Search Will County Marriage Records

Will County marriage records are managed by the County Clerk office in Joliet. This is the third most populous county in Illinois with over 701,000 people. The Will County Clerk issues marriage licenses, keeps marriage certificates on file, and can provide certified copies to anyone who needs them. You can visit in person, send a mail request, or work through VitalChek for online orders. Will County also offers courthouse weddings for couples who want a civil ceremony right after getting their license. This page covers how to search for, request, and understand marriage records in Will County.

Will County Clerk Marriage Office

The Will County Clerk is the official keeper of marriage records in the county. Their main office is in downtown Joliet at the county building. This is where you go to apply for a marriage license, pick up certified copies, or search for older records. Staff handle a large number of requests every week given the size of Will County. The office is open Monday through Friday and does not require an appointment for most services.

You can find details about the full range of services on the Will County Clerk marriage license page. That site has forms, fee info, and step-by-step instructions for getting a license or ordering copies. Under 410 ILCS 535, the county clerk serves as the local registrar for vital records, which includes marriage licenses and certificates in Will County.

The Will County Clerk website provides all the forms and details you need to apply for a marriage license in Joliet.

That page shows the marriage license section of the Will County Clerk site, where you can review requirements before your visit.

Will County Marriage License Process

Getting a marriage license in Will County requires both parties to appear at the clerk office in Joliet. You cannot send one person on behalf of the other. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license, state ID, or passport. If either party was married before, you need to know the exact date the prior marriage ended by divorce or death. The clerk will ask for this during the application.

Under 750 ILCS 5, Illinois has a 24-hour waiting period after you pick up the license. You cannot use it to get married until the next day. The license stays valid for 60 days from the date it was issued by Will County. If you do not use it within that window, you have to start over and pay the fee again. There is no blood test needed in Illinois, and there is no residency rule. You do not have to live in Will County to get a license here.

Applicants who are 16 or 17 need a parent or legal guardian to come with them and sign a consent form. Anyone under 16 cannot get a marriage license in Will County.

Courthouse Weddings in Will County

Will County offers courthouse wedding ceremonies for a fee of $10. This is one of the more affordable options in the state. The Circuit Clerk office handles these ceremonies, not the County Clerk. Call (815) 727-8592 to set up a time. Courthouse weddings take place Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and on Saturdays at 8:30 AM.

You must already have your Will County marriage license in hand before the ceremony. Remember the 24-hour wait applies, so you cannot get the license and marry on the same day. Bring two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. The ceremony is short and simple. After the judge signs the license, you are legally married. The signed license goes back to the Will County Clerk to become part of your marriage record on file. The Will County Circuit Clerk site has more on the ceremony process.

The Will County Circuit Clerk website covers courthouse ceremony scheduling and what to bring on your wedding day.

That screenshot shows the Circuit Clerk portal where you can find additional details about ceremonies and court services in Will County.

How to Search Will County Marriage Records

You can request copies of marriage records from Will County in several ways. In person is the fastest. Go to the clerk office in Joliet with your ID and the names of the couple you are looking for. Staff will search their files and can usually print copies the same day. If you know the approximate year, that speeds things up.

Mail requests are another option for Will County marriage records. Write to the clerk at 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432. Include the full names of both spouses, the approximate date of the marriage, your reason for the request, and a check or money order for the fee. Allow about two weeks for processing. Under 410 ILCS 535/25, vital records that are old enough fall into the public access category for genealogical research. Will County follows this rule and can issue uncertified copies of older marriage records at a reduced cost.

VitalChek is also accepted for Will County orders. You will pay a service fee on top of the standard copy charge. This is best for out-of-state requests when you cannot visit Joliet in person.

Note: Bring a valid photo ID for any in-person request at the Will County Clerk office.

Will County Marriage Certificates

Certified copies of marriage certificates are the documents most people need from Will County. A certified copy has a raised seal and the clerk's signature, which makes it valid for legal use. You may need one for a name change at the Social Security office, for insurance claims, for immigration paperwork, or to prove your marital status in court.

The Will County Clerk issues certified marriage certificates from their Joliet office. The Illinois Department of Public Health can verify certain facts about a marriage from 1962 forward, but they do not issue certified copies. For that, you must go through the county where the license was filed. Under 410 ILCS 530/3, the county clerk has the legal authority to issue these official documents in Will County. Call (815) 740-4615 to ask about current fees and wait times for certified copies of Will County marriage records.

Marriage Record Laws in Will County

Will County marriage records are governed by Illinois state law. The Illinois Vital Records Act, 410 ILCS 535, sets the rules for how all vital records are stored, accessed, and copied. This includes marriage licenses, marriage certificates, and related documents in Will County. The law says who can get certified copies and how much the clerk can charge for them.

The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5, covers the license itself. It lays out the age rules, the waiting period, and what makes a marriage valid in Illinois. Both statutes apply to every marriage license issued in Will County. The clerk office is well versed in these laws and can answer questions when you visit or call.

Cities in Will County

Will County has a number of large communities, and all of them use the Will County Clerk for marriage licenses and marriage records. No matter which city or town you live in within Will County, you file for a license at the same Joliet office.

Other cities in Will County include Romeoville, Plainfield, and Lockport. Residents of these towns also get their marriage licenses and records through the Will County Clerk in Joliet.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Will County. You must apply for a marriage license in the county of your choice, but the license is only valid for ceremonies in Illinois. Check which county works best for your situation.