Madison County Marriage Records
Madison County marriage records are filed and stored at the County Clerk office in Edwardsville, Illinois. The clerk handles all marriage license applications, issues certified copies of marriage certificates, and maintains historical vital records for the county. Madison County sits in the Metro East region across the river from St. Louis, with a population of about 264,000. You can search for marriage records by visiting the clerk office on Main Street, ordering by mail, or starting an online application for a new marriage license. The office keeps records going back many decades and can help with both current needs and genealogical research for Madison County marriages.
Madison County Quick Facts
Madison County Clerk Office
The Madison County Clerk office is the only place to get a marriage license or a certified copy of a marriage certificate in this county. The office is at 157 North Main Street in Edwardsville, right in the center of the county seat. Staff can help with new license applications, copies of existing marriage records, and questions about the process. Walk-in visits are welcome during normal hours.
One thing that sets Madison County apart from some other Illinois counties is the online application option. You can start your marriage license application on the Madison County marriage license page before your visit. This can save time at the office. However, both parties still need to appear in person to finalize the application, show ID, and pay the fee. The online form just gets the paperwork started ahead of time in Madison County.
The Madison County Clerk website has details on all vital record services including births, deaths, and marriages. Check the site for current forms and any updates to fees or hours before you visit.
The Madison County Clerk site shown above is where you can find forms, current fees, and office details for all vital record services in the county.
| Office Location |
157 N. Main Street, Rm #109 Edwardsville, IL 62025 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address |
PO Box 218 Edwardsville, IL 62025 |
| Phone | (618) 692-6290 |
| Fax | (618) 692-8903 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | Madison County Clerk |
How to Get a Marriage License in Madison County
The marriage license process in Madison County follows Illinois state law. Under 750 ILCS 5, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act lays out the requirements. Both parties must appear together at the Madison County Clerk office. Each person needs a valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID will work. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17, you need parental consent, and the parent must come to the office with their own ID to sign.
The fee for a marriage license in Madison County is $35. Cash only. The clerk does not accept checks, credit cards, or debit cards for marriage license fees. Once you fill out the application and pay, the clerk issues the license. There is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before the license is active. You cannot hold your ceremony on the same day you get the license in Madison County.
The license stays valid for 60 days after it is issued. Your ceremony must happen within Madison County during that time. If the 60 days pass without a ceremony, the license expires and you will need to apply again with a new fee. After the ceremony, the officiant completes the license and returns it to the Madison County Clerk, where it becomes the official marriage record on file.
Madison County Marriage License Application
The Madison County Clerk provides an online starting point for your marriage license application. You can view the requirements and begin the process through the Madison County marriage license page before your visit to the office.
The online page shown above walks you through each step of the Madison County marriage license application, including what ID to bring and the cash-only fee policy.
If either party was previously married, you need to bring proof that the earlier marriage ended. A certified copy of a divorce decree or a death certificate will work. If the divorce was finalized within the last six months, some counties require additional documentation. Check with the Madison County Clerk at (618) 692-6290 if you have questions about what to bring.
Madison County Marriage Record Copies and Fees
Getting a copy of a marriage record in Madison County costs money. Certified copies serve as legal proof that a marriage took place. You might need one to change your name, update a Social Security card, or prove marital status. The first certified copy of a marriage certificate from Madison County costs $20. Each additional copy ordered at the same time is $8. These fees apply whether you order in person or by mail.
Under 410 ILCS 535, only people with a legal right can get certified copies. This means the couple named on the record, their children, parents, legal agents, or someone with notarized consent. You need a valid photo ID for every request. The Madison County Clerk follows these rules strictly. For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to the Madison County Clerk, a completed request form, and a copy of your photo ID.
The Illinois Department of Public Health can provide a marriage verification for $5. This is not a certified copy. It simply confirms that a marriage took place. IDPH handles verifications for events from 1962 forward and takes about 12 weeks to process by mail.
Courthouse Weddings in Madison County
Madison County offers courthouse wedding ceremonies. These take place on Fridays by appointment only. A judge performs the ceremony at the courthouse in Edwardsville. The fee for the judge is $10, paid in cash. You need to call (618) 296-4580 to schedule your courthouse wedding in Madison County. Spots can fill up, so book in advance if you have a specific date in mind.
You still need a valid marriage license before the ceremony can happen. Remember the 24-hour wait, so get your license at least the day before your scheduled ceremony. No witnesses are required by Illinois law. After the judge performs the ceremony, the license is signed and filed with the Madison County Clerk. Your marriage record is then on file and you can order certified copies from the clerk office.
Who Can Get Madison County Marriage Records
Illinois treats marriage certificates as restricted vital records. They are not public documents. The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to vital records in Illinois. This means you cannot just walk in and request anyone's marriage certificate from Madison County.
The people who can request a certified copy include the individuals named on the record, their children, direct family members, legal representatives, and anyone who has notarized written consent from a party named on the certificate. You must bring a current government-issued photo ID to make your request. Expired IDs will not be accepted at the Madison County Clerk office. If ordering by mail, send a clear photocopy of your ID along with your request and payment. The clerk checks each request against the state rules before issuing any copy from Madison County.
Under 410 ILCS 535/25, records that have been on file for 50 years or longer may be released for genealogical purposes. These copies are labeled accordingly and cannot be used as legal identification. Contact the Madison County Clerk to ask about what older records are available for family history research.
Note: The Madison County Clerk cannot give out information from marriage records over the phone because of state privacy laws.
Historical Marriage Records in Madison County
Madison County has a long history as one of the oldest counties in Illinois. The clerk office maintains marriage records going back many decades. Family history researchers regularly request copies of older marriage certificates from Madison County for use in building family trees and tracing lineage through the Metro East area and southern Illinois.
The Illinois State Archives Statewide Marriage Index includes Madison County records from 1763 to 1900. This free online database has over one million marriage entries from across the state. You can search by name to find the date and county of a marriage. If you find a Madison County entry, the clerk office or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository can help you get a copy of the original record. The IRAD location at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale covers Madison County and the surrounding region.
Cities in Madison County
Madison County has a number of cities and towns across the Metro East region. City offices do not handle marriage licenses in Illinois. Every resident of Madison County applies for a license and gets copies of marriage records at the County Clerk office in Edwardsville. This includes residents of Edwardsville, Alton, Granite City, and Collinsville. All of these communities are served by the same Madison County Clerk for marriage record purposes.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Madison County. Make sure your ceremony will take place in the same county where you get your license. If you plan to marry across the county line, get the license in that county instead.