Find Marriage Records in Vermilion County

Vermilion County marriage records are on file at the County Clerk office in Danville. The clerk handles all marriage license applications and keeps copies of certificates for anyone married in this part of east-central Illinois. With a population of about 72,386 residents, Vermilion County sits along the Indiana border and serves communities like Danville and Georgetown. You can search for marriage records, get a new license, or request certified copies through the clerk's office. Older marriage records from Vermilion County date back to the mid-1800s and are also available through state archive resources.

Vermilion County Clerk Office

The Vermilion County Clerk is the office that issues marriage licenses and stores marriage records. All applications go through the clerk's vital records division on Vermilion Street in downtown Danville. Staff can look up old records, handle new license requests, and issue certified copies of marriage certificates. The office also files returned marriage licenses once the ceremony takes place and the officiant sends the signed form back.

Both people must show up in person at the Vermilion County Clerk office to apply for a marriage license. Each person needs a valid photo ID that shows their date of birth, such as a state ID, driver's license, or passport. If either party had a prior marriage, bring proof it ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate works for this purpose. Under 750 ILCS 5, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need parental consent, and a parent must appear in person at the Vermilion County Clerk office to sign the forms. The fee must be paid at the time of your visit.

The Vermilion County government website has general information about county departments and services available to residents.

Vermilion County Marriage License Process

Getting a marriage license in Vermilion County follows the same state rules that apply across Illinois. You and your partner go to the clerk's office together. Bring valid ID. Fill out the application and pay the fee. The clerk then issues the license, but it does not become active right away.

Illinois law requires a 24-hour waiting period after the license is issued. You cannot hold the ceremony on the same day you pick up the license in Vermilion County. Once the 24 hours pass, the license is good for 60 days. If you do not have the ceremony within that window, the license expires. You would need to start over with a new application and pay the fee again. The license is only valid for ceremonies held within Vermilion County, so make sure your venue is in this county. After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Vermilion County Clerk. That signed form becomes the official marriage record on file.

No blood test is needed. Illinois got rid of that rule years ago.

Note: Call the Vermilion County Clerk at (217) 554-1900 before your visit to confirm hours and ask about current fees.

Copies of Marriage Records in Vermilion County

You can request copies of Vermilion County marriage records by visiting the clerk's office in Danville or by sending a written request through the mail. Certified copies have the county seal and are accepted for legal purposes such as name changes, insurance claims, and immigration applications. Plain copies without the seal are fine for personal use but most agencies will not accept them.

Under 410 ILCS 535, the Illinois Vital Records Act sets rules on who can get certified copies of marriage records. The people named on the certificate, their parents, children, or legal agents can request them. Anyone with notarized written consent from a named party can also make the request. Vermilion County follows these state guidelines when processing requests. You will need to show a valid photo ID and fill out an application form at the clerk's office. Mail requests should include a check or money order made out to the Vermilion County Clerk, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a copy of your ID.

The Illinois Department of Public Health can verify that a marriage took place but does not issue certified copies. For a certified copy of a Vermilion County marriage record, the county clerk is the right contact.

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

Historical Marriage Records in Vermilion County

Vermilion County has marriage records going back to the 1800s. Early settlers filed marriage bonds and licenses at the county seat in Danville. Many of these old records are still available through the clerk's office or through state archive collections. Researchers looking for Vermilion County marriages from before 1900 have a free resource at the state level.

The Illinois State Archives runs a Statewide Marriage Index that covers records from 1763 to 1900. Vermilion County is included in this database. You can search by name and see the date and county of the marriage. For records after 1900, contact the Vermilion County Clerk directly. 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 stamp that says they are for genealogy use only. The Vermilion County Clerk can tell you what older records they still hold and what the fees are for genealogical copies.

Marriage License Rules for Vermilion County

Illinois law sets the rules for who can get a marriage license. These apply in Vermilion County just like every other county in the state. Here are the main requirements:

• 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 Vermilion County or Illinois
• Proof of divorce or death if a prior marriage ended

The 24-hour wait is a state law. It starts when the clerk issues the license. After that, the couple has 60 days to use it. If the ceremony does not happen in that time frame, the Vermilion County license expires. There is no way to extend it. You can have the ceremony anywhere within Vermilion County during the valid period. A judge, minister, or other authorized person can perform the ceremony. Once the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Vermilion County Clerk, the marriage becomes an official record.

Vermilion County Vital Records

The Vermilion County Clerk also keeps birth and death records on file. These records can help if you are doing family research or need to prove a relationship. The clerk's office in Danville handles all vital records requests for the county. Birth records, death records, and marriage records are all stored at the same location.

For statewide searches, the IDPH vital records office maintains a central index of marriages from 1962 to the present. If you are not sure which county a marriage took place in, the state office can help narrow it down. Vermilion County marriages filed after 1962 should appear in the state index. The Illinois compiled statutes outline the full set of rules that apply to vital records in all counties, including Vermilion County.

Cities in Vermilion County

Vermilion County has several communities, including Danville and Georgetown. City offices do not issue marriage licenses in Illinois. All marriage records for cities in Vermilion County go through the County Clerk in Danville. Residents of Danville, Georgetown, Tilton, and other towns all apply at the same Vermilion County Clerk office on Vermilion Street.

Nearby Counties

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