Find Marriage License in Crawford County

Marriage license applications in Crawford County are processed at the County Clerk's office in Robinson. County Clerk Beckie Staley manages all marriage license filings for Crawford County residents and out-of-state visitors alike. Both people who plan to marry must visit the Robinson office together to complete the application. This page covers everything you need to know about getting a marriage license in Crawford County, including what documents to bring, the waiting period, how long the license is valid, who can perform the ceremony, and how to get copies of your marriage record after the wedding.

Getting a Crawford County Marriage License

Head to the Crawford County Clerk's office in Robinson. The phone number is (618) 546-1212. Clerk Beckie Staley and her staff handle all marriage license applications. Both you and your partner must show up at the same time. One person cannot fill out the form alone. You each 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 page shows the complete list of what Illinois accepts.

Bring your social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and current home address. The Crawford County Clerk also asks for both parents' full legal names. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license once both parties sign the application and the fee is paid. No blood test is needed in Illinois. There is no residency rule. Couples from Indiana or any other state can walk into the Robinson office and apply for a Crawford County marriage license without proving they live here.

Note: Call (618) 546-1212 before your visit to confirm current office hours at the Robinson courthouse.

Crawford County Marriage License Requirements

The Robinson office needs several pieces of information from each person. Here is what to have ready when you arrive:

• Valid photo ID (driver's license, passport, state ID, or military ID)
• Social security number
• Date and place of birth
• Current home address
• Both parents' full legal names
• Details of any prior marriages (date, county, and state of divorce or death)

If either person was married before and that marriage ended less than six months ago, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. The Crawford County Clerk will not issue a new marriage license without it in that situation. Having all your documents together before you walk in saves time and avoids extra trips to the Robinson office. The clerk processes everything on the spot when you have what you need.

Marriage License Timing in Crawford County

Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the license becomes valid one calendar day after it is issued. You cannot use it the same day. Plan to visit the Robinson office at least two days before your ceremony in Crawford County.

The license lasts 60 days. After that window closes, you need to apply and pay again. The license only works inside Crawford County. A license from Robinson cannot be used in Clark County, Lawrence County, Jasper County, or anywhere else outside Crawford County lines. This part of southeastern Illinois has a lot of rural venues near county borders. If your ceremony spot is close to a county line, check with your venue to make sure you know which county you are actually in. Getting the wrong county's license is a problem that is easy to avoid with one quick phone call ahead of time.

Eligibility for Crawford County Marriage License

Both people must be 18 or older. That is the rule. If one person is 16 or 17, a parent or legal guardian must come to the Robinson office and sign a consent form in person. No one under 16 can get married in Illinois.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, some marriages are prohibited. You cannot marry if you are still legally married or in a civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry each other. First cousins can marry only if both are 50 or older, or if one provides a certificate of permanent sterility from a doctor. Clerk Beckie Staley checks for these issues during the Crawford County application.

Note: Bring your divorce decree if your prior marriage ended in the last six months to avoid delays at the Robinson office.

Crawford County Marriage Certificate Return

After your wedding, the officiant must fill out the marriage certificate and return it to the Crawford County Clerk within 10 days. That deadline comes from 750 ILCS 5/209. The Robinson clerk records the marriage once the form comes back. Judges, retired judges, mayors, religious leaders, and village presidents can all perform the ceremony in Crawford County. Illinois law does not require witnesses.

You can look up the Crawford County Clerk's contact info through the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory. It lists every county clerk in the state. The screenshot below shows the IACCR directory page.

Certified copies of your Crawford County marriage license come from the Robinson office directly. The state does not issue certified copies. The IDPH marriage records page can verify marriages from 1962 on for $5, but for the full certified document you need to contact the Crawford County Clerk.

Verifying Crawford County Marriage Records

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify that a marriage happened in Crawford County. A verification shows both names, dates of birth, the marriage date, and the county. 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 and a clear 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 limited to specific people by law. The Crawford County Clerk in Robinson follows these rules and will verify your identity before giving out any records.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony takes place in a different county, you need a marriage license from that county. Here are the counties that border Crawford County.