Jackson County Marriage License

Marriage license records in Jackson County are managed by the County Clerk's office in Murphysboro. Couples who plan to marry within Jackson County must go to the Murphysboro courthouse together to apply for a license. Both people present valid photo ID, fill out the form, and pay the fee on the spot. Jackson County is in southern Illinois and includes Carbondale, home to Southern Illinois University. The clerk's office in Murphysboro is the only place in the county to apply for a new marriage license or request copies of past records.

Getting a Marriage License in Jackson County

Go to the Jackson County Clerk's office in Murphysboro. The phone number is (618) 687-7360. Both people must appear together. You cannot send one person by themselves. Bring a valid photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. The IDPH valid ID requirements page has the full list.

The clerk needs your social security number, date and place of birth, current address, and your parents' full names. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the county clerk issues the marriage license after both parties sign the form and pay the fee. There is no blood test requirement. There is no residency rule at all. Students at SIU Carbondale, visitors from Missouri, or anyone from out of state can apply for a Jackson County marriage license at the Murphysboro office. The process usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes once you sit down with the clerk. They print the license on the spot.

Jackson County License Eligibility

Both people must be 18 or older to apply without help. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, applicants who are 16 or 17 need both parents at the Murphysboro office to sign a consent form. No one under 16 can get a marriage license in Illinois.

Previous marriages create extra steps. If either person was married before, you need the date, county, and state of the divorce or death that ended that marriage. A divorce finalized in the past six months means you must bring a certified copy of the decree. Without that paper, the Jackson County Clerk will not issue the license. For older divorces, having the basic facts is enough. Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot apply for a marriage license in Jackson County or anywhere in Illinois if a prior marriage or civil union is still active. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins face strict limits too.

Note: Blood tests have not been required in Illinois since 1989.

Marriage License Timing in Jackson County

Under 750 ILCS 5/207, there is a one-day waiting period on all Illinois marriage licenses. Your Jackson County license takes effect the day after the clerk issues it. You cannot use it the same day. Plan to pick up the license at least two days before your ceremony. Courts can waive the wait in special cases, but that almost never happens in practice.

The license is good for 60 days from its effective date. After 60 days it expires. You must then go back to Murphysboro, fill out a new form, and pay again. Keep in mind that the license only works inside Jackson County. A license from Murphysboro is not valid in Williamson County, Union County, or anywhere else. Southern Illinois has many outdoor wedding venues, and some of them sit right near county lines. Shawnee National Forest stretches across several counties in this area. Check with your venue about which county they are in before you visit the clerk. It saves time and money to get it right the first time around.

Jackson County Marriage License Filing

After the wedding, the officiant completes the marriage certificate section and returns it to the Jackson County Clerk within 10 days. This 10-day rule comes from 750 ILCS 5/209 and applies to every county in the state. Judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders from any denomination can officiate weddings in Jackson County. State law does not require witnesses.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders lists the Jackson County Clerk and all other clerk offices in the state. The screenshot below shows the IACCR directory where you can look up phone numbers and addresses for any Illinois county clerk.

Tell your officiant to send the completed form back to the Murphysboro office promptly. Late returns cause problems when you try to get certified copies of your Jackson County marriage license later on.

Certified Copies of Jackson County Marriage Records

Once the marriage is on file, the Jackson County Clerk in Murphysboro issues certified copies. These are the official documents you need for name changes, insurance, and legal matters. The IDPH marriage records page states that certified copies come from the county clerk in the county where the marriage took place. For Jackson County, that means the Murphysboro office.

The state can verify but not certify. IDPH verifies marriages from 1962 on for $5. Mail a completed verification form to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737 with a check or money order and a readable photo ID. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not public information. The Jackson County Clerk will verify your identity before releasing any certified copy. Call (618) 687-7360 to ask about copy fees and how long mail requests take to process.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony takes place outside Jackson County, you need a license from that county's clerk office. These counties neighbor Jackson County in southern Illinois.