Coles County Marriage License Records

Coles County marriage license records are filed with the County Clerk's office in Charleston. Clerk Julie Coe oversees the process. Both people must visit the office together to fill out the application and present valid photo ID. There is no mail-in option and no online application for marriage licenses in Coles County. The county has about 46,800 residents and sits in east-central Illinois. This page covers what you need to bring, how much the license costs, and what happens after your ceremony in Coles County.

Getting a Marriage License in Coles County

Head to the Coles County Clerk's office in the courthouse at Charleston. Both of you must go. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID all work. The IDPH valid ID page has the full list. You will also need your Social Security number, date of birth, place of birth, and your parents' full names. The clerk asks for your mother's maiden name as part of the form.

Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the county clerk issues the license after both parties complete and sign the form and pay the fee. Clerk Julie Coe's staff can answer questions at (217) 348-0501. The process is done in a single visit. You walk in, fill out the form, show ID, pay, and walk out with your Coles County marriage license. No blood test is needed. Illinois dropped that in 1989.

Coles County Marriage License Requirements

You must be 18 to apply on your own. A person who is 16 or 17 needs consent from both parents under 750 ILCS 5/208. Nobody under 16 can marry in Illinois. The Coles County Clerk checks IDs at the time of the visit. There is no residency requirement, so people from other counties or out of state can apply here.

If either person was married before, the clerk needs details about how and when that marriage ended. Give the date, county, and state of the divorce or death. The tricky part is this: if the previous marriage ended less than six months ago, you have to bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. Without it the clerk will send you home. This trips up more couples than you might think, so get your paperwork sorted before your trip to the Coles County courthouse in Charleston.

State law also bars certain marriages. Under 750 ILCS 5/212, 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, or one has a doctor's note about permanent sterility.

Note: Call (217) 348-0501 ahead of time if you are not sure what documents to bring to your Coles County appointment.

Marriage License Fees in Coles County

Each county in Illinois sets its own marriage license fee. To get the exact cost for Coles County, call the clerk's office at (217) 348-0501. Statewide, fees fall between $30 and $90. Payment rules also vary. Some county clerks take cash only. Others accept checks, debit cards, or credit cards. Ask when you call so you bring the right form of payment.

Certified copies of the recorded marriage certificate have a separate fee. You can order copies from the Coles County Clerk in person or by mail after the officiant returns the signed license. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders lists every county clerk office in the state with contact info and mailing addresses. Use it to look up the Coles County Clerk if you need to send a written request for copies.

Coles County License Waiting Period

There is a one-day wait. The license takes effect the calendar day after it is issued. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, you cannot use your Coles County marriage license on the same day you get it. Plan to pick it up at least one day before your ceremony. Two days ahead is safer if your schedule is tight.

The license lasts 60 days. After that, it expires. You would need to go back to Charleston, fill out a new form, and pay all over again. The license works only in Coles County. If your venue is across the county line in Edgar County or Douglas County, you need a license from that county instead. This is important. Check the county boundaries before you drive to the clerk's office. Your venue's address determines which county clerk you visit.

After the wedding, the person who performed the ceremony returns the signed marriage certificate to the Coles County Clerk within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this deadline is the same across Illinois. A late return means you wait longer for your certified copies.

Coles County Marriage License Copies

The Coles County Clerk records your marriage after the officiant sends back the signed form. Then you can order certified copies. Contact the clerk's office in Charleston to get pricing and find out how to request them by mail. The state does not issue certified copies of marriage licenses. The IDPH marriage records page explains that certified copies come from the county clerk in the county where the marriage took place. The screenshot below shows the IDPH's marriage records information.

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify a marriage from 1962 onward. A verification costs $5 and confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county. It is not a certified copy. You can mail the Application for Verification of Marriage Record to the IDPH in Springfield if that is all you need.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), vital records are not public in Illinois. Access is limited by law. For the full certified copy of your Coles County marriage license, the clerk's office in Charleston is the only source.

Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Coles County

Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges, retired judges, religious leaders, and mayors or village presidents can all perform marriages in Illinois. No witnesses are needed by state law. Same-sex marriage has been legal since June 1, 2014. Coles County issues marriage licenses to all qualifying couples regardless of gender.

The county's population of about 46,800 includes residents of Charleston, Mattoon, and several smaller towns. All of them use the same Coles County Clerk's office for marriage licenses. The screenshot below shows the state's valid ID requirements that apply at the clerk's office when you apply.

Remind your officiant about the 10-day return deadline after the ceremony.

Note: If your officiant is from out of state, they can still perform the ceremony in Coles County as long as they are authorized under Illinois law.

Nearby Counties

If your venue is outside Coles County, apply for your marriage license in the county where the ceremony will take place.