Find Marriage Records in Waukegan
Waukegan marriage records are kept at the Lake County Clerk's office, which is located right in Waukegan. As the county seat of Lake County and home to about 89,000 people, Waukegan is where many residents go to get a marriage license or look up past marriage records. The Lake County Clerk handles all marriage license applications, certified copies, and genealogy requests for Waukegan and the rest of Lake County. You can visit the clerk's office in person or start searching for marriage records online through the county website.
Waukegan Quick Facts
Where Waukegan Residents Get Marriage Licenses
In Illinois, county clerks issue marriage licenses. The Waukegan City Clerk at 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue handles city business, but not marriage records. For a marriage license or a copy of a past record, Waukegan residents go to the Lake County Clerk's office at 18 N. County Street. Since Waukegan is the county seat, the clerk's office is right in town. This makes it easy for Waukegan residents to handle their marriage record needs without a long drive.
The Lake County Clerk's office is in Room 101 of the county building. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Both people getting married must come in together with valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport will work. The clerk will need basic details like your date of birth, place of birth, and current address. If either person was married before, you must tell the clerk when and where that marriage ended. The Lake County marriage license page has more details on what to bring and how to get started in Waukegan.
The City of Waukegan website covers city services, but marriage records are handled at the county level.
All marriage license and marriage record requests in Waukegan go through the Lake County Clerk.
| Office | Lake County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 N. County Street, Room 101 Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Phone | (847) 377-2400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | lakecountyil.gov |
Waukegan Marriage License Requirements
Illinois law sets the rules for marriage licenses in Waukegan and all of Lake County. Under 750 ILCS 5/207, a marriage license becomes effective one day after it is issued. You cannot have the ceremony on the same day you pick up the license at the Lake County Clerk's office in Waukegan. Once the 24-hour waiting period passes, the license is good for 60 days. If you do not use it in that time, it expires and you would need to apply again.
Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Anyone 16 or 17 needs a court order under 750 ILCS 5/208 before the Lake County Clerk can issue a license. If either person was divorced within the last six months, you must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree when you apply in Waukegan. This is an Illinois rule that the Lake County Clerk enforces for all applicants. Social Security numbers are needed for both parties.
Note: A Lake County marriage license obtained in Waukegan is valid for ceremonies held anywhere in Illinois.
Searching Waukegan Marriage Records
The Lake County Clerk has marriage records going back to 1839 for the Waukegan area. This is one of the deeper collections in the state. You can search for marriage records in person at the clerk's office or use the Lake County marriage records page to learn about online options. The clerk can look up records by name or date if you visit in person.
Under 410 ILCS 535, only certain people can get certified copies of vital records in Illinois. That list includes the couple on the record, their children, direct family members, legal representatives, and anyone with notarized consent from the couple. If you qualify, the Lake County Clerk will issue a certified copy with the official seal. Waukegan residents who just need to verify basic facts about a marriage can also go through the state. The Illinois Department of Public Health has a verification service through the IDPH Division of Vital Records. That costs $5 but takes about 12 weeks to process.
Waukegan Marriage Records for Genealogy
Lake County's marriage records date back to 1839. That makes the Waukegan area a strong place to do family history research. For records from the 1700s and 1800s, the Illinois State Archives has a free Statewide Marriage Index covering 1763 to 1900. You can search it at the Illinois State Archives marriage database. The index includes Lake County records and lists names of the bride and groom, dates, and the county where the marriage took place.
Under 410 ILCS 535/25, marriage records on file for more than 50 years can be released for genealogy purposes in Lake County. These copies are uncertified and labeled "For Genealogical Purposes Only." The fee for genealogical copies at the Lake County Clerk's office is $4.00. That is less than the cost of a regular certified copy, which helps if you are pulling several records for a family history project in the Waukegan area. The clerk's staff can point you to other sources if the record you need is not in their files.
Lake County also has birth records from 1871 and death records from 1877. These can be useful alongside marriage records when building a family tree for Waukegan area ancestors.
Marriage Ceremonies in Waukegan
Waukegan residents have several options for their marriage ceremony. You can have a civil ceremony at the Lake County courthouse. You can also have any ordained minister, judge, or other person allowed under 750 ILCS 5/209 perform the marriage. The officiant must sign the license and return it to the Lake County Clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.
Once the signed license reaches the clerk's office, your marriage record is complete and on file in Lake County. If the license is not returned on time, it can cause issues with your Waukegan marriage record. Make sure your officiant understands that they have to file the paperwork. The Lake County Clerk's office can answer questions about the process if you call (847) 377-2400.
Lake County Marriage Records
Waukegan is the county seat of Lake County, and all marriage filings go through the Lake County Clerk's office right here in town. The county handles licenses and records for over 714,000 residents across dozens of cities and towns. For more on the full county clerk services, fee details, genealogy resources, and nearby county information, visit the Lake County marriage records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Waukegan and may help if you are looking for marriage records in other parts of the Chicago area. Each page covers the county clerk that serves that city.