Greene County Marriage License

Marriage license applications in Greene County go through County Clerk Melissa Carter at the courthouse in Carrollton. Both people must show up in person to apply. Greene County is a smaller county in west-central Illinois, and the clerk's office in Carrollton handles all marriage license filings for the area. If you plan to get married in Greene County or just want to file here, this page walks through what you need, how much it costs, and what happens after the ceremony. The process is the same across Illinois, but each county clerk runs their own office with their own hours and staff.

Applying for a Greene County Marriage License

Go to the Greene County Clerk's office in Carrollton. The phone number is (217) 942-5443. Clerk Melissa Carter and her staff process all marriage license applications. Both you and your partner must be there. You cannot send one person alone. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. The IDPH valid ID page shows all accepted forms of identification.

You also need your social security number, date of birth, and current address. The clerk will ask for the full legal names of both parents. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. The Greene County Clerk issues the license once both parties sign the form and pay the fee. No blood test is needed anywhere in Illinois, and there is no residency rule. You don't have to live in Greene County or even in Illinois to apply at the Carrollton office. Couples from Missouri or other nearby states can file here without any extra steps or proof of address.

Note: Always call (217) 942-5443 first to check current hours and confirm what payment forms the Carrollton office takes.

Greene County License Waiting Period

There is a one-day wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the license takes effect the day after the clerk issues it. You cannot use it the same day. Plan your trip to Carrollton at least two days before your ceremony if you want everything lined up on time.

Once it takes effect, the license is good for 60 days. After that, it expires. You would have to go back to the Greene County Clerk and start over with a new application and a new fee. The license is only valid in Greene County. If your venue is across the line in Jersey County or Morgan County, you need a license from that county instead. Rural parts of west-central Illinois have venues near county borders, so check your ceremony location before you apply. A call to your venue can clear up which county you are in and save you from having to get a second license.

Prior Marriages and Greene County Rules

If either person was married before, the Greene County Clerk needs the details. You must tell the clerk when and where that marriage ended. Give the date, county, and state of the final divorce decree or death certificate. If the prior marriage ended less than six months ago, bring a certified copy of the decree or death record with you to the Carrollton office. The clerk will not issue a new license without it when the timeline is that short.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, some marriages are banned in Illinois. You cannot marry if you are still in an active marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can marry only if both are over 50, or if one can show a certificate of permanent sterility from a doctor. These rules apply at every county clerk office in the state, and Greene County is no different.

Marriage License Filing in Greene County

After the wedding, the officiant fills out the marriage certificate and sends it back to the Greene County Clerk within 10 days. This is not optional. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, the return deadline is 10 days for every marriage in Illinois. The Carrollton office records the marriage once the completed form arrives. Judges, retired judges, mayors, religious leaders, and village presidents can all perform the ceremony. No witnesses are needed under state law, though many couples bring them anyway.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders lists Greene County along with every other clerk office in the state. You can use the IACCR directory to find contact details and confirm the Carrollton address. The screenshot below shows the IACCR directory page where you can look up any Illinois county clerk.

For a certified copy of your Greene County marriage license, go back to Clerk Melissa Carter's office in Carrollton. The state does not hand out certified copies. Only the county where the marriage was filed can give you the full document with the official seal.

Greene County Marriage Record Verification

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify that a marriage took place in Greene County. This is not a certified copy. It confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county where it was filed. The cost is $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 along with a readable copy of your photo ID. IDPH has records from 1962 to the present.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not public. Access to certified copies is limited by law. The Greene County Clerk checks your identity before releasing any records, and only certain people can get copies. If you are not sure whether you qualify, call the Carrollton office and ask before making the trip.

Note: IDPH verification takes several weeks by mail, so plan ahead if you need proof of a Greene County marriage for legal or insurance purposes.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony will be in a neighboring county, you need a marriage license from that county instead. Here are the counties closest to Greene County.