DeKalb County Marriage License

DeKalb County marriage license applications are handled by County Clerk Tasha Sims at the office in Sycamore. Both partners must appear in person to fill out the application and present valid photo ID. DeKalb County sits in northern Illinois, west of the Chicago suburbs, and serves residents from Sycamore, DeKalb, Genoa, and surrounding communities. This page covers what you need to bring, the waiting period, who can perform your wedding ceremony, and how to get certified copies of your DeKalb County marriage license after the ceremony takes place.

How to Get a Marriage License in DeKalb County

Go to the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder office in Sycamore. Both you and your partner must be there. You cannot send just one person. The clerk will ask you to fill out an application with your full legal names, addresses, dates of birth, places of birth, Social Security numbers, occupations, and parents' names. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the marriage license after both parties sign the form and pay the fee. County Clerk Tasha Sims oversees the process.

The DeKalb County website was not loading when we last checked. Call the clerk's office at (815) 895-7149 to verify current fees, hours, and accepted payment methods. Some county offices in Illinois take only cash or checks, while others accept credit cards. The IACCR directory lists DeKalb County contact information as well. Always confirm details by phone before making the drive to Sycamore.

There is no residency requirement. Anyone from any state or country can apply for a DeKalb County marriage license. You just need to hold your ceremony within the county since the license is only valid in the county that issued it.

DeKalb County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18 years old. If either person is 16 or 17, both parents must provide written consent at the DeKalb County Clerk's office. No one under 16 can apply for a marriage license anywhere in Illinois. You need a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The IDPH valid ID requirements page has the complete list.

Blood tests are not needed. That has not been a rule in Illinois since 1989. You will need to share your Social Security number, and you should know your parents' full legal names and places of birth. If you were previously married, the clerk needs to know when and where that marriage ended. A divorce within the past six months requires a certified copy of the decree or death certificate at the time you apply for your DeKalb County marriage license.

Note: Under 750 ILCS 5/212, a marriage license cannot be issued if either party is still in a prior undissolved marriage or civil union.

DeKalb County Waiting Period and Expiration

Illinois requires a one-day wait after the clerk issues your marriage license. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the license takes effect the calendar day after issuance. You cannot get married the same day you pick up the license in DeKalb County. If you get the license on a Wednesday, the earliest ceremony date is Thursday. Plan to pick it up at least two days before your wedding.

The marriage license stays valid for 60 days from the effective date. After those 60 days pass, it expires. You would need to go back to the clerk, fill out a new application, and pay the fee all over again. The license also works only in DeKalb County. If your venue is in Kane County, Boone County, or any other place, you need a license from that specific county.

Who Can Officiate Weddings in DeKalb County

Several types of people can legally perform a wedding ceremony in DeKalb County. Judges of a court of record and retired judges can officiate. So can the mayor of Sycamore, DeKalb, Genoa, or any other city or village in the county, as long as they are in office on the date of the ceremony. Religious leaders of any denomination are also authorized. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, no witnesses are required by state law.

The officiant must complete the marriage certificate after the ceremony and return it to the DeKalb County Clerk within 10 days. This 10-day deadline is not flexible. Late returns delay the recording of your marriage and make it harder to get certified copies down the road. Talk to your officiant about this well before the wedding day so there are no surprises.

Certified Marriage License Copies in DeKalb County

After the officiant returns the completed certificate, the DeKalb County Clerk records the marriage and you can request certified copies. Certified copies are the official legal proof that your marriage happened. You use them for name changes, insurance, and many other purposes. Call (815) 895-7149 to ask about fees for certified copies and whether you can order them by mail or need to visit the Sycamore office in person.

The Illinois Department of Public Health does not provide certified copies. The IDPH marriage records page explains that the state can only verify marriage facts from 1962 to the present. A verification costs $5 and confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the marriage, and the county where it took place. For the actual certified document, you must contact the DeKalb County Clerk.

The screenshot below shows the IDPH marriage records portal, which explains the difference between a state verification and a county-issued certified copy.

To get a state-level verification, mail a completed verification form to IDPH in Springfield with a $5 check or money order and a copy of your photo ID.

Marriage Records Privacy in DeKalb County

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage license records are not public information in Illinois. The DeKalb County Clerk can only release certified copies to people authorized by law. This usually means the individuals named on the record, their legal representatives, or certain government agencies. The screenshot below shows the Vital Records Code that governs how these records are stored and accessed across Illinois.

The clerk also sends a copy of each recorded marriage to IDPH within 45 days after the close of the month. This helps the state maintain its central index. But the original marriage license record stays with DeKalb County permanently.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County includes the cities of DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa, Sandwich, and several smaller towns. No city in the county has a population over 50,000, so all residents apply for their marriage license at the DeKalb County Clerk's office in Sycamore. The same process and fees apply to everyone in the county.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding is outside DeKalb County, you need a license from the county where the ceremony will take place. These counties border or sit near DeKalb County.