Moultrie County Marriage License

Marriage license applications in Moultrie County go through the County Clerk's office in Sullivan, a small county seat in east-central Illinois. Both people who plan to get married must appear at the Sullivan office together and bring valid photo ID to complete the application. Moultrie County is one of the smaller counties in the state, and the Sullivan office is the only place to file for a marriage license within county lines. This page covers the entire process from start to finish, including what documents you need, how long you wait, where the license works, and how to file the certificate after the ceremony.

How to Apply in Moultrie County

Head to the Moultrie County Clerk's office in Sullivan. Call (217) 728-4389 to confirm hours. Both you and your partner must be there at the same time. One person cannot handle the form alone. Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID all work fine. The IDPH valid ID page lists every form of identification the state accepts for marriage license filings.

You will need to give the clerk your social security number, date of birth, place of birth, and home address. Both parents' full legal names and their birth places go on the form too. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the Moultrie County Clerk issues the license once both parties sign and the fee is paid. No blood test is required. Illinois does not have a residency rule, so people from outside the county or outside the state can come to the Sullivan office and get a Moultrie County marriage license. Couples from Coles County, Shelby County, or even out of state sometimes find it more convenient to apply in Sullivan if their wedding venue is in Moultrie County.

Prior Marriages in Moultrie County

If either person was married before, tell the Sullivan clerk. Provide the date, county, and state of the final divorce decree or death. If the prior marriage ended within six months of your application, bring a certified copy of that decree or death certificate. The Moultrie County Clerk will not issue a new license without that proof when the timeline is so recent.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, certain marriages are illegal in Illinois. You cannot marry while in a current marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives are not allowed to marry each other. First cousins can marry only when both are over 50 years old, or when one has a physician's certificate of permanent sterility. The Sullivan clerk checks for all of these conditions during the application, and having your documents in order before you walk in makes the process go much faster.

Note: Keep a copy of your divorce decree handy even if the six-month window has passed, just in case the clerk asks to see it.

Moultrie County Marriage License Timing

Plan around the wait. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, your marriage license takes effect the calendar day after it is issued by the Moultrie County Clerk. You cannot use it the same day. Come to Sullivan at least two days before your planned ceremony date.

Once active, the license is good for 60 days. If those days run out, the license expires and you must start over with a new application and fee. The license is valid only in Moultrie County. If your ceremony is in Coles County, Shelby County, Macon County, or Douglas County, you need a license from that county. East-central Illinois has a lot of rural properties and lakeside venues near county borders, so confirm which county your spot is in before you apply. A phone call to the venue takes a minute and can save you from filing in the wrong place.

Filing After the Wedding in Moultrie County

After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the marriage certificate and returns it to the Moultrie County Clerk in Sullivan within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this 10-day deadline applies to every marriage in Illinois. Judges, retired judges, mayors, religious leaders, and village presidents can all perform ceremonies. Witnesses are not required by state law. The Sullivan office registers the marriage once the completed form comes back.

The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders directory lists Moultrie County along with every other clerk office in the state. Below is a screenshot of the IDPH marriage records page that explains how marriage records are handled in Illinois.

Certified copies of your Moultrie County marriage license come from the Sullivan office directly. The IDPH marriage records page can verify a marriage from 1962 on for a $5 fee, but for the actual certified copy you need to contact the Moultrie County Clerk.

Moultrie County Marriage Verification

The IDPH Division of Vital Records can verify that a marriage happened in Moultrie County. A verification confirms names, dates of birth, the date of the event, and the county. The cost is $5. Send 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 and a readable photo ID.

Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), marriage records in Illinois are not open to the general public. Only certain people can access certified copies. The Moultrie County Clerk verifies your identity before releasing any records from the Sullivan office. Call (217) 728-4389 to ask what is needed if you plan to request a record in person or by mail.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony will be in a neighboring county, you need a marriage license from that county. Here are the counties next to Moultrie County.