Find Marriage License in Macon County

Macon County marriage license applications are filed at the County Clerk's office in Decatur. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records completed certificates after the ceremony, and provides certified copies to those who qualify. Both people must appear at the office together with valid photo ID. Macon County sits in central Illinois and Decatur is the county seat as well as the largest city. This page walks you through fees, requirements, the waiting period, who can officiate your wedding, and how to get copies of your Macon County marriage license records.

Getting a Macon County Marriage License

The Macon County Clerk's office in Decatur is where you apply. Both you and your partner go together. You cannot send one person alone. The clerk will give you a marriage license application that asks for full legal names, dates of birth, places of birth, current addresses, Social Security numbers, occupations, and parents' names. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license once both people sign the form and pay the fee. The whole process takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you come prepared.

The Macon County vital records page on the county website has details on hours and fees. The screenshot below shows the county's online portal for vital records, which includes information about the marriage license process in Macon County.

Call the clerk at (217) 424-1305 if you have questions or want to confirm hours before your trip.

Macon County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must be at least 18 to apply on their own. People who are 16 or 17 can apply with written consent from both parents at the Macon County Clerk's office. No one under 16 can get a marriage license. 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 requirements page has the full list of what Illinois accepts.

No blood test is needed. Illinois dropped that rule decades ago. There is no residency requirement either. You do not have to live in Macon County or in Illinois to get a license here. Anyone can apply. The only catch is that the license works only in Macon County. If your ceremony is in Sangamon County or Shelby County, you need a license from that county instead.

Were you married before? If the divorce or spouse's death happened within the past six months, bring a certified copy of the decree or death certificate. The Macon County Clerk needs to see it. For prior marriages that ended more than six months ago, you just need the date, county, and state where it was finalized.

Note: Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot marry if a prior marriage or civil union has not been dissolved.

Macon County Waiting Period Details

The one-day waiting period applies to all marriage licenses in Illinois. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, your Macon County marriage license becomes effective the calendar day after the clerk issues it. If you pick it up on a Monday, the earliest your ceremony can happen is Tuesday. You cannot marry the same day you get the license. Courts can waive this in rare situations, but it almost never happens.

Your license is good for 60 days from the effective date. Use it or lose it. After 60 days, you apply again and pay the fee a second time. Make sure your wedding date falls within that window. Also remember that the license is only valid in Macon County. A license from Christian County or Piatt County will not work here, and a Macon County license will not work anywhere else.

Who Can Perform a Marriage in Macon County

Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges, retired judges, mayors, and village presidents can all officiate weddings in Macon County while they hold office. Religious leaders from any denomination or faith group can solemnize marriages as well. The mayor of Decatur can officiate if they are willing and available. Illinois does not require witnesses for the ceremony, though many people choose to have them.

After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the marriage certificate and sends it back to the Macon County Clerk within 10 days. This is a hard deadline set by state law. A late return causes problems. Your marriage will not be recorded on time, and you will face delays when you try to get certified copies. Make sure your officiant is aware of this rule and follows through quickly.

Certified Copies of Macon County Marriage Licenses

Once the officiant returns the completed certificate, the Macon County Clerk records the marriage. After recording, you can request certified copies. These serve as the official proof that your marriage took place. The Macon County vital records page on the county website should have current fees for certified copies. You can also call (217) 424-1305 to ask about prices and whether mail requests are accepted.

The state does not issue certified copies of marriage licenses. The IDPH marriage records page explains that the Illinois Department of Public Health can only verify the basic facts of a marriage from 1962 onward. A verification costs $5 and confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the marriage, and the county. That is all it does. For the actual certified document, you must go through the Macon County Clerk's office in Decatur.

You can also request a verification from the state by mailing a completed Application for Verification of Marriage Record to IDPH at 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Include a $5 check or money order and a clear copy of your photo ID. Do not send cash. IDPH will return the request if the ID is not readable.

Note: Vital records in Illinois are not public information under 410 ILCS 535, so access to certified copies is limited.

How Macon County Marriage Records Are Filed

The Macon County Clerk records each marriage after the officiant sends back the completed certificate. The clerk then forwards a copy to the Illinois Department of Public Health within 45 days after the close of the month. This is how IDPH builds its statewide index of marriages. But the original record stays with Macon County. That is why you always go to the county clerk for certified copies and not the state.

Decatur residents and anyone married in Macon County should keep track of where their marriage was recorded. If you need copies years later, you will need to contact the same county clerk office that handled the original filing. The IACCR directory can help you find contact details for any Illinois county clerk.

Cities in Macon County

Decatur is the largest city in Macon County and serves as the county seat. Residents of Decatur and all other communities in Macon County apply for marriage licenses at the same clerk's office.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding is outside Macon County, you need a license from that county's clerk. Each has its own fees and process.