Search Franklin County Marriage Records

Franklin County marriage records are kept at the County Clerk office in Benton, Illinois. Whether you need to apply for a new marriage license or search for an older marriage record, the Franklin County Clerk is the place to go. This southern Illinois county has about 37,000 residents, with Benton as the county seat and West Frankfort as the largest town. The clerk's office handles all marriage license applications, stores completed marriage records, and issues certified copies for Franklin County residents and anyone else who needs them.

Franklin County Clerk Office

The Franklin County Clerk is in charge of all marriage licenses and marriage records in the county. The office sits at 202 E. Main St. in Benton. You can call them at (618) 438-3221 to ask about hours, fees, or what you need to bring. Staff at the Franklin County Clerk office process marriage license applications, file completed marriage records after ceremonies, and issue certified copies of those records. Walk-in service is available on weekdays.

Both people who want to get married must come to the Franklin County Clerk office at the same time. Each person needs a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport works fine. If either party was married before, you also need to bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or a death certificate. The clerk will not issue a new marriage license in Franklin County until they see proof that the prior marriage ended. Under 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, both parties must be at least 18 years old or have parental consent if they are 16 or 17.

The Franklin County website has more details on government offices and services in the county.

The county site gives you contact info and directions for the clerk's office where Franklin County marriage records are handled.

Getting Copies of Franklin County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Franklin County marriage records are available from the clerk's office. You can get them in person or by mail. For in-person requests, go to the Benton office and bring a photo ID. Tell the staff the names on the record and the date of the marriage. They will pull it up and print a certified copy for you. The first certified copy costs $15. Extra copies of the same record at the same time cost less. These fees fall under 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act.

Mail requests are another option. Send a letter to the Franklin County Clerk at 202 E. Main St., Benton, IL 62812. Put the full names of both parties, the date of the marriage, and a check or money order for the fee. Make it payable to the Franklin County Clerk. Allow a couple of weeks for the office to process your request and mail the copy back.

Franklin County marriage records are public records. You do not have to be one of the people named on the record to request a copy. Anyone can walk in or send a mail request and get a certified copy, as long as they pay the fee.

Note: Call (618) 438-3221 to confirm the current fee before sending a mail request to the Franklin County Clerk.

Franklin County Marriage License Process

Getting a marriage license in Franklin County takes a visit to the clerk's office in Benton. No appointment is needed in most cases, but calling ahead can save time. Here is what you need to know about the Franklin County marriage license process:

• Both parties appear together with valid photo ID
• No blood test is required in Illinois
• There is no residency rule, so out-of-county and out-of-state couples can apply
• The 24-hour wait starts after the application is filed
• The license is good for 60 days once issued

After your ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage license and returns it to the Franklin County Clerk within 10 days. Once it is filed, the document becomes a permanent marriage record in Franklin County. If the license expires before the ceremony, you must start over with a new application and a new fee. The same rules apply whether you live in Benton, West Frankfort, or anywhere else.

Franklin County Marriage Records and Genealogy

Older marriage records in Franklin County are a good source for family history research. The clerk's office has records going back many years. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, marriage records that are more than 50 years old are open to anyone for genealogical purposes. You do not need to explain why you want them or prove a family connection. This makes it easy to trace family lines through Franklin County marriage records.

The Illinois State Archives also has an online marriage index that covers many Illinois counties, including some Franklin County records. This free database lets you search by name. If you find a match, order a full certified copy from the Franklin County Clerk to get all the details. The state archives site is a helpful starting point when you are not sure of the exact date or spelling of names.

State-Level Marriage Record Resources

The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains a central file of marriage records from all 102 Illinois counties. If you are having trouble finding a specific record at the Franklin County Clerk office, IDPH can search their statewide index. They charge a fee for copies, and processing takes several weeks. Still, IDPH is a good backup when the county does not have what you need or when you are not sure which county the marriage took place in.

The Illinois compiled statutes spell out all the legal rules for marriage licenses and marriage records in Franklin County and every other county in the state. You can look up 750 ILCS 5 for the marriage act and 410 ILCS 535 for the vital records act. Both are free to read on the state legislature site.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County has several towns, and all of them rely on the Franklin County Clerk for marriage licenses and marriage records. Benton serves as the county seat and the home of the clerk's office. West Frankfort is the largest community in the county. No matter where you live in Franklin County, you apply for your marriage license at the same office in Benton at 202 E. Main St.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Franklin County. If the marriage license was issued in a different county, you will need to contact that county's clerk office for copies. Each county clerk keeps only its own marriage records.