a physician's certificate of permanent sterility.
Waiting Period and Marriage License Validity
Illinois has a one-day waiting period for marriage licenses. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the license takes effect the calendar day after it is issued. A court can waive this wait in special cases, but that is rare. Most people cannot get married the same day they pick up the license. Plan ahead and get your marriage license at least two days before your ceremony date in Illinois.
The marriage license is good for 60 days from its effective date. After that it expires, and you have to apply and pay again. The license works only in the county that issued it. A marriage license from Cook County cannot be used in DuPage County or any other place. Make sure you know which county your ceremony venue is in before you apply. This is one of the most common mistakes couples make in Illinois.
After the ceremony, the person who performed the wedding must fill out the marriage certificate form and send it back to the county clerk within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this return deadline applies to all marriages in Illinois. A late return can cause problems when you need to get certified copies of your marriage license later on.
Note: The DuPage County Clerk's office has confirmed they cannot waive the one-day waiting period for a marriage license.
Marriage License Fees in Illinois
Marriage license fees vary from county to county across Illinois. There is no single state fee. Cook County charges $60 for a marriage license. DuPage County, Lake County, and Will County each charge $35. Kane County charges $32 and takes cash only. Peoria County and Sangamon County each charge $75. Tazewell County has the highest fee at $90, but that price includes one certified copy of the marriage license mailed to you after the officiant returns it.
Check with your county clerk before you go. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders keeps a full directory of all county clerk offices with phone numbers and locations. Some offices take credit cards. Many only accept cash or checks. A few counties add a small processing fee for card payments on your marriage license. Kane County, for example, is strict about cash only.
Certified copies of the marriage certificate have their own separate fees in Illinois. Kane County charges $16 for the first copy and $6 for each additional one. Will County charges $12 for the first and $4 for extras. Lake County charges $10 for the first certified copy and $4 for each one after. Madison County charges $20 for the first copy of a marriage license and $8 for more.
Note: Fees can change at any time, so call the county clerk's office to confirm before your visit.
Who Can Perform a Marriage in Illinois
Illinois law allows a wide range of people to perform wedding ceremonies. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, a judge of a court of record, a retired judge, a Judge of the Court of Claims, or a mayor or village president who is in office on the date of the ceremony can all officiate. Religious leaders from any denomination, Indian Nation, or Native Group may also solemnize a marriage in Illinois. No witnesses are required by state law.
In Cook County, the county clerk can also perform marriage ceremonies. This special rule applies to counties with 2,000,000 or more people. Several Illinois counties offer courthouse ceremonies performed by a judge for a small fee. Kane County holds ceremonies at the Judicial Center in St. Charles and at the courthouse in Geneva. Madison County offers Friday afternoon ceremonies for $10 at the courthouse in Edwardsville. Peoria County even offers Zoom ceremonies for couples with a valid marriage license.
Certified Copies and Marriage Verification
After your marriage is recorded in Illinois, you can get certified copies from the county clerk's office where you were married. The county clerk registers the marriage and, under 750 ILCS 5/210, sends a return to the Department of Public Health within 45 days after the close of the month. This is how the state keeps its central index of marriages. But the actual certified copies of a marriage license come from the county, not the state.
The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify marriage facts but does not hand out certified copies. A verification confirms basic details: names, dates of birth, date of the event, and the city or county. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) governs how these records are stored and who can see them. Sangamon County's clerk office notes that vital records are not public information in Illinois and are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Access is limited to certain people under the law.
To request a marriage verification from the state, mail a completed Application for Verification of Marriage Record to the IDPH Division of Vital Records at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include a $5 check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health. A valid photo ID must be included. Do not send cash. If the ID is not readable or is expired, IDPH will return the request without processing it.
Note: Contact the county clerk directly for certified copies of the full marriage license, not the state health department.
Historical Marriage Records in Illinois
The Illinois Secretary of State maintains a Statewide Marriage Index covering marriage records from 1763 to 1900. This free database is useful for genealogy work and older marriage license searches in Illinois. It covers records from across the state during that time span.
For marriages after 1900, you need to contact the county clerk in the county where the marriage took place. Each of the 102 county clerks in Illinois keeps their own records. The IACCR directory lists all 120 county clerks and recorders across the state, since some counties have separate offices for clerk and recorder duties. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Illinois since June 1, 2014. Cook County began issuing same-sex marriage licenses on February 21, 2014, ahead of the rest of the state. Marriage equality now applies to all 102 counties.
Browse Illinois Marriage License Records by County
Each county in Illinois has its own county clerk who handles marriage license applications and keeps marriage records. Pick a county below to find local fees, requirements, and contact info.
Marriage License in Major Illinois Cities
Residents of major Illinois cities get their marriage license from the county clerk in the county where the ceremony will take place. Pick a city below to learn about local marriage license resources.