Access Joliet Marriage License

Joliet marriage license applications are handled by the Will County Clerk's office. The main Will County office sits right in downtown Joliet at 302 N. Chicago St. As the county seat of Will County, Joliet is the most convenient place for local couples to apply. A satellite office in Plainfield also serves the area. Both spots accept walk-ins. This page covers what you need to bring, the $35 fee, where to go, and how to get certified copies of your Joliet marriage license after the ceremony.

Will County Clerk Issues Joliet Marriage Licenses

Joliet is the county seat of Will County. That means the main Will County Clerk's office is right here in the city. Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry runs the office. The address is 302 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60432. Call (815) 740-4615 for hours or to ask questions before your visit.

Both people must come in together. You cannot send one person to fill out the form and come back later with the other. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues a marriage license only when both parties appear, sign the form, and pay the fee. The license costs $35 in Will County. It is printed while you wait and takes effect the next calendar day.

The Will County Clerk marriage license page has full details on office hours, payment methods, and what forms you may need to fill out in advance. Check it before your trip to the Joliet office.

The screenshot above shows the Will County Clerk's online portal with marriage license information for Joliet and the surrounding area.

Joliet Area Marriage License Offices

Will County operates more than just the main Joliet office. A satellite location in Plainfield Township at 241 Canterbury Lane also handles marriage license applications. If you live on the west side of Joliet or closer to Plainfield, this office may save you time. The process and fee are the same at all Will County locations.

Some Joliet addresses near the western edge of the city fall close to the Kendall County line. If your ceremony venue happens to be in Kendall County rather than Will County, you need a Kendall County marriage license instead. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the license only works in the county that issued it. Double-check your venue address against county lines before you apply in Joliet.

Note: All three Will County office locations charge the same $35 fee for a marriage license.

Marriage License Requirements in Joliet

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Illinois has no residency rule for marriage licenses. You can live in Joliet, another state, or another country and still apply at the Will County Clerk in Joliet. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all work. The IDPH valid ID page shows all accepted forms statewide.

You need to give your full legal name, current address, date and place of birth, Social Security number, and occupation. Parents' full names go on the form too. If you were married before, you need the date and place where that marriage ended. Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot get a Joliet marriage license if you are still in a prior marriage or civil union that has not been dissolved.

If your divorce was within the past six months, bring a certified copy of the decree. If it was more than six months ago, just know the details. No blood test is needed. Illinois stopped requiring blood tests in 1989.

Joliet Marriage License Waiting Period

Illinois law sets a one-day waiting period. Your marriage license takes effect the calendar day after you pick it up from the Will County Clerk in Joliet. If you get it on a Wednesday, the earliest your ceremony can be is Thursday. A judge can waive this wait in rare cases, but the county clerk cannot.

The license is good for 60 days from its effective date. Plan your visit at least two days before the ceremony. If the 60 days pass and the license goes unused, it expires. You would need to reapply and pay the $35 fee again at the Joliet office.

Officiants and Filing in Joliet

Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges, retired judges, religious leaders, and mayors can perform wedding ceremonies in Illinois. No witnesses are required by state law. After the ceremony, the officiant must fill out the marriage certificate and return it to the Will County Clerk within 10 days. If you got your license in Joliet, the return goes back to the same office at 302 N. Chicago St.

Late returns can slow things down. If the officiant does not send the form back on time, there can be a gap in the record. That makes it harder to get certified copies of your Joliet marriage license. Talk to your officiant about the 10-day deadline before the wedding day. The Will County Clerk cannot record your marriage until they get the completed form back.

Will County does not offer clerk-performed ceremonies. That option is only available in Cook County, where the population exceeds 2,000,000. For a courthouse ceremony in Joliet, check with the Will County Circuit Court about judge availability.

Note: Make sure your officiant knows they must return the certificate to the Will County Clerk in Joliet, not to any other county.

Certified Copies of Joliet Marriage Licenses

Once the officiant returns the certificate and the clerk records it, you can get certified copies from the Will County Clerk's office. Will County charges $12 for the first certified copy and $4 for each one after that. You can request copies in person at the Joliet office or by mail.

The IDPH marriage records page confirms that certified copies only come from the county clerk, not from the state. IDPH can verify basic marriage facts for a $5 fee, but that is not the same as a certified copy. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) controls access to these records in Illinois. They are not public records under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act screenshot above covers the legal framework that applies to all Joliet marriage licenses issued by Will County.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Joliet have their own marriage license pages with local office details.

County Clerk Offices Serving Joliet

Joliet primarily falls in Will County. Visit the county pages below for full marriage license details.