Perry County Marriage Records Lookup

Perry County marriage records are kept by the County Clerk at the office on State Route 13/127 in Pinckneyville. The clerk issues marriage licenses, stores completed certificates after weddings, and provides certified copies when requested. Perry County has a population of about 20,945 and sits in southern Illinois, with Pinckneyville and Du Quoin being the main communities. You can apply for a new marriage license, search for old records, or get copies by contacting the Perry County Clerk. Records span many decades, and the oldest ones from the 1800s may also be available through state-level archive tools.

Perry County Clerk Office

The Perry County Clerk handles all marriage licenses and stores marriage records for the county. The office is at 3764 State Route 13/127 in Pinckneyville. Staff can help with new license applications, record searches, and requests for copies. When an officiant returns a signed marriage license after a ceremony, the clerk files it as the official marriage record for Perry County.

Both people who plan to marry must appear in person at the Perry County Clerk office. Each one needs a valid photo ID that shows their date of birth. Accepted forms include a driver's license, state-issued ID card, or passport. If either applicant was married before, bring proof the prior marriage ended. The clerk will need to see a certified divorce decree or death certificate. Under 750 ILCS 5, both people must be at least 18 years old to apply on their own. Applicants aged 16 or 17 must have a parent present to sign a consent form at the Perry County office. You do not have to be a resident of Perry County or Illinois to apply for a marriage license here.

The Perry County government website has general information about county offices and contact details.

Marriage License Process in Perry County

Getting a marriage license in Perry County follows standard Illinois law. Both people go to the clerk's office together. Bring your IDs. Complete the application and pay the fee. The clerk gives you the license that same day, but there is a wait before you can use it.

Illinois requires a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued. The wedding cannot take place on the same day you pick up the license in Perry County. Once those 24 hours pass, the license stays valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that period, the Perry County license expires and you have to start over with a new application and fee. The license is only good for ceremonies held within Perry County. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Perry County Clerk. At that point, the signed form becomes the official marriage record.

No blood test is needed in Illinois. That rule was eliminated years ago.

Copies of Perry County Marriage Records

You can get copies of Perry County marriage records by visiting the clerk's office in Pinckneyville or by mailing a written request. Certified copies carry the county seal and are accepted for legal purposes like name changes, immigration paperwork, and insurance claims. Plain copies without the seal are okay for personal use but will not be accepted by most agencies or courts.

Under 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act sets the rules on who can get certified copies. The people named on the marriage certificate, their parents, children, or legal agents can request them. Someone with notarized written consent from a named party is also eligible. Perry County follows these state guidelines. When you go to the office, bring a valid photo ID. For mail requests, include a copy of your ID, a check or money order made out to the Perry County Clerk, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The Illinois compiled statutes page below covers the legal framework for all vital records, including marriage certificates on file in Perry County.

This page outlines the state rules that govern vital records in Perry County and every other county in Illinois.

Note: Call (618) 357-5116 to confirm current copy fees before you send a payment or visit the Perry County Clerk office.

Historical Perry County Marriage Records

Perry County has a long history of marriage records. The county was formed in 1827, and marriages were recorded at the courthouse in Pinckneyville from the early days of settlement. Many of these old documents are still on file or have been sent to the state archives.

The Illinois State Archives runs a free Statewide Marriage Index that covers 1763 to 1900. Perry County is part of this database. You can search by name and view the date and county of each entry. For records after 1900, reach out to the Perry County Clerk. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, marriage records that are at least 50 years old may be available for genealogical use. The Perry County Clerk can let you know what records they hold from past decades and what the copy fees are for genealogical requests.

The state archives search is free and open to anyone online.

Perry County Marriage License Rules

Illinois state law sets the rules that apply to all marriage licenses, Perry County included. Here are the main requirements to keep in mind:

• Both people must be at least 18, or 16-17 with parental consent
• Both must appear at the clerk office together
• Each person needs a valid photo ID with date of birth
• No residency rule for Perry County or Illinois
• Proof that a prior marriage ended, if it applies
• 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued

After the 24-hour wait, the Perry County license is good for 60 days. The ceremony must take place within the county. If the time runs out with no wedding, the license expires. Once the officiant signs the license and sends it back, the Perry County Clerk files it as the official marriage record. If you were divorced in the last six months, be sure to bring your certified divorce decree when you apply.

Perry County Vital Records

Marriage records are not the only vital records stored at the Perry County Clerk office. Birth and death records are also kept there. All vital records requests for the county go through the same office in Pinckneyville.

For statewide searches, the IDPH vital records office holds a central index of Illinois marriages from 1962 to now. If you are unsure which county a marriage took place in, the state office can point you in the right direction. Perry County marriages filed after 1962 should show in the state index. The Illinois compiled statutes contain all the vital records rules that apply across the state, Perry County included.

Cities in Perry County

Perry County includes Pinckneyville, Du Quoin, and some smaller communities. City offices in Illinois do not issue marriage licenses. All marriage records for communities in Perry County go through the County Clerk in Pinckneyville. Whether you live in Pinckneyville, Du Quoin, or another part of the county, you apply at the same Perry County Clerk office on State Route 13/127.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Perry County. Check your address to be sure you are applying at the right clerk's office. A Perry County marriage license is only valid for ceremonies held within the county.