How Marriage Licenses Work in Illinois

Getting married in Illinois starts at a county office, not a state one. Every license is issued by a county clerk under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). The state writes the rules, and each county runs its own counter. Our database lists 93 of these offices, from the Cook County Marriage License office at 50 West Washington Street in Chicago to the Edwards County Marriage License office at 50 East Main Street in Albion.

This setup has a practical benefit. An Illinois marriage license is valid in every county in the state. You can apply in Bloomington and hold the ceremony in Springfield or Galena without any extra paperwork. Many couples pick the clerk's office that is closest to their home or workplace, then travel to the venue on the wedding day.

The state does not issue licenses directly. The Illinois Department of Public Health keeps statewide vital records, but your first contact for a license, a certified copy or a correction is almost always the county clerk where the license was issued. If you are unsure which office handled your license, check the county named on the document itself.

The basic rules that apply in every county

Most of the process is the same wherever you apply. Both people generally need to come to the clerk's office with identification, and both must be free to marry. Illinois has no residency requirement, so out-of-state couples can apply too. Illinois no longer requires a premarital blood test. Marriage has been open to same-sex couples statewide since June 2014, and every county clerk issues licenses on the same terms.

Two timing rules catch people out. The license takes effect the day after it is issued, so you cannot apply and marry on the same day. It also expires after 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen in that window, you apply again and pay the fee again. Plan your visit at least a week before the wedding, and sooner if the date falls on a holiday weekend.

Cook County and the Chicago Area Compared With Downstate Illinois

Illinois has a sharp split between its metro core and the rest of the state, and it shows up at the marriage license counter. The Cook County Marriage License office in Chicago serves the largest population in the state. It handles a high volume of applications, offers several service points across the county, and encourages couples to prepare in advance. Check the Cook County office on 312-603-7790 before you go. Hours, locations and online options can change, and a short call saves a wasted trip downtown.

The collar counties work at a similar scale. The Kane County Marriage License office is at 719 South Batavia Avenue in Geneva, on the Fox River west of Chicago. The Boone County Marriage License office at 1212 Logan Avenue in Belvidere serves a smaller county near the Wisconsin line. Both sit in commuter territory, where couples often juggle work schedules and ask about appointments or extended hours.

Downstate, the experience is different. Offices are smaller, staff know the forms well, and you may be the only couple in the room. The trade-off is distance. In a rural county the courthouse can be the only government office for many miles, and it may close for lunch or hold limited counter hours. Calling ahead matters more here than in the city.

Central Illinois county seats

The central part of the state has several mid-sized offices. The McLean County Marriage License office is at 115 East Washington Street in Bloomington (309-888-5190). The Macon County Marriage License office is at 141 South Main Street in Decatur (217-424-1305). The Vermilion County Marriage License office sits in the Courthouse Annex, first floor, at 6 North Vermilion Street in Danville (217-431-2615). Each county seat has its own parking, entrances and security screening, so allow a few extra minutes on your first visit.

If you live in McLean County, you can usually finish the application on a lunch break. Couples elsewhere in the region sometimes combine the license trip with a visit to the venue, the caterer or the officiant.

What to Bring to an Illinois County Clerk's Office

Requirements can differ slightly by county, so treat this list as a starting point. Confirm with the clerk before you leave home.

Fees vary by county, and we do not list a single statewide figure because there is none. Ask the clerk what the total will be and whether the office charges extra for certified copies after the ceremony. Expect the visit itself to be brief if your paperwork is in order.

Age and eligibility

Adults aged 18 and older can apply on their own. Illinois law has special rules for applicants younger than 18, which usually involve parental consent or a court order. If either of you is under 18, call the clerk first. Illinois also bars marriages between certain close relatives and marriages where either person is still legally married. The clerk's staff cannot give legal advice, so a family lawyer is the right person for complicated questions.

Small Courthouses and Border Counties in Southern and Western Illinois

Some of the most distinctive offices in our database are in small towns. The Edwards County office in Albion (618-445-2115) and the Mercer County office in Aledo (309-582-7021) serve counties with far smaller populations than Cook or Kane. The Mercer County Marriage License mailing address is Po Box 66 in Aledo, so confirm where to go in person before you drive out.

In the far south, the Alexander County office is at 2000 Washington Avenue in Cairo (618-734-7000), close to where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers meet. The White County office is at 301 East Main Street in Carmi (618-382-7211). Both serve couples who may live a long way from a metro area. In the Metro East region across from St. Louis, the St. Clair County office at 10 Public Square in Belleville (618-277-6600) handles a busier caseload. The Clinton County office at 850 Fairfax Street in Carlyle (618-594-6620) is within reach for couples east of the metro area.

Western and central counties follow the same pattern. The Henry County office is at 307 West Center Street in Cambridge (309-937-3575). The Macoupin County office is at 201 East Main Street in Carlinville (217-854-3214). The Greene County office is at 519 North Main Street in Carrollton (217-942-5443). The Franklin County office is at 202 West Main Street in Benton (618-438-3221). Many of these offices share a courthouse with other county departments, so look for the clerk's door once you are inside.

A practical way to choose an office

If you are free to pick any county, choose by convenience. Consider travel time, the hours the office keeps, and whether you need to make an appointment. A rural office with no line can be faster than a city office with a wait, even if the drive is longer. If you live far from the venue, apply near your home, since the license works statewide. If you will be traveling from out of state, apply in the county closest to the ceremony so you only make one trip before the wedding.

Marriage licenses in Illinois are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 93 cities across Illinois. They are spread across 93 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Greenville, Oquawka, Lincoln, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Illinois should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Illinois should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Illinois to find the nearest location.

After You Get Your License: Ceremonies and Records in Illinois

The license is only the first step. Once you have it, you need an authorized person to perform the ceremony. Illinois allows judges, retired judges and clergy to officiate, and the clerk's office can tell you what other options exist in that county. Some county clerks also perform civil ceremonies, but this varies, so ask when you apply instead of assuming. Couples marrying in a small courthouse town such as Carlinville, Carmi or Aledo often arrange the officiant through a local church or the circuit court.

After the ceremony, the officiant completes the certificate and returns it to the county clerk's office that issued the license. The clerk then records the marriage. Only after recording can you order certified copies, and you will need those for name changes, insurance, banking and employer records. Some couples are surprised that the keepsake certificate they receive at the ceremony is not the legal document. The legal copy is the certified one from the clerk.

If you ever need a copy or a correction years later, return to the county that issued the license. The Edwards County Marriage License office in Albion, the Cook County Marriage License office in Chicago and the Kane County Marriage License office in Geneva each maintain their own records. The Illinois Department of Public Health can point you in the right direction for older or statewide record questions.

No. Illinois does not require either applicant to be a resident, so out-of-state couples can apply at any county clerk's office. The usual requirements still apply, including valid photo identification, the application details and the fee. If you are traveling from another state or country, contact the clerk ahead of time to confirm which documents the office accepts. Remember the license takes effect the day after it is issued, so schedule the clerk visit at least a day before the ceremony. A destination wedding in Galena or Chicago works best when you arrive a few days early.

An Illinois license becomes effective the day after it is issued and stays valid for 60 days. That means you cannot apply and marry on the same day. If the ceremony does not happen within the 60-day window, the license expires and you must apply again and pay the fee again. Because of this timing, apply no earlier than about two months before the wedding, and no later than a few days before. If your date falls on a holiday weekend, check the clerk's holiday closures when you plan.

Yes. An Illinois license is valid in every county, so where you buy it does not limit where you marry. A couple could apply at the McLean County Marriage License office in Bloomington and hold the ceremony in Chicago, or apply in Belleville and marry in Galena. Choose the clerk by convenience: distance from your home, hours of operation and how busy the office is. The one thing to remember is that the completed certificate goes back to the county that issued the license, which is where you will later order certified copies.

Illinois law allows judges, retired judges and members of the clergy to perform ceremonies. Some religious groups also solemnize marriages according to their own customs. Certain county clerks offer civil ceremonies at the courthouse, but not every office does, so ask the clerk when you apply. If you plan a friend or relative to officiate, check their authority before the day, because a ceremony by someone without authority can cause trouble when the certificate is recorded. Your clerk's office can explain what the officiant must sign and return.

After the ceremony the officiant completes the certificate and returns it to the county clerk who issued the license, normally within ten days. The clerk records the marriage, and you can then request certified copies from that same office. Contact the Cook County Marriage License office on 312-603-7790, or whichever county issued yours, to learn the fee and the accepted payment methods. Certified copies are what the Social Security Administration, the Secretary of State driver's license office, banks and employers will ask for when you change your name. Order a few at once to avoid repeat trips.

Illinois no longer requires a premarital blood test, so you do not need medical paperwork to apply. If either of you has been married before, the application asks when and how the earlier marriage ended, whether by divorce, annulment or death. Have the dates ready, and ask the clerk whether the office wants to see a divorce decree or death certificate. You must be legally free to marry on the ceremony date. If a court order or earlier divorce is unclear, a family law attorney or the circuit clerk can help before you visit the marriage license counter.