Madison County Marriage License Search

Marriage license records in Madison County are handled by County Clerk Linda Andreas and her staff in Edwardsville. Both people who plan to marry must visit the clerk's office together to fill out the application and show proof of age. Madison County also offers Friday afternoon courthouse ceremonies for couples who want a simple wedding right at the courthouse. The fee for a marriage license is $35 cash. You can search for existing marriage records or learn how to start a new application by calling the clerk at (618) 692-6290. This page covers everything you need to know about marriage licenses in Madison County.

How to Get a Madison County License

Both people must appear at the Madison County Clerk's office in Edwardsville. The mailing address is PO Box 218, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Call (618) 692-6290 if you need directions or want to confirm hours. You cannot apply by mail or online. Illinois law requires both people to show up in person at the same time.

Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the county clerk issues the license after both people sign the form and pay. Madison County charges $35 for a marriage license. Cash is the only accepted payment. The office does not take checks. This is important to know before you drive to Edwardsville. Bring $35 in cash and have your ID ready. The visit usually takes 20 to 30 minutes once you are at the counter. Staff will ask for your full names, dates of birth, addresses, social security numbers, and occupation. If you were married before, provide the details about how and when that marriage ended.

Note: Checks are not accepted for the marriage license fee in Madison County, so bring cash.

Madison County Marriage License Requirements

Anyone 18 or older can apply for a marriage license in Madison County without needing anyone else's approval. If you are 16 or 17, both parents must come to the office and sign a consent form in person. No one under 16 can apply anywhere in Illinois. This age rule comes from 750 ILCS 5/208, which sets the age limits for marriage in the state.

For proof of age, bring a valid driver's license or state ID card. These are the most common forms of ID people use at the Madison County office. Under 18? You also need a certified birth record. The IDPH valid ID requirements page lists every form of ID the state accepts. U.S. passports and military IDs work too. Foreign passports are generally accepted. Call (618) 692-6290 if you have an unusual situation with your ID. The clerk's staff can tell you what they will and will not accept before you make the trip.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot get a marriage license if you are still in a prior marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins can marry only if both are over 50, or if one has a physician's certificate of permanent sterility. The clerk will check for these things during your visit.

Waiting Period and License Validity

Your Madison County marriage license takes effect one day after it is issued. This is the statewide waiting period set by 750 ILCS 5/207. You cannot get married the same day you pick up the license. Come to the clerk's office at least two days before your planned ceremony date.

The license is good for 60 days. After that, it goes void and you have to apply all over again with a new $35 cash payment. The license is only valid in Madison County. You must hold your ceremony somewhere within Madison County lines. This is especially important for out-of-state residents. If you come from Missouri or another state and plan to marry in Madison County, the ceremony must happen here within 60 days. Madison County advises out-of-state residents to consult an attorney if they have questions about how the license will be recognized back home.

Madison County Clerk Marriage Page

The image below shows the Madison County Clerk's marriage license page with current details about fees and how to apply.

Visit the page for the latest office hours and any changes to the process. You can also call (618) 692-6290 directly. Staff are available during business hours to answer questions about your Madison County marriage license application.

Courthouse Ceremonies in Madison County

Madison County offers courthouse marriage ceremonies on Friday afternoons. A judge performs the ceremony at the courthouse in Edwardsville. The fee is $10 cash, which you pay at the Circuit Clerk's Office. This is separate from the $35 marriage license fee. The Madison County courthouse ceremonies page has more information about scheduling.

A courthouse ceremony is a simple option for couples who want to keep things small. You do not need a lot of guests or a big plan. Show up with your valid marriage license on a Friday afternoon, pay the $10 judge's fee in cash, and the ceremony takes just a few minutes. Some couples bring a witness or two, but Illinois law does not require witnesses. This makes Madison County one of the more affordable places to get married in Illinois. Between the $35 license and the $10 ceremony, the total cost is $45 if you go the courthouse route.

Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges and religious leaders can both perform marriages in Illinois. If you prefer a religious ceremony or a different officiant, that works too. The courthouse option is just one choice available in Madison County.

Note: The $10 ceremony fee must be paid in cash at the Circuit Clerk's Office, not the County Clerk's Office.

License Return and Certified Copies

After your ceremony, the person who performed the wedding must fill out the marriage certificate and return it to the Madison County Clerk within 10 days. The clerk's office provides a return envelope. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this deadline applies to all marriages in the state. Late returns delay the recording of your marriage and make it harder to get certified copies.

Once the marriage is recorded, you can request certified copies. The first certified copy costs $20 in Madison County. Each additional copy is $8. These prices are higher than some neighboring counties. When you request copies, include both names (and any previous names), the date of the marriage, and a phone number. You can request them in person at the Edwardsville office or by mail. The IDPH marriage records page confirms that certified copies are only available from the county clerk where the marriage happened. IDPH in Springfield can only verify basic facts about a marriage, not provide a certified copy of the license.

If you need a state-level verification, mail a completed Application for Verification of Marriage Record to the IDPH Division of Vital Records with a $5 check or money order. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records are not public information in Illinois. Access to certified copies is limited to eligible individuals. The IACCR directory can help you find any county clerk office in the state if you need records from a different county.

Non-Residents and Madison County

Illinois has no residency rule for marriage licenses. Anyone from any state or country can apply for a marriage license in Madison County. There is one catch, though. If you get married in Madison County, the ceremony must take place within Madison County lines. You have 60 days from the effective date to use it.

Out-of-state residents should know that a Madison County marriage license is a legal document under Illinois law. How your home state treats the marriage may vary. Madison County advises non-residents to consult an attorney if they have concerns about recognition. In practice, marriages legally performed in one state are recognized in all states. But if you have a specific legal question, it is worth getting advice before you apply.

The IDPH page above shows the state's marriage records resources, including how to verify a marriage that took place anywhere in Illinois.

Cities in Madison County

Madison County includes Edwardsville, Granite City, Collinsville, Alton, and several other communities. No city in the county has a population over 50,000. All residents of Madison County get their marriage license from the clerk's office in Edwardsville.

Nearby Counties

Your marriage license is only valid in the county that issued it. If you plan a ceremony outside Madison County, apply in the county where the venue is located.