Search Fulton County Marriage License

Fulton County marriage license records are on file at the County Clerk's office in Lewistown. Both people must show up in person to fill out the form and show a valid photo ID. The clerk handles all marriage license work for the county, from new forms to certified copies of past records. Fulton County sits in west-central Illinois with a mix of small towns and rural land. You can find out what to bring, what it costs, and how the whole process works on this page. Call the clerk at (309) 547-3041 Ext 117 if you have questions before your visit.

How to Get a Fulton County Marriage License

The Fulton County Clerk's office in Lewistown is the one and only place to apply. County Clerk Patrick O'Brian and his staff handle all marriage license work. Both you and your partner must go in at the same time. You cannot send one person on behalf of both. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license once both people sign the form and pay the fee. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes when you have your documents ready. Walk-ins are the norm in Fulton County, but a quick call to (309) 547-3041 Ext 117 can save you a trip if the office is closed for a holiday or training day.

You need to bring your Social Security number, full legal name, date of birth, and place of birth. The clerk asks for each parent's full name, including the mother's maiden name. Have all of this written down or memorized before you show up. A small-county office like the one in Lewistown tends to move fast, but missing info will slow things down.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders keeps a full list of all county clerk offices in the state. That directory includes Fulton County's mailing address and phone number. It is a good backup if you need to reach the office or confirm details before your trip to Lewistown.

Fulton County Marriage License Requirements

Both people must be at least 18. Under 750 ILCS 5/208, a person who is 16 or 17 can apply with written consent from both parents. No one under 16 can get a marriage license in Fulton County or anywhere else in Illinois. You need a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. The IDPH valid ID page shows the complete list.

There is no blood test. That rule ended in 1989. There is no residency rule either. You do not have to live in Fulton County or even in Illinois to get a marriage license here. Couples from out of state apply all the time. Just bring your ID and the other information the clerk asks for, and you can walk out with a Fulton County marriage license the same day you visit.

If you were married before, the clerk will need to know how it ended. Bring the date, county, and state of the divorce or death. If your prior marriage ended within the last six months, you must have a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate with you. The Fulton County Clerk cannot move forward without that document when the split is recent.

The IDPH page below shows the full list of accepted photo IDs for marriage license applications across Illinois.

Make sure your ID is current and not expired. An expired ID will be turned away at the clerk's window.

Fulton County License Waiting Period

There is a one-day wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the marriage license takes effect the calendar day after the clerk issues it. You cannot use it on the same day you pick it up. A court can waive this in rare cases, but most couples in Fulton County should plan to get their license at least two days before the ceremony.

The license stays good for 60 days from its effective date. After that, it expires and you would have to apply and pay again. The license only works in Fulton County. You cannot take a Fulton County marriage license across the county line to Peoria County or Knox County and use it there. If your ceremony is set for a different county, apply in that county instead. Make sure you know which county your venue falls in before you spend the money and time to apply.

Marriage Ceremonies in Fulton County

After the wedding, the person who performed it must fill out the marriage certificate and send it back to the Fulton County Clerk within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders of any denomination can officiate a wedding in Fulton County. Illinois does not require witnesses by state law, though many couples have them anyway.

Fulton County does not have a population over 2,000,000, so the county clerk cannot perform ceremonies. That rule is limited to Cook County. If you need a judge or other official to marry you in Fulton County, contact the circuit court in Lewistown for help. Some religious leaders and online-ordained ministers can also officiate, as long as they meet the state rules. Make sure your officiant knows they have to return the signed form within 10 days. A late return can delay your ability to get certified copies of your Fulton County marriage license.

Note: Let your officiant know about the 10-day return deadline before the wedding day.

Fulton County Marriage License Copies

Once the officiant returns the signed marriage certificate, the Fulton County Clerk records the marriage. You can then request certified copies. These are the official documents you may need for name changes, insurance updates, or other legal matters. Call the clerk at (309) 547-3041 Ext 117 to ask about the current fee and how to request copies by mail or in person.

The IDPH marriage records page confirms that certified copies come from the county clerk, not from the state. The Illinois Department of Public Health can only verify basic facts about a marriage that took place from 1962 onward. A verification costs $5 and confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county. To request one, mail a completed Application for Verification of Marriage Record to the IDPH Division of Vital Records in Springfield with a $5 check or money order and a copy of your photo ID.

The IDPH marriage records page shown below explains how the state handles verifications for couples who were married in Fulton County or anywhere else in Illinois.

For a full certified copy of your Fulton County marriage license, you must go through the county clerk in Lewistown.

Fulton County Marriage Records and Privacy

Marriage license records are not public in Illinois. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), access to these records is limited to the people named on the form and their legal representatives. The Fulton County Clerk follows these state rules when handling requests for copies or information. You cannot walk in and look up someone else's marriage license without proper legal standing.

The clerk sends a copy of each recorded marriage to the Illinois Department of Public Health within 45 days after the close of the month. This builds the state's central index of marriages. But the full original record stays on file with Fulton County. If you need a copy of your marriage license or want to check whether a past marriage was recorded in Fulton County, the clerk's office in Lewistown is the right place to start.

Cities in Fulton County

Fulton County includes Lewistown, Canton, Cuba, Astoria, and other small towns. No city in Fulton County has a population over 50,000, so all residents go to the Fulton County Clerk's office in Lewistown for marriage licenses. The same rules, fees, and process apply no matter which town you live in.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding is outside Fulton County, you need a marriage license from the county where the ceremony will take place. Each county has its own clerk and may charge a different fee.