To get a marriage license in Rolling Meadows, you and your partner need to apply together, in person, at a Cook County Clerk’s office — and that office is not at the Rolling Meadows courthouse. The Third Municipal District courthouse hears court cases but does not issue marriage licenses.1Circuit Court of Cook County. Marriage and Civil Union You’ll pay $60, show photo ID, and the license becomes effective one day after it’s issued.
Where to Apply
The Cook County Clerk operates four locations that issue marriage licenses. For most Rolling Meadows residents, Skokie is the closest.
- Skokie courthouse, Room 149 (2nd District)
- Maywood, Whitcomb Building, 1311 Maybrook Drive (4th District)
- Markham courthouse, Room 238 (6th District)
- Richard J. Daley Center, downtown Chicago
Both of you have to show up together. One partner cannot apply on the other’s behalf.2Cook County. Marriage Licenses
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18. A 16- or 17-year-old can apply with written consent from both parents or a guardian, or with a judge’s approval.3Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 750 ILCS 5/203 – License to Marry
The clerk also has to confirm that the marriage isn’t prohibited under Illinois law.4FindLaw. Illinois Code 750 ILCS 5/212 – Prohibited Marriages Illinois prohibits:
- A marriage where either person is still legally married to or in a civil union with someone else
- A marriage between an ancestor and a descendant, or between siblings, including half-blood and adoptive relationships
- A marriage between an aunt or uncle and a niece or nephew
- A marriage between first cousins, unless both are 50 or older or one provides a physician’s certificate of permanent sterility
What to Bring
Each of you needs valid photo identification that proves your identity and age.2Cook County. Marriage Licenses A driver’s license, state ID, or passport all work.
The application asks for a fair amount of biographical detail: full legal names, addresses, dates and places of birth, occupations, Social Security numbers, the names and addresses of each applicant’s parents, and whether the two of you are related.5Justia Law. Illinois Code 750 ILCS 5/202 – Marriage License and Marriage Certificate
If either of you has been married before, bring the date, place, and court where the divorce was finalized, or the date and place of a former spouse’s death. For a divorce finalized within the last six months, you’ll need a certified copy of the divorce decree.2Cook County. Marriage Licenses
Pull all of this together before you go. A missing document or an unknown date means another trip.
Start the Application Online First
The Cook County Clerk lets you begin the application on the website before your in-person visit.6Cook County Clerk. Marriage and Civil Union Licenses and Certificates It’s worth doing. You enter the biographical and ID information in advance, which cuts down significantly on what you fill out at the counter.
Check every name, date, and spelling before you submit. Errors in the online form carry straight onto the printed license, and fixing them later takes more time and more fees.
Fees and the In-Person Visit
At the office, both of you sign the application and present ID. A clerk verifies your identities and administers an oath that your information is truthful.
The license fee is $60.6Cook County Clerk. Marriage and Civil Union Licenses and Certificates Confirm accepted payment methods on the clerk’s website before you go. The same page tells you whether appointments are required or walk-ins are accepted; that policy has shifted over the past few years.
Waiting Period and How Long the License Lasts
Your license is not usable the moment you receive it. Under Illinois law, it becomes effective one day after the date of issuance.7Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 750 ILCS 5/207 – Effective Date of License Pick it up Monday, it’s valid starting Tuesday. “One day” means the next calendar day, not 24 hours.
If you have a real reason you need to marry the same day, such as a military deployment or a medical situation, you can petition a judge to waive the waiting period. The statute allows a court to order the license effective when issued.7Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 750 ILCS 5/207 – Effective Date of License
Once effective, the license is good for 60 days. Miss that window and you start over with a new application and another $60. The license is valid in Cook County, though Illinois law provides that a marriage won’t be invalidated just because the ceremony was inadvertently held in a different Illinois county. Treat that as a safety net, not a plan.
After the Ceremony
The license is only half the paperwork. Your officiant must complete the marriage certificate and return it to the Cook County Clerk within 10 days of the ceremony.8FindLaw. Illinois Code 750 ILCS 5/209 – Solemnization and Registration If no single person solemnized the marriage, both spouses are responsible for completing and returning the certificate.
Confirm this with your officiant in advance. Until the certificate is filed, the marriage isn’t a public record, and you can’t order certified copies for name changes, insurance, or any of the other legal tasks that follow a wedding.
Getting Certified Copies
Once the completed certificate is on file, you can order certified copies from the Cook County Clerk, which keeps marriage records for Chicago and suburban Cook County.9Cook County Clerk’s Office. Cook County Clerk You can request copies in person at any clerk location or order online. A first certified copy typically costs $15, with additional copies at a reduced rate. Order at least two, because some agencies keep the document you submit rather than hand it back.
If you’d rather have a civil ceremony performed by a judge or court official, Cook County holds marriage ceremonies at the downtown courthouse, in person or over Zoom, for an additional $10 beyond the license fee.10Circuit Court of Cook County. Starting Monday, Ceremonies in Cook County’s Downtown Marriage Court Can Be Performed on Zoom The Rolling Meadows courthouse does not offer civil ceremonies.