Search Clay County Marriage License

Marriage license records in Clay County are managed by the County Clerk's office in Louisville, Illinois. If you want to apply for a marriage license in Clay County, both people must go to the clerk's office together. County Clerk Amy Britton oversees all marriage license applications and record-keeping for the area. This page explains every step of the process. You will learn what forms of ID to bring, how long the waiting period is, what the license costs, and where to get certified copies of your marriage record once the ceremony is done.

Applying for a Clay County Marriage License

Visit the Clay County Clerk's office in Louisville to apply. Call (618) 665-3626 to check hours. Clerk Amy Britton and her staff will walk you through the form. Both applicants must appear in person. You cannot send one person alone or mail in the application. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license works. So does a state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. Check the IDPH valid ID page for the full list.

The clerk will ask for your social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and home address. You also need both parents' full legal names. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the Clay County Clerk issues the license after both parties sign and pay the fee. Illinois does not require a blood test. There is no residency requirement either, so couples from Indiana, nearby counties, or anywhere else in the country can apply at the Louisville office.

Clay County License Waiting Period

Illinois has a one-day waiting period. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, your Clay County marriage license becomes valid one calendar day after the clerk issues it. You cannot use it the same day you get it. So if you pick up the license on a Friday, the first day you can use it is Saturday.

The license expires after 60 days. Once expired, you have to start over and pay again. Keep in mind that the license is only good in Clay County. It will not work in Richland County, Wayne County, or Marion County. If your venue is close to a county line in southern Illinois, make sure you know which county the property sits in. The wrong license from the wrong county means you would need to go back and get a new one from the right place. A quick call to your venue can clear that up fast.

Note: Set a reminder for the 60-day deadline so you do not let the license expire before your ceremony.

Prior Marriage Rules for Clay County

If you or your partner were married before, the Clay County Clerk needs to know. Tell the clerk when and where the prior marriage ended. You need the date, county, and state of the final divorce decree. If your spouse passed away, bring the date of death instead. When the prior marriage ended less than six months ago, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate to the Louisville office. The clerk will not issue a new marriage license without that proof if the timeline falls within that six-month window.

Have your documents ready before you go. Fewer trips saves time.

Marriage License Eligibility in Clay County

Both people must be 18 or older. Ages 16 and 17 need parental consent. A parent or legal guardian must show up at the Louisville office and sign the consent form in person before the clerk. Nobody under 16 can get a license.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, certain marriages are prohibited in Illinois. You cannot marry if you are still legally married or in a civil union. Close blood relatives are not allowed to marry each other. First cousins can marry only if both are over 50 years old, or if one person provides a certificate of permanent sterility from a licensed doctor. Clerk Amy Britton checks for these issues during the Clay County application process, and it helps to come prepared with all your information so the process goes smoothly at the Louisville office.

Clay County Marriage Certificate Filing

After the ceremony, your officiant must complete the marriage certificate and return it to the Clay County Clerk within 10 days. That is required by 750 ILCS 5/209. The Louisville clerk records the marriage once the form is returned. Judges, retired judges, mayors, religious leaders, and village presidents can all officiate in Clay County. Illinois law does not require witnesses at the ceremony.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory lists Clay County along with every other clerk office in the state. You can use it to confirm the address and phone number for the Louisville office. Below is a screenshot of the IACCR directory.

Certified copies of your Clay County marriage license come from the Louisville office. The state does not issue certified copies. The IDPH marriage records page can verify marriages from 1962 forward for a $5 fee, but for the actual certified document you must go through the Clay County Clerk.

Verifying Clay County Marriage Records

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can confirm that a marriage took place in Clay County. A verification shows both names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county. The cost is $5. Mail a completed Application for Verification of Marriage Record to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Send a check or money order payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health along with a legible copy of your photo ID.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not public. Only certain people can access certified copies. The Clay County Clerk in Louisville follows these same restrictions and will check your identity before releasing records.

Note: If you need a verification for a legal deadline, allow several weeks for IDPH to process your request by mail.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding venue falls in a different county, you will need a license from that county's clerk. These are the counties next to Clay County.