Clark County Marriage License

Marriage license applications in Clark County go through the County Clerk's office in Marshall. Both people must show up at the clerk's office in person to fill out the form and sign it. Clark County sits in east-central Illinois near the Indiana state line, and County Clerk Laura "Laurie" Lee handles all marriage license paperwork for the area. This page walks through the full process from start to finish. You will find what to bring, how long the license lasts, what fees to expect, and how to get copies of your marriage record after the ceremony takes place.

How to Get a Clark County Marriage License

Go to the Clark County Clerk's office in Marshall. The phone number is (217) 826-8311. Clerk Laura "Laurie" Lee and her staff process all marriage license applications. Both you and your partner need to be there at the same time. One person alone cannot file. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. The IDPH valid ID page has the full list of accepted forms of identification.

You will also need your social security number, date of birth, and current address. The Clark County Clerk asks for both parents' full legal names as part of the application. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license once both people sign and the fee is paid. No blood test is needed in Illinois. There is no residency rule either. Couples from Indiana or any other state can come to the Marshall office and apply for a Clark County marriage license without showing proof that they live in Illinois.

Note: Call (217) 826-8311 to check office hours before you drive to Marshall, especially around holidays.

Clark County Marriage License Age Rules

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. That is the standard. If one or both parties are 16 or 17, parental consent is needed at the Clark County Clerk's office in Marshall. A parent or legal guardian must come to the office in person and sign the consent form in front of the clerk. No one under 16 can get a marriage license in Illinois.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, some marriages are not allowed. You cannot marry if you are still in a current marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can only marry if both are over 50, or if one has a certificate of permanent sterility from a licensed doctor. The Marshall clerk checks these details when you apply.

Marriage License Timing in Clark County

There is a one-day wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the marriage license takes effect one calendar day after the clerk issues it. Same-day use is not allowed. If you get the license on a Monday, the earliest you can use it is Tuesday. Plan your trip to the Marshall office at least two days before the ceremony date.

The license stays good for 60 days. After that, it expires. You would have to apply and pay all over again. The license is only valid inside Clark County. A license from Marshall does not work in Edgar County, Cumberland County, or Crawford County. If your venue is near a county line in this part of east-central Illinois, double-check which county it falls in. Rural wedding spots can be right on the border, and you do not want to find out too late that you need a different license from a different county clerk.

Prior Marriages and Clark County Filing

If either person was married before, bring the details. The Clark County Clerk needs to know when and where the prior marriage ended. You will need the date, county, and state of the final divorce decree or the date of death if a spouse passed away. If that prior marriage ended less than six months ago, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. The Marshall office will not issue the new license without that proof.

Have all your paperwork ready when you walk in. It saves time and extra trips.

Clark County Marriage License Records

After the wedding, the officiant must fill out the marriage certificate and return it to the Clark County Clerk within 10 days. That is the law under 750 ILCS 5/209. Judges, retired judges, mayors, religious leaders, and village presidents can all perform the ceremony in Clark County. State law does not require any witnesses.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory lists Clark County and every other clerk office in the state. You can use it to find contact details and confirm the Marshall office address. The screenshot below shows the IACCR directory where you can look up any Illinois county clerk.

Certified copies of your Clark County marriage license come from the Marshall office. The state does not hand out certified copies. The IDPH marriage records page can verify marriages from 1962 on for a $5 fee, but for the actual document you need to go to the Clark County Clerk's office.

Verifying a Clark County Marriage Record

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify that a marriage took place in Clark County. A verification confirms both names, dates of birth, date of the marriage, and the county where it happened. It costs $5. Mail a completed Application for Verification of Marriage Record to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include a check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health along with a readable copy of your photo ID.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not public information. Access to certified copies is restricted to certain people by law. The Clark County Clerk follows these same rules and will verify your identity before releasing any records from the Marshall office.

Note: IDPH verification takes several weeks to process by mail, so plan ahead if you need it for a legal matter.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony will be in a neighboring county, you need a marriage license from that county instead. Here are the counties closest to Clark County.