Jo Daviess County Marriage License Records

Marriage license filings in Jo Daviess County are processed at the County Clerk's office in Galena, where Clerk Dana Timmerman handles all applications. Both partners must come to the Galena office together with proper photo identification to apply. Jo Daviess County sits at the far northwest corner of Illinois along the Wisconsin and Iowa borders, and the Galena courthouse is the only location to get your marriage license in the county. This guide explains what you need, how the process works, the wait time, and what happens after the ceremony is finished.

Getting a Jo Daviess County Marriage License

Head to the Jo Daviess County Clerk's office in Galena to start your application. The phone number is (815) 777-0161. Clerk Dana Timmerman and staff handle all marriage license work. Both you and your partner must appear in person at the same time. No one can fill out the form for someone who is not there. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license, state-issued ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. Check the IDPH valid ID page for the complete list of accepted forms of identification.

The application asks for your social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and home address. You will also provide both parents' full names and birth places. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the Jo Daviess County Clerk issues the license after both parties sign and pay the fee. No blood test is needed. Illinois has no residency rule, so couples from Wisconsin, Iowa, or any other state can come to the Galena office and apply for a Jo Daviess County marriage license without needing to prove they live in the area. Galena draws a lot of visitors for weddings and events, and out-of-town couples use this office regularly.

Note: Galena is a popular wedding town, so call ahead during peak season to confirm clerk office hours and wait times.

Prior Marriages and Jo Daviess County

Anyone with a prior marriage needs to share details at the Galena office. Give the clerk the date, county, and state where that marriage ended. If it ended within six months of your application date, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. The Jo Daviess County Clerk cannot issue a new license without that document when the end date falls in the six-month window.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, certain marriages are not legal in Illinois. You cannot marry while still in an active marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives are barred from marrying. First cousins can only marry if both are 50 or older, or one has a certificate of permanent sterility from a licensed physician. Clerk Dana Timmerman checks for these issues during the application. Get all of your paperwork together before driving out to Galena so there are no surprises at the counter.

Jo Daviess County Marriage License Wait Time

You cannot use the license right away. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, the marriage license becomes active one full calendar day after the Jo Daviess County Clerk issues it. Same-day ceremonies are not allowed unless a judge waives the wait. Visit the Galena office at least two days before you want to get married.

The license is valid for 60 days from the effective date. After 60 days, it expires and you would need to reapply and pay again. Keep in mind the license only works inside Jo Daviess County. If your wedding venue sits in Stephenson County, Carroll County, or across the border in Wisconsin or Iowa, this license will not work there. Northwest Illinois has a lot of scenic spots near county and state lines. Always confirm which county your venue is in before you apply for your Jo Daviess County marriage license. A phone call to the venue takes care of it.

Note: A court order from a Jo Daviess County judge can waive the one-day waiting period if needed for urgent reasons.

Filing After the Ceremony in Jo Daviess County

The person who performs the ceremony must complete the marriage certificate form and return it to the Jo Daviess County Clerk in Galena within 10 days. That deadline is set by 750 ILCS 5/209. Judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders can perform marriages in Jo Daviess County. Witnesses are not required under Illinois law. The Galena clerk registers the marriage once the certificate is returned.

You can find the Jo Daviess County Clerk and all other Illinois clerk offices in the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory. The screenshot below shows the IACCR directory that lists clerk contact info statewide.

For certified copies of your Jo Daviess County marriage license, go to the Galena office. The state does not issue certified copies. However, the IDPH marriage records page explains that IDPH can verify a marriage from 1962 onward for $5. The certified document itself must come from Clerk Dana Timmerman's office.

Verifying a Jo Daviess County Marriage

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify that a marriage took place in Jo Daviess County. The verification shows names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county. It costs $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.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not public documents. Access to certified copies is restricted by law. The Jo Daviess County Clerk will verify your identity before releasing records from the Galena office. If you need a certified copy for legal or personal reasons, call (815) 777-0161 first to find out what the clerk needs from you.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding will take place in a neighboring county, you need a marriage license issued from that county. Here are the counties closest to Jo Daviess County.