Cook County Marriage Records

Cook County marriage records are held by the Cook County Clerk at the main office in downtown Chicago and at five suburban branch locations across the county. With more than 5.1 million residents, Cook County is the most populous county in Illinois and one of the largest in the whole country. You can search for marriage licenses, get certified copies of marriage records, and look up old marriage records through the clerk's office. The county also has an online search tool for marriage records that are more than 50 years old, which makes it a key resource for genealogy and family research in Cook County.

Cook County Clerk Marriage License Office

The Cook County Clerk handles all marriage licenses and marriage records in Cook County. The main office is in the heart of downtown Chicago. Both people who want to get married must show up at the same time. You need a valid ID that shows your age. The fee is $60 for a marriage license, and you can pay with cash, check, or a card. Under 750 ILCS 5, there is a one-day wait after you get the license before the ceremony can take place. The license stays valid for 60 days. It is only good in Chicago and suburban Cook County.

Cook County also lets you fill out a marriage license application online before you visit the clerk's office. This saves time at the counter. You still have to go in person to sign the forms and pay the fee, but the online step cuts down the wait. If you were divorced in the last six months, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree. The clerk will need to see it before they can issue a new marriage license in Cook County.

The Cook County Clerk marriage license page shows how to apply and what to bring to the office.

The site walks you through each step for getting a Cook County marriage license.

Cook County Suburban Marriage License Offices

Cook County runs five suburban offices where you can get a marriage license. These offices serve the parts of Cook County outside of downtown Chicago. The same rules and fees apply at each one. You can go to any of them, no matter which part of Cook County you live in. Each office is open on weekdays. Call first to check hours since they can change.

The suburban Cook County marriage license offices are at these spots:

• Skokie: 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL
• Maywood: 1311 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, IL
• Markham: 16501 S. Kedzie Avenue, Markham, IL
• Rolling Meadows: 2121 Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL
• Bridgeview: 10220 S. 76th Avenue, Bridgeview, IL

The Cook County Clerk main page has full details on each suburban office location and current hours for marriage records.

You can find all branch office info on the Cook County Clerk site.

Note: All six Cook County offices issue the same marriage license, so pick the one that is most convenient for you.

Getting Copies of Cook County Marriage Records

There are a few ways to get copies of marriage records in Cook County. The type of copy and the cost depend on what you need. A first certified copy of a Cook County marriage record costs $15. Each extra copy at the same time costs $4 more. You can ask for copies at the main office in Chicago or at any of the five suburban branches. Certified copies have the county seal on them. You need a certified copy for most legal needs, such as name changes, visa applications, or insurance claims.

The Illinois Vital Records Act under 410 ILCS 535 spells out who can get copies of vital records like marriage certificates. The act sets up rules for how the county clerk keeps these files and who can ask for them. In Cook County, marriage records are public. You do not have to be a party to the marriage to request a copy. Anyone can go to the clerk's office, fill out a form, and pay the fee to get a copy of a Cook County marriage record.

Note: Fees may change, so call the Cook County Clerk at (312) 603-7790 to confirm the current cost before you go.

Cook County Marriage Records for Genealogy

Cook County has a large genealogy collection of marriage records. Records that are more than 50 years old are open to the public for genealogy searches. The Cook County Clerk runs a free online index where you can search these old marriage records by name. This is a great tool for family history research. The index shows basic info like names, date, and license number. You can then order a full copy if you need more details.

Under 410 ILCS 535/25, genealogical access is allowed for vital records that are at least 50 years old. For Cook County marriage records in this category, a full certified copy costs $16.75. That price covers the search and the copy. You can order these by mail, in person, or through the online portal. Cook County has marriage records going back well over a century, which makes the collection one of the best in the state for genealogy work. If you are tracing family lines through Cook County, the clerk's genealogy search is the place to start.

The fees for genealogy copies fall under 410 ILCS 530/3, which sets the state rules for verification and copy fees. Cook County follows these state guidelines.

Marriage Equality in Cook County

Illinois passed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which took effect on February 21, 2014. Cook County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on that date. All Cook County marriage records for same-sex couples carry the same legal weight as any other marriage record. The county clerk's office treats all marriage license applications the same way, regardless of the gender of the parties.

The Cook County Clerk marriage equality page gives more information about this law and how it works in Cook County.

This page explains how Cook County handles same-sex marriage licenses and related marriage records.

Cook County Marriage License Requirements

To get a marriage license in Cook County, both parties must meet certain requirements set by Illinois law. Under 750 ILCS 5, each person must be at least 18 years old, or 16 to 17 with a parent's written consent. Both people must appear together at a Cook County Clerk office. You cannot send someone else in your place. Each person needs a valid photo ID that shows their date of birth. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work.

There is a 24-hour waiting period in Cook County. This means you can pick up the license the next day after you apply. The license is then valid for 60 days. If you do not use it in that time, it expires and you must start over. The marriage license is valid only in Chicago and suburban Cook County. You cannot use a Cook County marriage license to get married in another county or state. After the ceremony, the officiant files the signed license with the Cook County Clerk, and it becomes a marriage record on file.

If you were divorced within the past six months, you must bring a certified copy of your divorce decree to the Cook County Clerk. The staff will review it before they issue your new marriage license. This is a state rule that applies to all counties in Illinois, but Cook County staff will ask for the document at the time of your visit.

Applying for a Cook County Marriage License Online

Cook County has an online application for marriage licenses. You can start the process from home.

Go to the Cook County marriage license service page to fill out the form. The online application asks for basic info from both parties: names, dates of birth, addresses, and Social Security numbers. You also pick a date for your in-person visit. Once you submit the form, both parties still need to show up at a Cook County Clerk office to sign the papers and pay the $60 fee. The online step does not replace the visit, but it cuts down on the time you spend at the counter. Most couples find the whole in-person part takes less than 30 minutes when they have already filled out the form online through Cook County.

The online service page walks you through each field on the Cook County marriage license application.

What Cook County Marriage Records Show

A Cook County marriage record has a set of facts about the marriage. The document shows the full legal names of both parties, their dates of birth, and their home addresses at the time they applied. It also shows the date and place of the ceremony, plus the name of the person who performed it. If this is not a first marriage for either party, the record may note the number of prior marriages.

Cook County marriage records serve many purposes. People use them for name changes, to prove marital status, for insurance claims, for immigration applications, and for genealogy research. A certified copy of a Cook County marriage record has the official county seal and is accepted by courts, government agencies, and other institutions. Plain copies without the seal can be used for personal reference but may not be accepted for legal matters. The clerk's office can tell you which type you need based on your situation in Cook County.

Cities in Cook County

Cook County has dozens of cities and villages. All of them get marriage licenses through the Cook County Clerk office. You can apply at the main Chicago office or at any suburban branch. Here are the major cities in Cook County that have their own pages with local details about marriage records.

Other cities and villages in Cook County include Tinley Park, Niles, Elmwood Park, Park Ridge, Calumet City, Harvey, and many more. All of them use the Cook County Clerk for marriage licenses and marriage records.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cook County. If you live near the border, check your address to make sure you apply at the right clerk's office. A Cook County marriage license is only valid in Cook County.