Search DuPage County Marriage License

DuPage County issues marriage licenses at one office in Wheaton, the county seat. The DuPage County Clerk handles all license applications, and both people must appear in person to complete the process. An online application is available so you can fill out your information before you visit. You can look up DuPage County marriage license requirements, check the current fee, and find everything you need to plan your visit on this page. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday.

DuPage County Marriage License Application

The DuPage County Clerk's office is at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, IL 60187. County Clerk Elizabeth Chaplin runs the office. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No marriage licenses are issued after 4:00 PM, so plan to arrive with enough time to complete your paperwork. Call (630) 407-5411 if you have questions before your visit.

DuPage County offers an online application that you should fill out before going in. The DuPage County Clerk licenses page has a link to start the application. Complete it at home, then both of you go to the Wheaton office with your IDs to finish the process. This saves time at the counter. You still have to show up together. The online form does not replace the in-person visit for a DuPage County marriage license.

The screenshot below shows the DuPage County Clerk's license page where you can start the online application process.

Once you finish at the office, your marriage license is issued that day. It takes effect the next calendar day and is valid for 60 days. You can only use a DuPage County marriage license for a ceremony held inside DuPage County. If your venue is in Cook County or Will County, you need a license from that county instead.

Note: DuPage County has confirmed they cannot waive the one-day waiting period for any marriage license.

Marriage License Fees in DuPage County

The DuPage County marriage license costs $35. The office takes cash, personal checks, and credit cards. A $1 processing fee applies if you pay by credit card. That makes the total $36 with a card. Bring cash or a check if you want to keep it at $35 exactly.

This fee covers only the marriage license. Certified copies of your marriage certificate are a separate charge after the marriage is recorded. The IACCR directory lists DuPage County and all other county clerk offices across Illinois with their contact information. You can call ahead to ask about certified copy fees or any other charges related to your DuPage County marriage license.

What You Need for a DuPage County License

Both people need a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license works. So does a state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. The IDPH accepted ID page shows the full list of what qualifies. Foreign passports may also be accepted at the DuPage County Clerk's office. Bring your Social Security number and know your parents' full names, including maiden names.

The image above shows the state's accepted ID list, which applies to all DuPage County marriage license applicants.

Under 750 ILCS 5/203, both people must be at least 18 years old. No blood test is needed. There is no residency rule, so you do not have to live in DuPage County or even in Illinois to apply. If either person was divorced in the last six months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. The clerk needs to see proof that the prior marriage is fully ended before issuing a new DuPage County marriage license.

Certain marriages are not allowed under Illinois law. Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot marry if you are still in a prior undissolved marriage. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can only marry if both are over 50 years old, or if one can show a doctor's certificate of permanent sterility.

DuPage County License Waiting Period

Illinois has a one-day waiting period. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the license takes effect the calendar day after it is issued. The DuPage County Clerk's office has stated clearly that they cannot waive this wait. Some states allow courts to grant exceptions, but it rarely happens here. Plan to get your license at least two days before the ceremony.

The marriage license is good for 60 days from its effective date. Use it or lose it. After 60 days, it expires and you have to pay the $35 fee and apply all over again. Make sure you know your ceremony date before you visit the DuPage County Clerk. Also confirm that your venue is actually in DuPage County. A license from one county cannot be used in another county in Illinois.

After Your DuPage County Marriage

Your officiant handles the next step. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, whoever performs the ceremony must fill out the marriage certificate and return it to the DuPage County Clerk within 10 days. Late returns slow down everything. You will not be able to get certified copies until the completed form is on file with the clerk. Follow up with your officiant to make sure they send it back on time.

Once the marriage is recorded, the DuPage County Clerk sends a copy to the Illinois Department of Public Health. This is part of the state's central marriage index. IDPH can verify marriage facts from 1962 onward, but for a full certified copy, you go back to DuPage County. You can also request a state verification by mailing the IDPH verification form to Springfield with a $5 fee. That form confirms names, dates, and the county only.

Note: Bolingbrook sits partially in DuPage County but is primarily in Will County, so check your address to find out which county clerk handles your marriage license.

Marriage Officiants in DuPage County

Judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders can all perform weddings in DuPage County. No witnesses are needed under Illinois law. The officiant must be authorized on the date of the ceremony. After the wedding, they complete the certificate and return it to the clerk. If you are looking for a judge or justice of the peace, the DuPage County courthouse in Wheaton may be able to help connect you with options. The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) governs how the completed marriage record is stored and maintained by the county and the state.

Cities in DuPage County

These major cities are in DuPage County. Residents of each use the DuPage County Clerk's office in Wheaton for marriage licenses.

Nearby Counties

DuPage County borders several other counties. If your ceremony is in a neighboring county, you must get a marriage license from that county's clerk.