Find Clinton County Marriage License

Clinton County marriage license records are filed at the County Clerk's office in Carlyle, Illinois. Both people must show up in person to fill out the form and present valid photo ID. County Clerk Vicky Albers runs the office and handles all marriage license applications for Clinton County. The license costs a set fee, takes effect one day after you pick it up, and stays good for 60 days. This page covers how to apply, what to bring, the waiting period, and how to get certified copies of your Clinton County marriage license after the wedding.

Clinton County Marriage License Application

You apply for a Clinton County marriage license at the County Clerk's office in Carlyle. Both you and your partner must be there at the same time. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the county clerk issues the license once both parties sign the form and pay the fee. You cannot send one person alone or have a friend pick it up for you. The clerk needs to see both of you in the office.

Call the Clinton County Clerk at (618) 594-6620 to check on hours and payment methods before you go. Some smaller Illinois counties have limited office hours, so it helps to confirm. County Clerk Vicky Albers and her staff can walk you through the whole process once you arrive. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders also lists the Clinton County office in their statewide directory, which can be a handy backup for contact info.

The IACCR directory below shows clerk offices across all of Illinois, including the Clinton County Clerk in Carlyle.

Bring all your documents the first time. A second trip costs you time, and the clerk cannot issue the license without everything in order.

What You Need for a Clinton County License

Both people must be at least 18. If you are 16 or 17, both parents must give written consent at the clerk's office in Carlyle. No one under 16 can apply in Clinton County or anywhere in Illinois. You need a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID will work. The IDPH valid ID requirements page has the full list of accepted forms of identification.

There is no blood test. Illinois got rid of that rule in 1989. There is also no residency rule for Clinton County. You can live anywhere in the world and still get a marriage license here. On the form, you will need your full legal name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, current address, and occupation. The clerk also asks for your parents' full names, including your mother's maiden name. If you were married before, bring the date, county, and state where that marriage ended. A divorce within the past six months means you need a certified copy of the decree.

Note: Under 750 ILCS 5/212, close blood relatives cannot marry in Illinois, and first cousins may only marry if both are over 50.

Clinton County License Waiting Period

There is a one-day wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the Clinton County marriage license takes effect the calendar day after the clerk issues it. You cannot get married the same day you pick it up. Most couples come in a few days before the ceremony to be safe. A court can waive this wait, but that is very rare.

Your license expires after 60 days from its effective date. If it expires, you start the whole process over and pay the fee again. The license also only works inside Clinton County. If your ceremony is in St. Clair County or Madison County, you need a license from that county instead. Always check which county your venue sits in before you apply. This trips up more couples than you might think.

Marriage License Fees in Clinton County

Marriage license fees in Illinois vary by county. There is no single state fee. Call the Clinton County Clerk at (618) 594-6620 to get the current fee amount. Some counties charge as low as $30. Others go up to $90. Clinton County falls somewhere in that range, and the clerk's office can give you the exact number when you call.

Ask about payment methods too. Some Illinois county clerks take only cash or checks. Others accept credit cards with a small processing surcharge. Clinton County is a smaller office, so verifying what they take before your trip saves hassle. Certified copies of the recorded marriage certificate have their own separate fee. You can ask about that at the same time you call about the license fee.

Clinton County Marriage License Copies

After your wedding, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Clinton County Clerk within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this return deadline applies to every marriage in Illinois. Once the clerk records it, you can get certified copies. These are the official documents you need for name changes, insurance, and other legal tasks.

The state does not hand out certified copies. The IDPH marriage records page explains that the Illinois Department of Public Health can only verify basic facts about a marriage from 1962 to the present. A verification costs $5 and confirms names, dates of birth, event date, and the county. But for a full certified copy of your Clinton County marriage license, the clerk's office in Carlyle is the only source.

The IDPH portal shown below covers how the state handles marriage record verifications for Clinton County and all other Illinois counties.

Mail requests are also an option. Call the clerk for details on sending in a written request with the right fee and a copy of your photo ID.

Note: Vital records are not public in Illinois under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), so access is limited to certain people.

Who Can Officiate in Clinton County

Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges, retired judges, mayors, and religious leaders can all perform weddings in Clinton County. The mayor of Carlyle or any other town in the county can officiate while in office. Illinois does not require witnesses at the ceremony. Your officiant must return the signed marriage certificate to the Clinton County Clerk within 10 days after the wedding. A late return can slow down your ability to get copies later.

The Clinton County Clerk's office does not perform wedding ceremonies. That option is only available in counties with over 2,000,000 residents, which means Cook County. If you want a courthouse ceremony in Clinton County, check with the local circuit court about judges who may be willing to officiate at the courthouse in Carlyle.

Cities in Clinton County

Clinton County includes Carlyle, Breese, Germantown, Trenton, and several other small communities. No city in Clinton County has a population over 50,000, so all residents go to the Clinton County Clerk's office in Carlyle for their marriage license. The same fees, rules, and process apply no matter which town you live in.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding venue is outside Clinton County, you must get a license from that county's clerk instead. These counties border Clinton County or sit nearby.