To get a marriage license in Illinois, both applicants must appear together in person at any county clerk’s office in the state, bring a valid government-issued photo ID, provide personal information for the application, and pay a fee that runs roughly $30 to $75 depending on the county. If either of you has been divorced or widowed in the past six months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or proof of death. There is no residency requirement, no blood test, and no witness required at the ceremony, but the license does not take effect until one calendar day after it is issued.
Photo ID Both Applicants Must Bring
Each applicant needs one valid, current, government-issued photo ID. Accepted forms include a driver’s license, a state-issued ID card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. Armed Forces ID, a permanent resident card, or a valid foreign passport.1Kane County Clerk’s Office. Acceptable Forms of Identification If you don’t have any of these, call the county clerk’s office ahead of time and ask what alternatives they’ll accept, because policies vary.
You will also need to bring documentation of any recent change in marital status. If a divorce or civil union dissolution was finalized within the past six months, bring a certified copy of the decree. If a former spouse died within the past six months, bring proof of death.2Montgomery County, Illinois. Information on Obtaining a Marriage License in Montgomery County, Illinois
Information the Application Asks For
The clerk fills out the license from what you provide on the application, so gather this before your visit. Both applicants will need to give:3Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5/202 – Marriage License and Marriage Certificate
- Full legal name, plus any prior names if different from your birth name
- Social Security number
- Date and place of birth
- Current address
- Occupation
- Parents’ full names and addresses, including a parent’s maiden name
- For a prior marriage: the date, location, and court where it ended, or the date and place of a former spouse’s death
Some counties let you complete a pre-application online to shorten your time at the counter, but both people still need to sign the application in person and show ID at the office.4Cook County. Marriage Licenses
Where to Apply and What It Costs
You can apply at any county clerk’s office in Illinois. There’s no residency requirement, so out-of-state and international couples can apply anywhere in the state. The license is technically issued for use in the county where you applied, and while Illinois law provides that a marriage isn’t invalidated if the ceremony inadvertently takes place in a different Illinois county,5Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5/209 – Solemnization and Registration the safest approach is to apply in the county where you plan to marry.
Fees vary. Cook County charges $60,4Cook County. Marriage Licenses Will County charges $35,6Will County, IL Elections. Marriage Licenses and Peoria County charges $75.7Peoria County, IL. Marriage Licenses Payment methods differ too — some offices take only cash or checks, while others accept cards, sometimes with a surcharge. Confirm both the fee and accepted payment on the county’s website before you go. In most cases, the license is issued on the spot once the application is complete and the fee is paid.
Eligibility Rules to Know Before You Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18 to marry without additional steps. Applicants who are 16 or 17 can be issued a license only with sworn parental or guardian consent and judicial approval; if one parent cannot be located after genuine efforts, the other parent can sign along with an affidavit explaining the situation.8Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5 Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act – Section 203 No one under 16 can marry in Illinois.
Anyone currently married must have that marriage legally ended by divorce or the death of a spouse before a new license can be issued. Both parties also have to have the mental capacity to consent voluntarily to the marriage.
Illinois prohibits marriage between ancestors and descendants, siblings (including half-siblings and adoptive siblings), and aunts or uncles with nieces or nephews. First cousins can marry only if both people are 50 or older, or if one provides a doctor’s certificate confirming permanent sterility.9Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5/212 – Prohibited Marriages
The One-Day Waiting Period and How Long the License Lasts
Even though the clerk hands you the license the day you apply, it doesn’t take effect for one calendar day. A license issued on a Monday is valid starting Tuesday.10Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5 Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act – Section 207 This catches couples off guard, especially those planning same-day courthouse ceremonies.
If you need the license effective immediately, a judge can issue a court order waiving the waiting period. Contact the circuit court in the county where you’re applying to learn the procedure and any fee, and arrange it before your wedding day rather than on it.
Once effective, the license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony doesn’t happen within that window, the license expires and you’ll need to reapply and pay the fee again.
What Happens Next: Officiant and Certificate
Illinois law authorizes judges and retired judges (who were not removed from office), mayors and village or town presidents while in office, other public officials whose duties include performing marriages, and clergy or religious leaders in good standing to perform ceremonies. The Cook County Clerk can also officiate, but only in counties with 2 million or more residents.5Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5/209 – Solemnization and Registration Witnesses are not required.
After the ceremony, the officiant completes and signs the marriage certificate and must return it to the county clerk’s office within 10 days. In a religious tradition with no single officiant, both spouses are responsible for completing and returning the form.5Illinois General Assembly. 750 ILCS 5/209 – Solemnization and Registration Follow up if you don’t see confirmation, because a missing certificate causes real problems later when you need proof of marriage for name changes, insurance, or tax filings.