Deborah Chan
If you're looking to officiate weddings in Illinois, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, while Illinois law does not require officiants to register with any government office, you must be an ordained minister to legally perform marriages. This means getting ordained by a religious organization like American Marriage Ministries or Universal Life Church, one of the world's largest religious organizations. It's also good to have your official Ministry Credentials on hand, as some county clerks may ask to see proof of your ordination, and couples often like to see this too. Once you have your credentials, you can start officiating weddings anywhere in Illinois, but be aware that marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office and are only valid for 60 days.
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What You'll Learn
Who can officiate weddings in Illinois?
In Illinois, there are no requirements for an ordained person to register in the County or the State to marry people. However, the couple getting married must have confidence in the qualifications of their officiant. The officiant must be in good standing with their religion or tribe if the marriage is solemnized in accordance with the practices of a religious denomination, Indian nation, or tribe.
To be able to officiate weddings in Illinois, one must be an ordained minister. Local regulations in Illinois stipulate that wedding officiants under the designation of "Minister" be ordained by a religious organization, such as the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries. While you are not required to register with any Illinois government office as a wedding officiant, it is a good idea to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials. Proof of your ordination is essential in the event that the couple, government officials, or the wedding venue request to see proof of your ordination.
In Illinois, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office. Although the couple will pick up the license itself, ministers ought to have an understanding of the rules governing marriage licenses in Illinois and its individual counties. The marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony.
Additionally, it is important to note that notaries public are not authorized to officiate at marriages in Illinois.
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Do I need to be ordained?
In Illinois, marriage laws are governed by Chapter 750 of the state's Compiled Statutes. While Illinois law does not require marriage officiants to register with any government office, you must be an ordained minister to be able to legally perform marriages. Local regulations in Illinois stipulate that wedding officiants under the designation of "Minister" be ordained by a religious organization, such as the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries.
While you are not required to register with any Illinois government office as a wedding officiant, it is a good idea to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials. Proof of your ordination may be essential in the event that the couple, government officials, or the wedding venue request to see it.
Some county clerks prefer to see proof of your ordination before giving the "go-ahead" to perform marriage ceremonies, and most couples like to know that their wedding minister has official documentation (such as an ordination certificate) on hand. You can order your Illinois Minister Ordination Package to receive your official ministry credentials, including your ordination certificate and a letter of good standing.
It is worth noting that Illinois state law says people in any of the following categories can legally officiate a wedding: judges, public officials, Cook County clerks, mayors, and religious officiants. Religious groups may license or ordain people to perform marriages, but the state does not require that the officiant be ordained.
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What documents do I need?
In Illinois, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office. Although the couple will pick up the license, officiants should understand the rules governing marriage licenses in Illinois and its individual counties. For example, marriage licenses are valid for 60 days, and there is a mandatory 1-day waiting period. This means the couple must wait at least 24 hours after receiving the license before a ceremony can be legally performed.
While Illinois law does not require officiants to register with any government office, you must be an ordained minister to be able to legally perform marriages. Local regulations in Illinois stipulate that wedding officiants under the designation of "Minister" be ordained by a religious organization, such as the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries. While it is not required, it is recommended to keep personal records of your official Ministry Credentials, as proof of your ordination may be requested by the couple, government officials, or the wedding venue. This proof can be in the form of an ordination certificate.
In addition to the marriage license, the couple may also need to obtain a marriage certificate. The Director of Public Health prescribes the form for a marriage license application, which includes the following information:
- Name, sex, occupation, address, social security number, date and place of birth of each party to the proposed marriage
- If either party was previously married, their name, and the date, place, and court in which the marriage was dissolved or declared invalid, or the date and place of death of the former spouse
- Name and address of the parents or guardian of each party to the proposed marriage
After the wedding ceremony, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days. It is important to note that the requirements may vary from county to county, so it is advisable to contact the local marriage licensing office or the County Clerk's office to confirm the specific documents needed.
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Where do I get a marriage license?
To obtain a marriage license in Illinois, couples must appear in person at the county clerk's office in the county in which they are getting married. While some counties allow couples to start their application online, they will still need to appear in person to have it issued. Some counties also require couples to have an appointment before showing up, so it is important to check the requirements of the specific county.
In Cook County, couples can obtain their marriage license from one of the four Cook County Clerk's office locations. They must fill out and sign a marriage license application, present valid identification with proof of age, and pay a fee of $60. If either applicant has been divorced within the last six months, they must provide a certified copy of their divorce decree.
In Champaign County, couples can begin the application process online but must pick up the license together in person at the Clerk's Office. Both parties must be 18 years or older and provide valid identification with proof of age. The marriage license costs $75.
It is important to note that marriage licenses in Illinois are valid for 60 days, and there is a mandatory 1-day waiting period. This means that the couple must wait at least 24 hours after receiving the license before the ceremony can legally be performed. Once the ceremony is over, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days.
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How do I make the ceremony legal?
To make a wedding ceremony legal in Illinois, the couple must first obtain a marriage license from their county clerk's office. This license is valid for 60 days, but there is a mandatory 1-day waiting period, meaning the couple must wait 24 hours after receiving the license before holding the ceremony. Once the ceremony is complete, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days.
While Illinois law does not require officiants to register with any government office, they must be ordained by a religious organization. Some examples of people who can legally officiate a wedding in Illinois include judges, public officials, Cook County clerks, mayors, and religious officiants. Religious officiants must be in good standing with their religion or tribe.
Ministers ordained through the Universal Life Church have performed thousands of legal marriages in Illinois. While ministers are not required to register in the state, they may be asked by the county clerk to present proof of their ordination, and couples may also want to see this documentation.
There do not appear to be any specific requirements for what the officiant must say during the ceremony for the marriage to be legally valid in Illinois. However, it is important to note that local regulations may vary, so it is recommended to check with the local marriage licensing office for specific requirements.
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Frequently asked questions
While Illinois Law does not require officiants to register with any government office, you must be an ordained minister to be able to legally perform a marriage.
Local regulations in Illinois stipulate that wedding officiants under the designation of "Minister" be ordained by a religious organization, such as American Marriage Ministries.
You will need an ordination certificate and a letter of good standing. The couple will pick up the marriage license, but you should be familiar with the rules governing marriage licenses in Illinois and its individual counties.
First, you need to become ordained with the Universal Life Church or a similar organization. Then, you should check in with the county clerk's office and order any materials you need for the wedding. Once the ceremony is over, you will need to fill out the remainder of the marriage license and return it to the issuing office within 10 days.
