State law stipulates that a county clerk whose county's population exceeds two million may solemnize marriages. Cook County is the only Illinois County that meets that criterion; however, the clerk is not obligated to perform civil ceremonies. The act of presiding over your marriage is called solemnization. It's basically your marriage ceremony. Once your marriage ceremony has concluded, it is the duty of the officiant to fill out the bottom certificate portion of the marriage license by documenting the date and place of marriage along with his or her contact information.
The completed marriage license and certificate must be returned to the issuing county clerk no later than 10 days following the ceremony by mail or hand delivery. If your marriage is solemnized by someone who did not possess the authority to do so, it would not invalidate your marriage as long as either you or your spouse reasonably believed them to be authorized.
Although you're supposed to get married in the same county where you obtain your license, doing otherwise wouldn't necessarily invalidate your marriage, assuming it was in all other respects legal. Still, the provision should not be violated as it can result in problems recording and filing your marriage record. Illinois has "religious freedom" statutes that allow religious persons or organizations to opt out of marrying anyone if it violates their religious beliefs. This is typically employed to abstain from participating in same-sex marriage ceremonies.
It can also be used if a religious organization objects to providing marital services or resources to an atheist or person who's a member of a different religion. This objection extends to facilities as well. For instance, if a church, synagogue, temple, mosque, or equivalent doesn't want someone to use their property or resources to conduct a wedding, that's their prerogative. State law shields individuals and organizations from being sued if they exercise their right to refuse anything even tangentially related to solemnization.
There's no penalty that would be applied, be it civil or criminal. Once your completed marriage license is returned to the county clerk, it will be recorded and registered with the state. Afterward, certified copies of your marriage certificate will be available for order from the same county clerk's office.
You can neither apply by proxy nor marry by proxy. Both parties to the marriage must be present during the application process and marriage ceremony. The incarcerated, physically disabled, and members of the U. Armed Forces are not exempt from this restriction. You cannot enter into a common-law marriage in Illinois. Moreover, a common-law marriage established in another state will not be recognized here.
For historical reasons, Illinois does continue to recognize common-law marriages that took place on or prior to June 30, Now that you know what it takes to get married in Illinois, further below you'll find a list of Illinois counties containing county-specific marriage license fees, office locations, and hours of operation.
Good luck to you on the remainder of your marriage journey. Applying Before you can get married in Illinois you must apply for an Illinois marriage license at a county clerk's office. Apply at the county of marriage You must apply for your marriage license in the county where your marriage ceremony will take place.
Civil union licenses Ever since June 1, , every county clerk's office has issued civil union licenses along with their marriage licenses. The application The marriage license application is typically a single-page form for both you and your prospective spouse to fill out.
Be prepared to disclose the following about yourself: Full name, including suffix Last name at birth Residential address, including county Date of birth Place of birth city and state, or foreign country Sex some forms specify "gender" instead Occupation Email address not asked by all clerks Phone number not asked by all clerks Parents' or guardians' names, including last name at birth Parents' or guardians' addresses Parents' or guardians' birthplaces state or foreign country Social security number Race Highest grade of elementary or secondary school completed Highest grade of college completed If you are of Hispanic origin, specify which e.
Social security number Your social security number is solicited to enforce delinquent child support payments, as required by Title IV of the Social Security Act. Oath and signature You'll be administered an oath by the county clerk where you swear or affirm that the contents of your application and responses to all inquiries were truthful. Residency Residency is a nonfactor; it neither impacts the price nor procedure. Identification You must supply ID to confirm your identity and age.
Age verification If your picture ID doesn't show your date of birth, supply an additional document that'll prove your age, such as an original or certified copy of your birth certificate.
ID specific to minors If you're below the age of 18, you must bring a certified copy of your birth certificate along with another piece of acceptable identification that shows your date of birth. Non-English birth certificate If you intend to present a birth certificate that's not written in English, it must be accompanied by a certified and notarized English translation. Prior marriages If you've been previously married or in a civil union, you must document your ex-spouse's name, as well as the date, address, and court where the divorce, annulment, or dissolution was finalized.
Certificates for proof Some county clerks will want to see documentary evidence that your last marriage or civil union ended, such as a certified copy of a divorce decree, annulment, dissolution, or death certificate. Waiting period You will receive your marriage license the same day you apply for it.
Issued documents Once your application has been accepted and fee paid, the county clerk will copy a subset of your information onto a blank marriage license and certificate form. Expiration Your marriage license will expire 60 days after its effective date the day after you apply. Age requirements Which of the following four age groups do you fall under? Age 18 and above If you're 18 years old or older, you don't need parental consent to marry.
Age 17 today, 18 tomorrow Technically, the law allows an applicant who's 17 years old to apply as an adult without requiring parental consent as long as he or she will turn eighteen on the marriage license's effective date , which is one day after it's been issued. Age 16 and 17 If you're 16 or 17 years old, you need the consent of a guardian or both parents to marry. Age 15 and below If you're 15 years old or younger, you may only marry with the court's permission.
Underage marriage Consent form A consent form furnished by the county clerk's office must be signed by the consenting parent s or guardian s in the presence of the county clerk at the same time the marriage license application is submitted. One parent is absent If you have one consenting parent, but your other parent cannot consent because they're absent, there's one way around it. Parent or pregnant Regardless of age, if you're a female who's previously given birth to a child out of wedlock and the other applicant provides an affidavit that he's the father, a marriage license will be issued.
Proof of pregnancy or prior childbirth must be given in one of the following three forms: Illinois Department of Public Health furnished affidavit from an Illinois-licensed physician confirming the pregnancy or prior childbirth. Copy of the child's birth record originating from Illinois. Affidavit from the mother asserting that she's pregnant or has given birth.
Court approval Generally speaking, an underage applicant can be issued a marriage license if the judge of a circuit court orders it. Public health Blood tests You are not required to submit to a blood test in order to receive a marriage license. Fetal alcohol syndrome information The county clerk must also give you a Department of Public Health pamphlet discussing fetal alcohol syndrome , which is a condition that can cause birth defects and brain damage to the unborn child of a pregnant mother who consumes alcohol.
Living spouse or partner Existing marriage If you have a living husband or wife, you cannot remarry until your current marriage has been legally dissolved by divorce, annulment, or spouse's death. Existing civil union If you're currently in a civil union or significantly similar non-marriage relationship e. Family intermarriage You are forbidden from marrying any of the following members of your family, whether related by the whole-blood, half-blood, or adoption: Grandparent Parent Child Grandchild Sibling Aunt Uncle Niece Nephew First cousin exemptions exist First cousin exemptions The first cousin restriction will be waived if either of the following two conditions is met: Both cousins are 50 years old or above.
Either cousin shows the county clerk a certificate signed by a licensed physician that he or she is permanently and irreversibly sterile. Evading marriage laws If you enter into a prohibited marriage here or elsewhere, you risk the marriage being voided everywhere. Warning to residents If you're a resident of Illinois whose out-of-state marriage would have been prohibited in this state, the marriage would be null and void in this state upon your return.
Warning to nonresidents If you're a nonresident of Illinois who contracts a marriage in this state and you intend to return to your home state, territory, or country where the marriage would be illegal, then your marriage could be retroactively voided here to defer to the laws of where you live. Authorized officiants The person who solemnizes is called the officiant. Judges Pretty much any active or retired judge of a court of record can solemnize. Religious officials If you're to be married in a religious ceremony, then any authorized official in good standing with their religious organization has the authority to solemnize your marriage.
The couple themselves You and your prospective spouse can act as your own officiant by performing a self-solemnized marriage ceremony. Cook County clerk maybe State law stipulates that a county clerk whose county's population exceeds two million may solemnize marriages. Solemnization The act of presiding over your marriage is called solemnization.
Witnesses Witnesses are not required to attend your marriage ceremony. Completing the certificate Once your marriage ceremony has concluded, it is the duty of the officiant to fill out the bottom certificate portion of the marriage license by documenting the date and place of marriage along with his or her contact information.
Unauthorized solemnization If your marriage is solemnized by someone who did not possess the authority to do so, it would not invalidate your marriage as long as either you or your spouse reasonably believed them to be authorized.
Marriage in the wrong county Although you're supposed to get married in the same county where you obtain your license, doing otherwise wouldn't necessarily invalidate your marriage, assuming it was in all other respects legal. Religious freedom Illinois has "religious freedom" statutes that allow religious persons or organizations to opt out of marrying anyone if it violates their religious beliefs. Recording Once your completed marriage license is returned to the county clerk, it will be recorded and registered with the state.
Proxy marriage You can neither apply by proxy nor marry by proxy. Common-law marriage You cannot enter into a common-law marriage in Illinois. Recognition pre For historical reasons, Illinois does continue to recognize common-law marriages that took place on or prior to June 30, Conclusion and the final step Now that you know what it takes to get married in Illinois, further below you'll find a list of Illinois counties containing county-specific marriage license fees, office locations, and hours of operation.
Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. Post Comment Cancel Reply. IL Office Locations Below are the counties in Illinois where you can apply for a marriage license. Adams County 67, population. Alexander County 8, population. Bond County 17, population. Boone County 54, population. Brown County 6, population. Bureau County 34, population. Calhoun County 5, population.
Carroll County 15, population. Cass County 13, population. Champaign County , population. Christian County 34, population. Clark County 16, population. Clay County 13, population. Clinton County 37, population. Coles County 53, population.
Once it expires, it can no longer be used to get married. Unfortunately, you'll just have to get a brand new one as your expired one will no longer be recognized as valid by the state nor by the person who will be responsible for officiating your marriage.
You must be at least 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.
If either partner is under 18, parents or legal guardians must be present. If a parent can not be present, due to death, separation, divorce or other circumstances, proper evidence must be presented for verification.
You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you are under 16 you can not marry. If you were previously married, the date of your divorce or the date of your spouse's death must be provided. If the divorce or spouse's death had taken place within the last 6 months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate.
If necessary, a copy of your divorce records or spouse's death certificate can be ordered from your local vital records office and mailed to you. When you are married, you will receive a marriage certificate, which is a piece of paper proving that you are legally married. This document will serve as evidence of your marriage, which you'll need to complete the process of notifying several government agencies about your name change, as well as any non-government institutions that you do business with ie, banks, employers, credit cards, memberships, etc.
There is an online marriage name change kit that you can use and complete before or after your marriage takes place. It's applicable for Illinois or any other state in the union.
Completing all the necessary name change documentation prior to your wedding is recommended in order to expedite the name change process. A proxy marriage, also known as a "proxy wedding," is when one or both partners to be married are unable to physically attend the ceremony.
The missing person, or persons, will have someone "stand in" for them and serve as their "proxy. No, getting married by proxy is not allowed in Illinois. There are actually only five states left that do allow marriage by proxy.
The term "common law marriage" refers to an informal marriage, based upon cohabitation and a mutual understanding by both partners, rather than getting married through a civil or religious ceremony. The latter, more common approach, would require an actual Illinois marriage license. No, common-law marriages are not allowed in Illinois. This is unsurprising as only one-fifth of the country currently recognizes common law marriage.
Yes, cousin marriages first, second, etc are allowed to take place. Cousins may marry as long as both are over the age of Yes, same-sex marriages are allowed and legally recognized in Illinois. Illinois has offices where a marriage license can be acquired.
Simply choose a location below to visit. Phone numbers as well as map and accompanying driving direction links are provided for every address. Home Marriage License Illinois. Illinois Marriage License Requirements If you're getting married in the state of Illinois you must first apply for a wedding license at any in-state county clerk office. Let's begin… Cost of Your License How much does a marriage license cost?
Adams County Vital Statistics. Alexander County Clerk. Bond County Clerk. Suite Belvedere , IL Brown County Clerk. Bureau County Clerk S.
Main St. Box Princeton , IL Calhoun County Clerk. Carroll County Clerk. Box Mt. Carroll , IL Champaign County Clerk. Christian County Clerk. Clay County Clerk. Clinton County Clerk Fairfax St. County Courthouse Carlyle , IL Coles County Recorder.
Cook County Clerk. Crawford County Clerk. Cumberland County Clerk. No, neither you nor your spouse-to-be needs to be an Illinois resident in order to be issued a Illinois marriage license. However, if your marriage would be illegal in your home state but legal in Illinois, you cannot be married in Illinois. Yes, there is a 24 hour waiting period in Illinois after the license is issued before you can legally be wed. Generally once issued, the license becomes valid the following calendar day.
Yes, the license expires 60 days after it becomes valid. This site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial or tax advise. The information on this site should not be relied upon as an official source of information and should be independently verified.
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