DeWitt County Marriage License

Getting a marriage license in DeWitt County starts at the County Clerk's office in Clinton, where Clerk Kari Harris handles all marriage license applications for the county. Both people who plan to marry must show up at the same time with valid photo ID and fill out the forms in person. DeWitt County sits in the heart of central Illinois, and the Clinton office is the only place in the county to get your marriage license. This page walks through every step of the process, from what you need to bring along to how long the license stays good and where to file the certificate after the wedding.

How to Get a DeWitt County Marriage License

The DeWitt County Clerk's office in Clinton is where you go to apply. Call (217) 935-7780 if you need to check hours first. Clerk Kari Harris runs the office and her staff will walk you through the forms. Both people must be there. You cannot send one person to fill out the form for both of you. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport. The IDPH valid ID page lists every form of ID the state will take.

You will need your social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and home address. The clerk will also ask for both parents' full legal names and their places of birth. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the DeWitt County Clerk issues the license once both people have signed the form and paid the fee. No blood test is needed in Illinois. There is no residency rule either, which means out-of-state couples can come to the Clinton office and apply for a DeWitt County marriage license without proving they live here.

Note: Bring your social security card if you do not have the number memorized to save time at the clerk's window.

DeWitt County Marriage License and Prior Marriages

If you or your partner had a prior marriage, tell the clerk when and where it ended. The Clinton office needs the date, county, and state of the final divorce decree or death record. If the prior marriage ended in the last six months, you should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate with you. The DeWitt County Clerk will not hand you a new marriage license if that document is missing and the timeline is within the six-month window.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, some marriages are not allowed in Illinois. You cannot get a marriage license if you are still in a current marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can marry only if both are 50 or older, or one party has a certificate of permanent sterility from a licensed doctor. The DeWitt County Clerk checks for these things during the process, so have all your paperwork lined up before you walk in.

Marriage License Timing in DeWitt County

There is a one-day wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the marriage license takes effect the calendar day after the DeWitt County Clerk issues it. You cannot use it the same day. Plan your visit to the Clinton office at least two days before you want to get married.

The license is good for 60 days. After that, it expires and you have to start over, pay the fee again, and fill out new forms. The license only works in DeWitt County. If your ceremony spot is in Macon County, McLean County, or any other county, you need a license from that county instead. Central Illinois has a lot of rural event spaces that sit close to county lines, so double-check which county your venue falls in before you apply for a DeWitt County marriage license. A quick call to your venue can clear this up fast.

Note: A judge can waive the one-day wait in special cases, but you need a court order from a DeWitt County judge for that.

DeWitt County Marriage License Filing

Once the wedding is done, the person who performed the ceremony must fill out the marriage certificate and send it back to the DeWitt County Clerk within 10 days. This rule comes from 750 ILCS 5/209 and applies to every marriage in the state. Judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders can all perform the ceremony in DeWitt County. No witnesses are needed under Illinois law. The Clinton clerk records the marriage once the completed certificate comes back to the office.

You can look up the DeWitt County Clerk and other clerk offices across the state through the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory. The screenshot below shows that directory where you can find contact info for any Illinois county clerk office.

Certified copies of your DeWitt County marriage license come from the Clinton office, not from the state. The IDPH marriage records page explains that the state can verify a marriage took place from 1962 onward for a $5 fee, but for the actual certified document you need to go to the DeWitt County Clerk.

Marriage Record Verification for DeWitt County

IDPH can verify that a marriage took place in DeWitt County. The verification shows names, dates of birth, the date of the event, 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 readable photo ID.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not public. Access to certified copies is limited to certain people by law. The DeWitt County Clerk follows these rules and will check your ID before handing over any records. If you need a certified copy of a DeWitt County marriage license for legal purposes, it is best to call the Clinton office at (217) 935-7780 and ask what they need from you before making the trip.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding venue is in a neighboring county, you will need a marriage license from that county instead. Here are the counties closest to DeWitt County.