Access Tazewell County Marriage License

Tazewell County marriage license records are handled by County Clerk John C. Ackerman's office in Pekin. Both people must show up in person to complete the application and show valid ID. The county offers an online application system where you can fill out the form ahead of time and get a confirmation number. The $90 fee includes a certified copy of your marriage license that gets mailed to you after the officiant returns the signed certificate. This page covers Tazewell County fees, age rules, what to bring, and how the full process works from start to finish.

How to Get a Tazewell County Marriage License

Start by filling out the Tazewell County online marriage application. You will get a confirmation number when you finish. Then both people must go to the County Clerk's office together to show ID and complete the process. The office is at 11 S. 4th Street, McKenzie Building, Suite 203, Pekin, Illinois. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. You cannot finish the process by mail or online alone. Both people must appear in person.

Bring a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. The IDPH valid ID page lists all accepted forms. You also need your Social Security number, date of birth, place of birth, and both parents' full birth names along with their current addresses and birth states. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the clerk issues the license after both parties sign the application and pay the fee.

The Tazewell County Clerk's phone number is (309) 477-2264. Call if you have questions about the process or need to verify hours before your visit.

Tazewell County Marriage License Fee

The fee is $90. That is higher than most Illinois counties. But the price includes one certified copy of your marriage license. After the person who performs your wedding sends the signed certificate back to the Tazewell County Clerk, the office mails you that certified copy at no extra cost. In other counties, you pay separately for certified copies. So the real gap is smaller than it looks.

Check with the clerk's office about what payment methods they accept. Some Illinois counties take only cash or checks. The Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders keeps a full directory of all clerk offices across the state, including phone numbers and addresses. Tazewell County's Election Division can be reached at (309) 477-2267 if you need that office for a different matter.

Note: The $90 fee covers both the license and one certified copy mailed to you after the marriage is recorded.

Age Rules for a Tazewell County License

Both people must be at least 18 to apply on their own. Under 750 ILCS 5/208, a person who is 16 or 17 can get a marriage license with consent from both parents. Not one parent. Both. No one under 16 can apply in Illinois at all. If either person is under 18, they must bring a birth certificate as proof of age to the Tazewell County Clerk's office. This is a strict rule and the clerk will not issue the license without that document for minors.

There is no blood test. Illinois dropped that rule on September 11, 1989. You do not need a medical exam or lab work of any kind. There is also no residency rule in Illinois. People from out of county or out of state can apply for a Tazewell County marriage license with no extra steps.

Previous Marriages and Tazewell County

If either person was married before or had a civil union, the Tazewell County Clerk needs details. You must give the date, county, and state where that marriage or civil union ended, whether by divorce or death. Under 750 ILCS 5/212, you cannot get a marriage license if you are still in a prior marriage or civil union.

Tazewell County has a specific rule about recent divorces. If the prior marriage ended less than 30 days ago, you need to bring documentation. This is stricter than the six-month rule some other Illinois counties use. Have the divorce decree or death certificate ready when you go to the clerk's office. Without it, the clerk may not be able to process your Tazewell County marriage license application. If your divorce was more than 30 days ago, just knowing the basic details is enough.

Close blood relatives cannot marry in Illinois. First cousins can marry only if both are over 50 years old. The Tazewell County Clerk reviews all of this when you file your application.

Tazewell County License Validity

The license takes effect the day after it is issued. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, there is a one-day waiting period in Illinois. You cannot use a Tazewell County marriage license on the same day you pick it up. Plan to visit the clerk at least two days before your wedding date.

Your Tazewell County marriage license is good for 60 days. After that, it expires and you have to apply all over again with a new $90 fee. The marriage must take place in Tazewell County. A license issued in Tazewell cannot be used in Peoria County or any other Illinois county. This is one of the most common mistakes people make. Always confirm your venue address is inside Tazewell County lines before you apply at the clerk's office in Pekin.

Note: Your officiant must mail the signed marriage certificate back to the Tazewell County Clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.

After Your Tazewell County Wedding

Once the ceremony is done, the person who performed it fills out the marriage certificate portion and mails it back to the Tazewell County Clerk. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, the officiant has 10 days to get it back. A late return can cause delays. If your officiant forgets, you may have trouble getting certified copies of your Tazewell County marriage license later on. Remind them before the big day.

After the clerk records the marriage, they mail you one certified copy at no extra charge. That is included in the $90 fee. If you need more copies, contact the Tazewell County Clerk's office at (309) 477-2264 to ask about pricing and processing times. Judges, retired judges, religious leaders, and mayors can all officiate weddings in Tazewell County. Illinois law does not require witnesses, though many couples choose to have them. The IDPH marriage records page confirms that certified copies of marriage records come from the county clerk, not from the state. The screenshot below shows the IDPH marriage records information page.

IDPH can verify basic facts about a marriage from 1962 onward for $5, but for a full certified copy you must go through the Tazewell County Clerk.

Tazewell County Marriage Records Access

Marriage license records in Illinois are classified as vital records. Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), access to these records is restricted. They are not open to the general public the way court records are. Only the people named on the record, their legal representatives, and a few other categories set by state law can get copies. This rule applies to all 102 counties in Illinois, including Tazewell County.

The IACCR directory available through the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders website lists every county clerk office in the state. You can use it to find contact info for the Tazewell County Clerk or any neighboring county. The screenshot below shows the IACCR directory page.

If you need to verify a Tazewell County marriage for legal purposes, request a verification through IDPH or contact the Tazewell County Clerk directly at the McKenzie Building in Pekin.

Cities in Tazewell County

Tazewell County's largest city is Pekin, which serves as the county seat. No cities in Tazewell County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a dedicated city page. Residents of Pekin, East Peoria, Morton, and Washington all use the Tazewell County Clerk's office in Pekin for marriage licenses.

Nearby Counties

If your wedding takes place outside Tazewell County, you need a license from that county instead. Each county has its own clerk and fee schedule.