Marriage Records in Union County

Union County marriage records are on file at the County Clerk office in Jonesboro, the county seat in southern Illinois. The clerk handles all marriage license applications, files returned certificates after ceremonies take place, and provides certified copies to those who are eligible. About 24,461 people live in Union County, with Jonesboro, Anna, and Cobden being the main communities. You can search for past marriage records, get a new license, or request copies by contacting the clerk's office on West Market Street. Older records from Union County may also be found through the Illinois State Archives.

Union County Clerk Office

The Union County Clerk is responsible for all marriage licenses and marriage records in the county. The office is at 309 West Market Street in Jonesboro. Staff assist with license applications, record lookups, and copy requests. Once a ceremony takes place and the officiant returns the signed license, the clerk files it as the official marriage record for Union County.

Both applicants must show up in person at the Union County Clerk office. Each person needs a valid photo ID with their date of birth on it. A driver's license, state ID, or passport will do. If one or both people were married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate is what the clerk will need. Under 750 ILCS 5, both people must be at least 18 years old. Those who are 16 or 17 can apply with a parent present to sign consent at the Union County office. There is no residency rule, so couples from out of the area or out of state can apply in Union County with no issue.

Visit the Union County government website for info about county departments and services.

Getting a Union County Marriage License

The process for a marriage license in Union County follows Illinois state law. Both people go to the clerk's office in Jonesboro together. Bring valid photo IDs. Fill out the application form and pay the fee. The license is issued that same day.

There is a 24-hour waiting period under state law. The ceremony cannot take place on the same day the license is issued in Union County. After the wait, the license is good for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within those 60 days, the Union County license expires and you have to apply again. The license is only valid for weddings held inside Union County, so plan your venue accordingly. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and sends it back to the Union County Clerk. That is when it becomes a permanent marriage record on file.

No blood test is required. Illinois dropped that many years back.

Note: Call the Union County Clerk at (618) 833-5711 before visiting to check current fees and confirm the office is open.

Copies of Union County Marriage Records

You can get copies of Union County marriage records by visiting the clerk's office in Jonesboro or sending a request by mail. Certified copies come with the county seal and are accepted for legal matters. Name changes, insurance claims, visa applications, and proof of marital status all call for a certified copy. Plain copies without the seal are fine for personal use.

The Illinois Vital Records Act under 410 ILCS 535 governs who can request certified copies of marriage records. The people named on the certificate, their parents, children, or legal agents are eligible. Someone with notarized written consent from a named party can also request a copy. Union County follows these rules. Bring a valid photo ID to the office. For mail requests, include a copy of your ID, a check or money order payable to the Union County Clerk, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The IDPH page below shows how the state handles marriage record verifications for all counties, including Union County.

The state resource above can help verify that a marriage took place if you do not know which county to contact. Union County records from 1962 onward are in the state index.

Historical Marriage Records in Union County

Union County was established in 1818, the same year Illinois became a state. That means marriage records from Union County go back over two centuries. Some of the oldest documents are still at the clerk's office in Jonesboro. Others have been moved to state archives for safekeeping.

The Illinois State Archives operates a free Statewide Marriage Index that covers 1763 to 1900. Union County marriages from that era are in the database. You can search by name and see the date and county of the marriage. For records from 1900 on, contact the Union County Clerk. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, marriage records at least 50 years old may be released for genealogical research. The Union County Clerk can tell you what older records they have available and what fees apply for those copies.

Union County Marriage License Requirements

The rules for a marriage license come from Illinois state law. They are the same in Union County as in every other county. Key requirements include:

• Both applicants must be at least 18, or 16-17 with a parent's consent
• Both must appear at the clerk office in person
• Valid photo ID showing date of birth for each person
• No residency rule for Union County or Illinois
• Proof that any prior marriage ended

The 24-hour waiting period begins at the time the clerk issues the license. You have 60 days from that point. If the ceremony does not take place before the time runs out, the Union County license is no longer valid. The wedding must happen inside the county. Once the officiant signs and returns the license, it becomes the official marriage record at the Union County Clerk office.

If either person was divorced within the past six months, bring the certified divorce decree. The Union County Clerk staff will ask for it.

Union County Vital Records

The Union County Clerk also keeps birth and death records in addition to marriage records. All vital records for the county are at the same office in Jonesboro. This makes it easy to handle multiple record requests in one trip.

For statewide searches, the IDPH vital records office maintains a central marriage index from 1962 to the present. If you are unsure which county a marriage took place in, the state office can help. Union County marriages after 1962 should be in the state index. The Illinois compiled statutes contain all the vital records rules that apply to counties across the state, Union County included.

Cities in Union County

Union County is home to Jonesboro, Anna, Cobden, and a few other communities in the southern tip of Illinois. City offices do not issue marriage licenses in this state. All marriage records for communities in Union County go through the County Clerk in Jonesboro. Residents of Anna, Cobden, and the surrounding area all apply at the same office on Market Street.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Union County. Verify your address to make sure you apply at the correct clerk's office. A Union County marriage license is only valid for ceremonies within the county.