Find Montgomery County Marriage License

Montgomery County marriage license applications are processed at the County Clerk's office in Hillsboro. Both people need to visit in person to fill out the form and present valid photo ID. Montgomery County sits in south-central Illinois, and the clerk's office is the sole place to apply for a marriage license in the county. This page covers the steps involved, from what documents you need to how to get copies of the recorded marriage certificate after the ceremony. Reach the clerk at (217) 532-9530 to ask about hours or fees before your trip to Hillsboro.

Getting a Marriage License in Montgomery County

Go to the Montgomery County Clerk's office in Hillsboro. Both people must be there. You fill out the marriage license form at the counter, show your IDs, and pay the fee. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license once both parties sign the application and the fee is paid. You cannot send one person on behalf of both. That is a state rule, not just a Montgomery County policy.

The clerk will ask for your Social Security number, full legal name, date and place of birth, and your current address. You also need each parent's full name. The mother's maiden name is required too. Write all of this down before you go so you do not have to guess at the counter. A prepared visit in Hillsboro should take about 15 to 20 minutes from start to finish.

The IACCR directory lists the Montgomery County Clerk with its address, phone number, and other details. It covers all county clerk offices across Illinois in one place.

The IACCR clerk directory shown below is a helpful tool for finding office details for Montgomery County and every other county in the state.

When in doubt, call (217) 532-9530 before you drive to Hillsboro.

Montgomery County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must be 18 or older to apply on their own. Under 750 ILCS 5/208, a 16 or 17 year old can apply with written consent from both parents. No one under 16 may receive a marriage license in Montgomery County or anywhere in Illinois. You need a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID will do. The IDPH valid ID page lists every accepted form.

No blood test is required. Illinois ended that in 1989. There is no residency rule either. Anyone from any state or country can get a Montgomery County marriage license. If either person was married before, the clerk needs the date, county, and state where it ended. A divorce within the past six months requires a certified copy of the decree or a death certificate if the prior spouse died. Without this, the Montgomery County Clerk will not issue the license.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins may only marry if both people are over 50. You also cannot get a marriage license if you are still in a prior marriage or civil union.

Montgomery County License Waiting Period

There is a one-day wait set by state law. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, your Montgomery County marriage license takes effect the calendar day after the clerk issues it. You cannot use it on the same day. A court can waive the wait in rare cases, but that is uncommon. Plan to get your license at least two days before the wedding.

The license stays good for 60 days. If you do not use it in that window, it expires and you must start over. The license only works inside Montgomery County. A license from Macoupin County or Christian County will not work for a ceremony in Montgomery County, and the reverse is also true. Make sure your venue falls within Montgomery County before you apply. This is one of those details that trips people up, especially when the county lines are not obvious in rural areas of central Illinois.

Who Can Perform a Marriage in Montgomery County

State law lists the people who can officiate. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, judges of a court of record, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders of any faith can all perform weddings in Montgomery County. Illinois does not require witnesses. The county clerk in Hillsboro cannot officiate since that power only extends to clerks in counties with a population over 2,000,000.

After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the marriage certificate and returns it to the Montgomery County Clerk within 10 days. This deadline is set by state law and applies everywhere in Illinois. If your officiant is slow with the paperwork, it will delay the recording of your marriage and your ability to get certified copies. Make sure they understand the 10-day rule before your wedding day.

Note: Contact the circuit court in Hillsboro if you need a judge to perform your Montgomery County ceremony.

Certified Copies of Montgomery County Marriage Licenses

After the officiant files the signed certificate, the Montgomery County Clerk records the marriage. You can then order certified copies for name changes, insurance, or other purposes. Call (217) 532-9530 to ask about the fee and whether you can request copies by mail in addition to in-person visits.

The IDPH marriage records page explains that certified copies come from the county clerk, not the state. The Illinois Department of Public Health only provides verifications. A verification costs $5 and covers marriages from 1962 to the present. It confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county. That is useful for some purposes, but it is not a full certified copy. For the real thing, go through the Montgomery County Clerk in Hillsboro.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records are not public in Illinois. Only the people named on the record or their legal representatives can request copies. The Montgomery County Clerk follows these rules carefully. If you need a state verification, mail a verification form to IDPH with $5 and a photo ID copy.

The IDPH marriage records page shown below details how state verifications work for Montgomery County and the rest of Illinois.

For a full copy of your Montgomery County marriage license, always contact the clerk in Hillsboro first.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County includes Hillsboro, Litchfield, Nokomis, Raymond, and other small communities. No city in the county has a population over 50,000. Everyone in Montgomery County gets their marriage license from the clerk's office in Hillsboro. The same process and fees apply regardless of which town you call home.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony is outside Montgomery County, you need a marriage license from that county. Each one has its own clerk and may charge a different fee.