Find Massac County Marriage License

Marriage license applications in Massac County are handled at the County Clerk's office in Metropolis, the county seat at the southern tip of Illinois. Both people who plan to marry must show up together with valid photo ID and complete the application in person. Massac County borders Kentucky across the Ohio River, and couples from both states regularly use the Metropolis office for marriage license filings. This page goes over all the steps for getting a marriage license here, including what documents to bring, the waiting period, fees, and what to do with the certificate once the ceremony is done.

Massac County Marriage License Application

Visit the Massac County Clerk's office in Metropolis to apply. The phone number is (618) 524-5213. Both people must be present at the counter. You cannot send one person to handle the form for the other. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID will all work. The IDPH valid ID page has the complete list of what the state accepts.

You will need to give the clerk your social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and current home address. Both parents' full legal names and their places of birth are also required on the form. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the Massac County Clerk issues a marriage license once both people sign the application and the fee is paid. No blood test is needed in Illinois. There is no residency rule. Couples from Kentucky or any other state can come to the Metropolis office and apply for a Massac County marriage license without living in Illinois.

Note: The Metropolis clerk office is a small-county operation, so calling (618) 524-5213 before you drive in saves time.

Prior Marriage Rules for Massac County

If either person was married before, bring the details. Tell the Metropolis clerk the date, county, and state where the prior marriage ended. If the end of that marriage was within the last six months, a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is needed. The Massac County Clerk will hold up the new license until that proof is provided when the timing is that close.

Illinois law bars certain marriages. Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot get married while already in a marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry each other. First cousins may marry only if both are 50 or older, or one party presents a certificate of permanent sterility signed by a licensed physician. The clerk screens for these things during the application. Having your documents ready before you arrive at the Metropolis courthouse makes the whole process much faster and prevents extra trips back and forth.

Marriage License Timing in Massac County

There is a mandatory one-day wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, a marriage license becomes effective the day after the Massac County Clerk issues it. You cannot use it on the same day you get it. Plan your trip to the Metropolis office at least two days before your ceremony.

Once active, the license is good for 60 days. If you miss that window, it expires. You would need to file a brand new application and pay the fee again. The license only works inside Massac County. If your wedding spot is in Williamson County, Union County, or across the Ohio River in Kentucky, a Massac County license will not work there. Southern Illinois has a lot of river venues and outdoor sites that can straddle county lines, so make sure you know which county your ceremony location is in before applying. Call your venue and ask if you are not sure.

Filing a Massac County Marriage Certificate

After the wedding, the officiant completes the marriage certificate and sends it back to the Massac County Clerk within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this deadline applies statewide. Who can perform the ceremony? Judges, retired judges, mayors, religious leaders, and village presidents. Illinois does not require witnesses at the wedding. The Metropolis clerk records the marriage once the completed certificate arrives.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders maintains a directory of all county clerk offices in Illinois, including Massac County. Below is a screenshot of the IACCR directory where you can look up contact info for any clerk in the state.

For certified copies of a Massac County marriage license, contact the Metropolis office directly. The state does not provide certified copies. The IDPH marriage records page can verify a marriage from 1962 onward for $5, but the full certified document must come from the Massac County Clerk.

Massac County Marriage Record Verification

IDPH can verify that a marriage took place in Massac County. A verification confirms names, dates of birth, date of marriage, and 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 to the Illinois Department of Public Health and a readable photo ID with the form.

Marriage records in Illinois are not public under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535). Only certain individuals can get certified copies. The Massac County Clerk verifies your identity before releasing any records from the Metropolis office. If you need a copy for legal use, call (618) 524-5213 and ask the clerk what to bring with you.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding is in a county near Massac, you need a marriage license from that county. Below are the counties next to Massac County.