Find Marriage Records in Bureau County

Bureau County marriage records are maintained at the County Clerk office in Princeton, Illinois. You can apply for a marriage license, search for older records, or order certified copies at this office. Bureau County has about 32,900 residents in north-central Illinois. Princeton is the county seat, and Spring Valley is another town in the area. The Bureau County Clerk keeps all marriage records on file and handles license applications for everyone in the county, no matter which town you live in.

Bureau County Clerk Office

The Bureau County Clerk handles all marriage licenses and marriage records. The office is at 700 S. Main St. in Princeton. Call (815) 875-2014 for questions about office hours, fees, or what to bring. Walk-in service is available during regular weekday hours. Staff take license applications, file completed records, and issue certified copies to anyone who asks.

Both people who want to get married must visit the Bureau County Clerk office together. Each person needs a valid photo ID that shows their date of birth. A driver's license, state ID, or passport works. Under 750 ILCS 5, both must be at least 18 years old. If either person is 16 or 17, a parent or guardian must be there to give written consent. If you had a prior marriage, bring your divorce decree or a death certificate. The Bureau County Clerk checks this before issuing a new license. No blood test is needed, and there is no residency requirement.

Check the Bureau County website for department contacts and services.

The Illinois Department of Public Health marriage records page provides statewide information that applies to Bureau County residents.

Copies of Bureau County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Bureau County marriage records are available from the clerk's office. You can get them in person or by mail. For in-person service, go to the Princeton office with a photo ID and give the staff the names on the record along with the marriage date. The first certified copy costs $15. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time cost less. The fee comes from the rules in 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act.

Mail requests go to the Bureau County Clerk at 700 S. Main St., Princeton, IL 61356. Include the full names, marriage date, your return address, and a check or money order for the fee payable to the Bureau County Clerk. Allow a couple weeks for processing and return mail. Marriage records in Bureau County are public. Anyone can request a copy, even if they are not named on the record.

Bureau County Marriage License Process

There is a 24-hour waiting period after you apply for a marriage license at the Bureau County Clerk office. This is an Illinois state rule under 750 ILCS 5. You pick up the license the next day. It is then valid for 60 days. The wedding must take place in Illinois during that time. If the 60-day window closes without a ceremony, the license expires and you need to start fresh with a new application and fee in Bureau County.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage license and sends it back to the Bureau County Clerk within 10 days. Once filed, it becomes a permanent marriage record. You can order certified copies from the clerk at any time after that. This works the same way for civil ceremonies, religious ones, and all other types. Here are the steps at a glance:

• Both parties apply in person with valid photo ID
• Wait 24 hours, then pick up the license
• Hold the ceremony in Illinois within 60 days
• Officiant signs and returns the license to the clerk
• Clerk files it as a permanent Bureau County marriage record

Note: No residency is required, so couples from anywhere can apply for a Bureau County marriage license.

Bureau County Marriage Records and Genealogy

Bureau County has marriage records that go back many years. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, records more than 50 years old are open to the public for genealogical searches. No proof of family connection is needed. Visit the clerk in Princeton or mail a request with the names and approximate date of the marriage you are looking for.

The Illinois State Archives maintains a free online marriage index that may include some Bureau County records. This database lets you search by name. If you find a match, order a certified copy from the Bureau County Clerk. The Illinois Department of Public Health also keeps a statewide file. IDPH is a good option when you are not sure which county the marriage was in. They cover all 102 Illinois counties, though they charge a fee and take several weeks to respond.

Illinois Marriage Law

Two key state statutes govern marriage licenses and records in Bureau County. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5) covers who can marry, the 24-hour wait, age requirements, and the 60-day license validity period. The Illinois Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) governs how the clerk stores records and how copies are issued. Both are free to read on the Illinois General Assembly website. These apply the same in Bureau County as in every other county.

Cities in Bureau County

Bureau County has several small towns. Princeton is the county seat and where the clerk's office is located. Spring Valley is another community in the county. All Bureau County residents use the same clerk at 700 S. Main St. in Princeton for marriage licenses and marriage records, regardless of which town they live in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bureau County. Each has its own clerk who handles marriage records for that county only. If the marriage record you need is from a different county, contact their clerk's office.