Find Illinois Marriage Records Online
Illinois marriage records are held by county clerks in all 102 counties across the state. Each county clerk issues marriage licenses and keeps certified copies of marriage certificates on file. The Illinois Department of Public Health can verify facts about marriages from 1962 to the present, but certified copies come only from the county where the marriage took place. You can search for Illinois marriage records online through state archives, by mail, or in person at a county clerk office. Whether you need a license, a certified copy, or just want to check a date, there are several ways to find what you need.
Illinois Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Illinois Marriage Records
Marriage records in Illinois come from two main sources. County clerks are the primary keepers. They issue licenses and store certified copies of marriage certificates. When you need proof of a marriage that took place in Illinois, the county clerk in the county where the ceremony was held is the place to go. Fees for certified copies range from about $14 to $20 for the first copy, with lower costs for extra copies in the same order. Some counties like Cook County charge $15 for the first certified copy and $4 for each one after that. Kane County charges $16 for the first and $6 for more. Each county sets its own fee schedule for marriage records in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Public Health is the second source. IDPH does not issue certified copies. They provide marriage verification only. A verification confirms basic facts: names, dates of birth, date of the event, and the city or county where it took place. The cost is $5 per search. You mail a completed application with a valid photo ID and a check payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Send it to 925 E. Ridgely Ave., Springfield, IL 62702-2737. Processing takes about 12 weeks from the time they get your request.
Note: Only the county clerk where the marriage took place can give you a certified copy of a marriage certificate in Illinois.
How to Search Marriage Records in Illinois
The Illinois State Archives runs the Statewide Marriage Index. It covers records from 1763 to 1900. This free online database has over one million marriages and two million names. The index was built by the Illinois State Archives and the Illinois State Genealogical Society. It includes names of both the groom and bride, the date of the marriage or license, the county name, and a citation to the original record. Over 90 of the 102 Illinois counties are part of this index. If you find a match, you can get a copy of the original record from the county clerk or through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository system.
For more recent marriage records in Illinois, contact the county clerk directly. Many counties let you search in person during office hours. Some offer online ordering through VitalChek, which adds an extra fee on top of the county's charge. Both parties named in the record, their children, direct family, legal agents, or someone with notarized consent can get certified copies under 410 ILCS 535, the Vital Records Act. Marriage records are not open to the public like court filings. Only people with a legal right can get a certified copy in Illinois.
You can also call IDPH at (217) 782-6554 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. They handle verification requests for marriages from 1962 forward. The fax number is (217) 523-2648, and the email is DPH.VITALS@illinois.gov. For apostille services on Illinois marriage records meant for use in other countries, contact the Illinois Secretary of State Index Department at 800-252-8980.
Illinois Marriage License Requirements
Getting a marriage license in Illinois starts at the county clerk office. Under 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, both parties must show up together with valid photo ID. You need a current driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. Both people must be at least 18 years old. Those aged 16 or 17 can apply with parental consent, and both parents must be present with their own ID.
There is a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued. You cannot get married the same day you pick up the license. It becomes valid the day after you get it. The license stays good for 60 days. If you don't use it in that time, it expires and you have to apply again with a new fee. Licenses are only valid in the county where they were issued. If you get your license in Cook County, the ceremony must happen in Cook County.
License fees vary by county across Illinois. Cook County charges $60. Kane County is $32, cash only. McHenry County charges $30, also cash only. Champaign and Sangamon Counties both charge $75. Madison County and Rock Island County each charge $35 in cash. If you were divorced in the past six months, most counties need a certified copy of the divorce decree before they will issue a new marriage license in Illinois.
Marriage Records for Genealogy in Illinois
Historical marriage records in Illinois are a key tool for family research. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, marriage records on file for 50 years or more may be available for genealogical purposes. These copies are labeled "For Genealogical Purposes Only" and cost less than certified copies. Lake County, for example, charges $4 for uncertified genealogical copies of marriage records. DuPage County charges just $1 per record for genealogical copies that are 75 years or older.
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository system, known as IRAD, holds historical marriage records from counties across the state. There are four IRAD locations. Northern Illinois University in DeKalb serves northern counties. The Illinois History and Lincoln Library in Springfield covers central Illinois. Southern Illinois University in Carbondale handles the southern region. Western Illinois University in Macomb covers western counties. Contact the right IRAD branch for historical marriage records if the county clerk no longer has the originals.
Who Can Get Marriage Records in Illinois
Illinois law limits who can get certified copies of marriage records. Under the Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535, these records are not public. They are not covered by the Freedom of Information Act. Only certain people have the legal right to get a certified copy of a marriage certificate in Illinois.
The list of people who can request certified copies includes:
- The couple named in the record
- Children of the couple or either party
- Direct family members
- Legal representatives or agents
- Anyone with notarized consent from the couple
You need a valid government photo ID when you ask for a copy. Your ID must be current and readable. Expired IDs will be turned down. You can request copies in person at the county clerk office, by mail, or in some counties through online services like VitalChek. The county clerk cannot give out marriage record details over the phone because of state privacy rules in Illinois.
Courthouse Weddings in Illinois
Most county clerks in Illinois offer courthouse wedding ceremonies. The fee for a ceremony is usually around $10. Kane County holds ceremonies at the Judicial Center in St. Charles on Monday through Thursday at 3:30 PM and at the Geneva courthouse on Fridays from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. You need an appointment. Peoria County offers ceremonies by a judge in person or by Zoom for $10. Sangamon County holds ceremonies in Room 404 of the courthouse, and you pay the $10 fee to the Circuit Clerk in Room 405. An appointment is needed at (217) 535-3186.
No witnesses are required by Illinois law. A marriage can be performed by a member of the clergy, a judge, a retired judge, or in line with the customs of a religious group. After the ceremony, the officiant fills out the license and returns it to the county clerk. The clerk then files the completed license, and it becomes the official marriage record. You can then request certified copies of your marriage certificate from that county clerk office in Illinois.
Browse Illinois Marriage Records by County
Each county clerk in Illinois keeps marriage records for that county. Pick a county below to find local contact info, fees, and resources for marriage records in that area.
Marriage Records in Major Illinois Cities
City clerks in Illinois do not issue marriage licenses. All licenses come from the county clerk. Pick a city below to find out which county handles marriage records for that area.