Montgomery County Marriage Records

Montgomery County marriage records are kept at the County Clerk office in Hillsboro, located at the historic courthouse square. The clerk handles all marriage license applications, stores returned certificates, and issues certified copies for residents across this south-central Illinois county. With a population of around 27,942, Montgomery County serves communities like Hillsboro and Litchfield. You can search for marriage records, apply for a new license, or get copies of past certificates by contacting the clerk. The office holds marriage records going back many decades, and older records may also be found through state-level archive resources.

Montgomery County Clerk Office

The Montgomery County Clerk is the office that issues marriage licenses and keeps marriage records on file. The office sits at the courthouse square in Hillsboro. Staff can help you fill out a marriage license application, look up old records, and get certified copies. When an officiant returns a signed marriage license after a ceremony, the clerk files it as the official marriage record for Montgomery County.

Both people who plan to marry must come to the Montgomery County Clerk office at the same time. Each person needs a valid photo ID that shows their date of birth. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. If either person was married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or a death certificate is what the clerk will need to see. Under 750 ILCS 5, both applicants must be at least 18. Those who are 16 or 17 can apply with a parent present to sign a consent form at the Montgomery County Clerk office. There is no residency rule, so you do not have to live in Montgomery County or even in Illinois to get a license here.

Visit the Montgomery County government website for general info about county departments and office hours.

Marriage License Process in Montgomery County

Getting a marriage license in Montgomery County follows the same steps used across Illinois. You and your partner go to the clerk's office together. Bring your IDs. Fill out the application form and pay the fee. The clerk issues the license that same day, but there is a wait before you can use it.

Illinois law sets a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued. That means you cannot hold the ceremony on the same day you pick up the license in Montgomery County. Once 24 hours pass, the license stays valid for 60 days. If you do not have the ceremony in that window, the license expires and you have to start over. The license is only good for ceremonies held within Montgomery County. A judge, minister, or other person who is authorized under state law can perform the ceremony. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the Montgomery County Clerk. That signed form becomes the official marriage record on file.

No blood test is needed in Illinois. The state dropped that rule a long time ago.

Copies of Montgomery County Marriage Records

You can get copies of marriage records by visiting the Montgomery County Clerk in Hillsboro or by mailing a written request. Certified copies carry the county seal and are accepted for legal matters like name changes, visa applications, and insurance claims. Plain copies without the seal work for personal use but most agencies will not take them.

The Illinois Department of Public Health can verify that a marriage took place in the state, but it does not issue certified copies. For a certified copy of a Montgomery County marriage record, the county clerk is the right place to go. Under 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act sets the rules on who can get certified copies. The people named on the certificate, their parents, children, or legal agents can request them. Anyone with notarized consent from a named party can also make the request. Montgomery County follows these state rules when handling all copy requests. Bring a valid photo ID to the office or include a copy of your ID with mail requests, plus a check or money order made out to the Montgomery County Clerk.

The IDPH page below covers how the state handles marriage record verifications, which supports local Montgomery County records for events from 1962 forward.

This state resource is useful if you are not sure which county a marriage took place in. It can help narrow down the search before you contact the Montgomery County Clerk.

Historical Marriage Records for Montgomery County

Montgomery County has marriage records that go back well into the 1800s. Early settlers filed marriage bonds and licenses at the courthouse in Hillsboro. Many of those old documents are still on file or have been moved to state archives for long-term storage. Researchers looking for Montgomery County marriages from before 1900 can use a free tool at the state level.

The Illinois State Archives runs a Statewide Marriage Index that covers records from 1763 to 1900. Montgomery County is part of this database. You can search by name and see the date and county where the marriage took place. For records after 1900, reach out to the Montgomery County Clerk. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, marriage records that are 50 years old or more may be available for genealogical purposes. These copies often carry a note that says they are for genealogy use only. The Montgomery County Clerk can tell you what older records they have on hand and what the fees are for copies of those documents.

Note: The state archives index is free to search online and does not require an account or fee.

Montgomery County Marriage License Rules

Illinois law sets the rules for who can get a marriage license. These apply in Montgomery County the same as in every other county in the state. Here are the main things you need to know:

• Both people must be at least 18 years old, or 16-17 with parental consent
• Both must appear at the clerk office in person
• Each person needs a valid photo ID showing date of birth
• No residency requirement for Montgomery County or Illinois
• Proof of divorce or death if a prior marriage ended

The 24-hour wait starts the moment the clerk issues the license. After that, you have 60 days to hold the ceremony. If the ceremony does not happen in time, the Montgomery County license expires. There is no way to get an extension on it. You can have the ceremony at any spot within Montgomery County during the valid period. The officiant signs the license and sends it back to the clerk. That is when it becomes an official marriage record in Montgomery County.

If you were divorced in the last six months, bring a certified copy of your divorce decree. Staff at the Montgomery County Clerk office will ask to see it before they issue the new license. This is a state rule that applies everywhere in Illinois.

Montgomery County Vital Records

The Montgomery County Clerk also keeps birth and death records. These can be useful if you need to prove a relationship or track family lines. All vital records requests for the county go through the same office in Hillsboro. Birth records, death records, and marriage records are stored at one location.

For statewide searches, the IDPH vital records office holds a central index of marriages from 1962 to now. If you are not sure which county a marriage happened in, the state office can help you find it. Montgomery County marriages filed after 1962 should show up in the state index. The Illinois compiled statutes spell out the full set of rules for vital records in all counties, including Montgomery County.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has several communities, including Hillsboro and Litchfield. City offices do not issue marriage licenses in Illinois. All marriage records for cities in Montgomery County go through the County Clerk in Hillsboro. Residents of Hillsboro, Litchfield, and other towns all apply at the same Montgomery County Clerk office at the courthouse square.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Montgomery County. Check your address to make sure you apply in the right place. A Montgomery County marriage license is only valid for ceremonies held within Montgomery County.