Deborah Chan
If you're planning to get married in Illinois, there are a few key documents you'll need to make sure you have in order to obtain a marriage license. Firstly, it's important to note that marriage licenses are issued by counties, not the state or individual cities, so you'll need to apply for your license in the county where your wedding will take place. Both members of the couple must appear together in person at the county clerk's office and present valid identification with proof of age, as the minimum age to marry in Illinois is 18 (16 or 17 with parental consent). If either party was previously married, they may need to provide the date of the divorce or death of the previous marriage, and if the divorce was finalised within the last six months, a certified copy of the divorce decree may be required. Some counties may also require an appointment and/or for you to complete a marriage license application form in advance, so it's important to check the specific requirements of your chosen county.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriage license required | Yes |
| Where to get the license | County clerk's office in the county you're getting married in |
| Application process | In-person, with some counties allowing you to start the application online |
| Documents required | Proof of age, valid identification, proof of divorce or death of spouse (if applicable) |
| Age requirement | 18 years or older (16-17 with parental consent and legal guardian appearance) |
| Marriage Equality | Recognized since June 1, 2014 |
| License fee | Varies by county, typically around $35-$60 |
| License validity | 60 days from the date of issue |
| Waiting period | 24 hours, with the option to petition the court for an exception |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage license application
To get married in Illinois, you must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office in the county in which the marriage will take place. This can be done in person or, in some counties, by starting the application online. However, an in-person visit to the office is always required for the license to be issued. In Cook County, couples must appear together at one of the Clerk's four locations. In Lake County, couples must apply together in person at the Clerk's office.
To obtain a marriage license, couples must meet the eligibility requirements and present valid identification with proof of age. The legal age for marriage in Illinois is 18, and applicants under the age of 18 must have valid identification, the original birth record, and parental consent. Acceptable forms of ID vary by county, so it is important to check with the specific county clerk's office. In Lake County, for example, a certified copy of a birth certificate or a U.S. original naturalization certificate is required.
Additionally, applicants who have divorced within the last six months must provide a certified copy of their divorce decree. The marriage license fee is typically $60, although it may vary by county, and some counties may require an appointment for the application process. It is important to note that marriage licenses are only valid for 60 days from the date of issuance, and the ceremony must take place within this timeframe.
After the marriage ceremony, the officiant is responsible for completing and returning the license to the respective county clerk's office for official recording. There is no requirement for officiants to register with any government office prior to performing a marriage in Illinois.
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Proof of age
To get married in Illinois, you must be able to prove that you are at least 18 years old. This is the minimum age to marry in the state. To do this, you must present valid identification with proof of age when applying for your marriage license. This can be a birth certificate, driver's license, or passport.
Both parties must appear in person to fill out and sign the marriage license application and present their chosen form of ID. The marriage license fee varies by county but is usually between $15 and $60. It is important to note that you must obtain your marriage license in the county in which you are getting married, not the county in which you live.
Some counties allow you to start your application online, but all require you to appear in person to have it issued. It is also worth noting that some counties require you to have an appointment before you show up, so it is important to prepare well in advance of your wedding.
If you have divorced within the last six months, you must also provide a certified copy of your divorce decree when applying for your marriage license.
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Proof of divorce
To get married in Illinois, you must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office in the county in which the marriage will take place. This is also the case if you are marrying a foreigner, in which case a passport is usually sufficient identification.
If you have previously been divorced, you must provide the date that the divorce was finalized when applying for a marriage license. If the divorce was finalized within the last six months, you must also provide a certified copy of the divorce decree. This can be obtained from the Domestic Relations Division of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, which holds the records for dissolution (divorce), legal separation, and invalidity for marriages and civil unions.
To obtain a dissolution of marriage verification, you must submit a completed Application for Verification of Dissolution of Marriage/Civil Union Record Files, along with a valid government-issued photo ID. This can be done by mail or in person. The application can be downloaded from the Illinois Office of the Courts website. There is a $5 fee for this service, which can be paid by check or money order (not cash) made payable to the "Illinois Department of Public Health." The average processing time for mail requests is 4 to 6 weeks, and orders can also be faxed.
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Marriage license fee
If you're getting married in Illinois, you'll need to obtain a marriage license from the county in which you're getting married, not the county where you live. There are 102 counties in Illinois, and each county clerk's office that oversees the process does things a little differently.
Marriage licenses are issued while the couple waits, but they are only valid the day after they are issued, so you cannot get married on the same day you acquire the license. They are valid for 60 days, so you need to hold your wedding ceremony within this period.
To obtain a marriage license, couples must appear together in person at the county clerk's office and fill out and sign a marriage license application. They must present valid identification with proof of age, such as a driver's license. If either partner has been divorced within the last six months, they must provide a certified copy of their divorce decree.
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Where to get your license
To get your marriage license in Illinois, you'll need to go to the county clerk's office in the county where your wedding ceremony will take place. This is the case even if you don't live in that county. With 102 counties in the state, that's a lot of potential locations, so it's worth doing your research ahead of time to find out where you need to go. For example, Cook County, where Chicago is located, has six locations, while DuPage County, the second-biggest county, only has one.
Each county clerk's office has its own way of doing things, so it's a good idea to find out what you need to do before you arrive. Some counties require you to make an appointment, and you'll want to make sure you have all the necessary documents with you. You'll also need to bring money to pay for your marriage license—most counties accept cash, checks, or credit cards (with a small processing fee).
When you go to the county clerk's office, you'll need to bring a completed marriage license application form, which you may be able to start online. Both parties must be present and provide valid identification with proof of age—you must be 18 or older to marry in Illinois, or 16-17 with parental consent and a legal guardian present. If either party does not speak or understand English, you'll need to bring a third-party interpreter with you.
If either party has been married before, you'll need to provide the date the previous marriage was dissolved, and if it ended within the last six months, you'll need to bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death record of your former spouse. Your marriage license will be issued while you wait, but it won't be valid until the day after it's issued, and it will expire after 60 days. That means you'll need to get your license at least a day before your wedding, and your wedding must take place within 60 days of the date your license is issued.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need to apply for a marriage license from the county clerk's office in the county where the marriage will take place. You will need to fill out a marriage license application form and present valid identification with proof of age. If you have been married before, you will need to provide the date of your divorce or the death of your previous spouse.
The cost of a marriage license varies across counties in Illinois. For example, it is $32 in Kane County, $60 in Cook County, and $75 in Peoria County.
A marriage license in Illinois is valid for 60 days from the day after it is issued. This means that you must obtain your license at least one day before your wedding ceremony and that you cannot get married on the same day that you acquire the license.
