Washington County Marriage License

Washington County marriage license records are managed by the County Clerk's office in Nashville, Illinois. Couples who want to marry in Washington County must go to the clerk's office together and fill out an application. Both people need valid photo ID. The license takes effect one day after the clerk issues it, and it stays good for 60 days. You can search for marriage license records, check fees, and learn what you need to bring by reading through this page. All the rules and steps for getting a Washington County marriage license are covered below.

How to Get a Washington County Marriage License

Both people must show up at the Washington County Clerk's office in Nashville to apply. You cannot send just one person. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, the county clerk issues the license once both parties sign the form and the fee is paid. Call the Washington County Clerk at (618) 327-4800 before your trip to check on hours and what forms of payment they accept. Some small county offices in southern Illinois keep shorter hours than you might expect, so a quick phone call saves a wasted drive.

You fill out the marriage license application at the counter. The clerk will ask for your full name, date and place of birth, Social Security number, address, and occupation. Parents' full legal names go on the form too, including your mother's maiden name. The IACCR directory lists the Washington County Clerk among all Illinois county clerk offices and can be a useful backup if you need to verify the address or phone number before heading to Nashville.

Bring all your documents on the first visit. Coming back for a missing form wastes time.

Washington County License Requirements

You must be at least 18 to apply for a marriage license in Washington County. A 16 or 17 year old can apply under 750 ILCS 5/208, but both parents have to come to the Nashville office and sign a consent form. No one under 16 can get a license in Illinois. There is no blood test. Illinois dropped that rule back in 1989. There is also no residency rule for Washington County. People from any state or country can apply here, as long as they meet the age and legal requirements.

Both applicants need a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license works. So does a state ID card, U.S. passport, or military ID. The IDPH valid ID requirements page has the full list. If either person was married before, you must provide the date, county, and state where that prior marriage ended. A divorce that happened within the past six months requires a certified copy of the decree or death certificate. The clerk at the Washington County office will not issue the license without that document.

Under 750 ILCS 5/212, certain marriages are not allowed. You cannot marry while still in a prior marriage or civil union. Close blood relatives cannot marry. First cousins may marry only if both are over 50.

Note: A foreign passport may also work as ID in some Illinois counties, but call ahead to confirm with the Washington County Clerk.

Marriage License Waiting Period in Washington County

Illinois has a one-day waiting period. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, your Washington County marriage license takes effect the calendar day after the clerk issues it. You cannot marry on the same day you pick it up in Nashville. Get the license at least two days before your ceremony. A court can waive this wait in special cases, but that is very rare and most couples should plan around it.

The license stays good for 60 days from its effective date. After that it expires and you would need to start over. You pay the fee again. The license is only valid inside Washington County. A license from Nashville cannot be used in St. Clair County, Clinton County, or anywhere else. Make sure your ceremony location sits within Washington County lines before you apply. Many couples in southern Illinois have venues that are close to county borders, so double-check with the venue or on a map.

Washington County Marriage License Fees

Marriage license fees in Illinois are set at the county level. There is no single state fee. Call (618) 327-4800 to get the current Washington County marriage license fee. Across Illinois, fees range from about $30 up to $90. Washington County falls somewhere in that range, and the clerk can give you the exact amount when you call.

Ask about payment methods while you are on the phone. Some small Illinois county clerks only take cash or checks. Others have added credit card options in recent years, sometimes with a small processing surcharge. Certified copies of the recorded marriage certificate carry their own separate fee. You can ask about both costs at once to plan what to bring. The IDPH page shown below explains how marriage records work across all Illinois counties, including Washington County.

The IDPH marriage records page notes that certified copies come only from the county clerk, not from the state health department.

Certified Copies of Washington County Marriage Records

After the wedding, your officiant fills out the marriage certificate and sends it back to the Washington County Clerk within 10 days. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, this deadline applies to all marriages in Illinois. Once the clerk records the certificate, you can request certified copies. These official documents are what you need for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal matters after your wedding in Washington County.

The state of Illinois does not issue certified copies. The Illinois Department of Public Health can only verify basic facts about a marriage from 1962 forward. A verification costs $5. It confirms names, dates of birth, event date, and the county. You mail a completed verification form to IDPH in Springfield with a check or money order. For the full certified copy of your Washington County marriage license, you go through the County Clerk in Nashville. That office is the only place that holds the complete record and can issue official copies for you.

Note: Marriage records are not public in Illinois under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), so access is limited to certain people.

Who Can Perform a Wedding in Washington County

Judges, retired judges, mayors, village presidents, and religious leaders from any denomination can all officiate a wedding in Washington County. Under 750 ILCS 5/209, whoever performs the ceremony must return the signed marriage certificate to the clerk within 10 days. Illinois does not require witnesses at the ceremony, though many couples still choose to have them. The mayor of Nashville or any other Washington County town can officiate while in office.

The Washington County Clerk's office does not perform wedding ceremonies itself. That option is only open to counties with over 2,000,000 residents, which means only Cook County qualifies. If you want a courthouse ceremony in Washington County, reach out to local circuit court judges in the area. Some judges are willing to perform weddings at the courthouse for a small fee, but availability varies. Ask the clerk's staff for suggestions when you call to set up your license appointment.

Nearby Counties

If your ceremony venue is outside Washington County, you need a marriage license from the county where the wedding will take place. These counties border Washington County or sit nearby in southern Illinois.