Find Hancock County Marriage License

Marriage license records in Hancock County are managed by County Clerk Holly Wilde-Tillman at the courthouse in Carthage. Both people must come to the clerk's office together and present valid photo identification. Hancock County is in western Illinois along the Mississippi River, and Carthage is the only place to apply for a marriage license in the county. Whether you are a local or visiting from out of state, the process starts and ends at the clerk's office. This page covers what you need, what it costs, and how to get your Hancock County marriage license.

How to Get a Hancock County Marriage License

Visit the Hancock County Clerk's office in Carthage. The phone number is (217) 357-3911. Clerk Holly Wilde-Tillman runs the office and handles marriage license applications. Both people must appear together. You cannot send just one person or have someone else fill out the form for you.

Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID all work. The IDPH valid ID requirements page has the full list. You also need your Social Security number, date and place of birth, current address, and the full legal names of both of your parents. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license once both people have signed the application and paid the fee. There is no blood test. No residency rule. Anyone from any state or country can apply for a Hancock County marriage license.

Were you married before? The clerk needs to know when and where that marriage ended. If the divorce or death happened within six months of your visit, bring a certified copy of the decree or death certificate. The Hancock County clerk will ask for this before your license is issued.

Marriage License Eligibility in Hancock County

You must be 18 to apply on your own. If you are 16 or 17, both parents must come to the Carthage office and sign a consent form in person. No one under age 16 can get a marriage license in Hancock County or anywhere else in Illinois. This age rule is set by state law and applies the same way in all 102 counties.

Certain marriages are off limits under 750 ILCS 5/212. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can only marry if both are over 50 years old, or if one has a doctor's certificate of permanent sterility. If you are still in a prior marriage or civil union, the Hancock County clerk cannot give you a new license until that prior matter is resolved. These rules are checked during the application process at the Carthage office.

Hancock County Marriage License Waiting Period

The wait is one day. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the Hancock County marriage license kicks in the calendar day after you get it from the clerk. Same-day use is not allowed. If your ceremony is on a Saturday, plan to pick up the license by Thursday at the latest to give yourself time.

The license stays good for 60 days from that effective date. After 60 days it expires, and you have to go back to Carthage and start over. The license also only works inside Hancock County. If your venue is in Adams County or McDonough County, you need a license from that county instead. This trips up couples who live in one county but have their ceremony in another. Before you apply, make sure you know which county your wedding location falls in. The Hancock County Clerk can help you check if you are not sure.

Hancock County Marriage License Information

The Illinois Department of Public Health provides ID guidance that applies to all marriage license applications statewide, including in Hancock County. The screenshot below shows the IDPH valid ID requirements page that lists every form of identification accepted when you apply.

Check this list before your trip to Carthage. If you show up without the right ID, the clerk cannot process your Hancock County marriage license that day. A quick look at the IDPH page or a call to (217) 357-3911 can save you a wasted visit.

Who Can Perform Marriages in Hancock County

Illinois law allows a range of people to officiate. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders of any denomination can solemnize a marriage in Hancock County. The state does not require witnesses at the ceremony.

After the wedding, the officiant must complete the marriage certificate form and return it to the Hancock County Clerk within 10 days. This deadline is set by state law. Late returns create delays when you try to get certified copies later. Your officiant needs to know about this 10-day rule well before the ceremony in Hancock County. Some people pick an officiant who lives far away, and the mailing time can cut into that 10-day window if they are not careful.

Note: The Hancock County Clerk in Carthage is not authorized to perform ceremonies.

Certified Copies of Hancock County Marriage Records

Once your marriage is on file, the Hancock County Clerk's office in Carthage is where you get certified copies. These documents are what you need for name changes, updating bank accounts, insurance, and other legal steps. The IDPH marriage records page makes clear that certified copies come from the county clerk, not from the state.

The state can only verify facts about a marriage. A verification from IDPH costs $5 and covers marriages from 1962 to the present. It confirms names, dates of birth, date of the event, and the county where the marriage took place. To request one, mail a completed verification form to the IDPH Division of Vital Records in Springfield with a check or money order and a copy of your photo ID. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records are not public in Illinois. The Hancock County Clerk will ask for ID before releasing any certified copy.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding will be in a neighboring county, you need a license from that county. These are the closest counties to Hancock County.