Aurora Marriage Records
Aurora marriage records are handled at the county level, not by the Aurora City Clerk. This is a key detail because Aurora sits in four different counties. Most of the city falls in Kane County, so the Kane County Clerk is where most Aurora residents go for marriage licenses and certificate copies. The Kane County Clerk runs a satellite office right in downtown Aurora, which makes the process easier than driving to the main office in Geneva. If you need to find or search for Aurora marriage records, the Kane County Clerk is the place to start.
Aurora Quick Facts
Which County Handles Aurora Marriage Records
Aurora is one of the few Illinois cities that spans more than one county. The city crosses into Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will Counties. The majority of Aurora sits in Kane County, and that is where most residents apply for a marriage license. The Kane County Clerk keeps marriage records for the Kane County portion of Aurora. If you live in the DuPage County section, your records go through the DuPage County Clerk in Wheaton. Residents in parts of Aurora that fall in Will County or Kendall County would use those county clerks.
For most people, the Kane County Clerk is the right office. If you are not sure which county your address falls in, you can check with the Aurora City Clerk at (630) 256-3070 or visit the City of Aurora website. They can tell you which county covers your part of town. Your marriage license is only valid in the county that issued it, so this matters if you plan to have the ceremony at a specific location in Aurora.
Kane County Clerk Aurora Office
The Kane County Clerk has a satellite office in downtown Aurora at 5 E. Downer Place, Unit F. This is just steps from the Aurora City Clerk building. The Aurora office handles marriage license applications, certified copies, and other vital records. You can do everything here that you would do at the main office in Geneva. The phone number is (630) 232-5950, and Spanish-speaking staff can be reached at (630) 232-5991.
| Office | Kane County Clerk - Aurora Branch |
|---|---|
| Address | 5 E. Downer Place, Unit F Aurora, IL 60505 |
| Phone | (630) 232-5950 |
| Hours | Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Wed: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Website | clerk2.kanecountyil.gov |
The Wednesday extended hours until 8:00 PM are useful if you work during the day and cannot get to the Aurora office before 4:30 PM. You must arrive by 4:00 PM on regular days or by 7:30 PM on Wednesdays since applications take up to 30 minutes to process. Walk-ins are welcome at the Aurora branch for marriage license applications.
Getting a Marriage License in Aurora
Both people must come to the Kane County Clerk Aurora office together. You cannot apply alone or by mail. The license fee is $32 and must be paid in cash. No checks, no cards. This catches some people off guard, so bring cash when you go to apply for your Aurora marriage license.
Each person needs a valid ID with proof of age. A driver's license, state ID card, or passport will work. If either person had a prior marriage, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate. Under 750 ILCS 5/203, both parties must be at least 18. Minors aged 16 or 17 need parental consent and a court order. There is no blood test needed and no residency requirement in Kane County. Out-of-state couples can get an Aurora marriage license too.
After the clerk issues the license, there is a 24-hour waiting period before you can use it. The license is then valid for 60 days. It can only be used for a ceremony within Kane County. If your ceremony is in a part of Aurora that falls in DuPage or Will County, you would need a license from that county instead. The Kane County marriage license page has full details on what to bring. You can also fill out an online pre-application to save time at the office.
Note: Applications must be started at least 30 minutes before the Aurora office closes for the day.
Aurora Marriage Certificate Copies
Certified copies of marriage certificates for Aurora residents are available through the Kane County Clerk. The first copy costs $16. Each extra copy ordered at the same time is $6. You can request copies in person at the Aurora branch, by mail, or through VitalChek online. VitalChek charges an extra $10 processing fee on top of the county rate. Under 410 ILCS 535, only the people named on the certificate, their family members, or authorized agents can get a certified copy.
For older records, the Kane County Clerk has marriage files going back many decades. If you are doing genealogy research, records that are 50 or more years old may be available under 410 ILCS 535/25 for research use. These come as uncertified copies marked for genealogy purposes only. The Illinois State Archives also keeps a statewide marriage index that goes back to 1763, covering over one million marriages. If you find a Kane County match in the index, you can then request the full record from the clerk in Aurora.
The screenshot below shows the City of Aurora website, which many residents visit first when looking for marriage records in Aurora.
The city site is useful for many Aurora services but does not handle marriage licenses or records directly.
Legal Help for Marriage Records in Aurora
Aurora residents who need help with marriage-related legal questions have a few options. The Kane County Bar Association can refer you to a local family law attorney. Prairie State Legal Services offers free legal help to low-income residents in the Aurora area. They cover family law topics that sometimes come up around marriage records, such as name changes and prenuptial agreements.
If you need to verify a marriage that took place from 1962 to the present, the Illinois Department of Public Health can do so for $5 per search. This is not a certified copy. It only confirms the facts of the marriage: names, dates of birth, and the date and place of the event. You send the request by mail to the Division of Vital Records in Springfield. The turnaround time runs about 12 weeks, so it is not a fast option. For something faster, go to the Kane County Clerk Aurora office in person and request a certified copy of the marriage certificate. Same-day service is often available for in-person requests at the Aurora branch.
The Aurora city website screenshot below shows the range of services available to city residents, though marriage records are not among them.
For marriage records in Aurora, always go through the Kane County Clerk rather than the city office.
Kane County Marriage Records
Aurora is mostly in Kane County, and the Kane County Clerk handles the bulk of marriage records for the city. The county clerk office in Geneva serves as the main hub, with branch offices in Aurora and Elgin. For the full list of Kane County marriage services, fees, and office details, check the county page below.
Nearby Cities for Marriage Records
Several cities near Aurora have their own marriage record pages. Some fall in Kane County like Aurora, while others are in neighboring counties. If you live near the border of Aurora and another city, one of these might be closer to you.
- Naperville (DuPage County)
- Elgin (Kane County)
- Joliet (Will County)
- Bolingbrook (Will County)
Each city's page explains which county clerk handles their marriage records and how to get licenses and certificates in that area.