Guide to Illinois Marriage Records

Illinois marriage records are kept by the county clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) does not issue certified marriage certificates. It only offers a verification letter for marriages from 1962 onward. If you need a legal copy, you go to the county.

This guide explains how to search Illinois marriage records, order certified copies, apply for a marriage license, and find historical records going back to the 1700s.

Types of Illinois Marriage Records

Certified Marriage Certificates

A certified copy carries the county clerk's seal. It is the version you need for a name change, Social Security, a passport, immigration, insurance or court matters. Only the clerk in the county where the license was issued can provide it.

IDPH Marriage Verifications

IDPH keeps a statewide index of marriages reported by counties since 1962. A verification confirms the names, dates of birth, date of the marriage and the city or county. It costs $5 and can be requested by mail, fax or in person. A verification is not a certified copy and is not accepted for most legal purposes.

Civil Union Records

Illinois still offers civil unions to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Civil union records are kept by the county clerk in the same way as marriage records. Couples could convert a civil union to a marriage at no cost between June 1, 2014 and May 31, 2015, with the marriage dated from the original union.

Are Marriage Records Public in Illinois?

Marriage records in Illinois are held by county clerks, and each county sets its own request rules. IDPH requires a valid, unexpired government photo ID for verification requests and returns requests without one. Cook County asks mail requesters for a copy of their photo ID.

In Cook County, marriage records older than 50 years are treated as genealogical records. These copies are uncertified and stamped "For Genealogical Purposes Only". Check with the county clerk for its eligibility rules before ordering a certified copy.

What Information Is on an Illinois Marriage Record?

Illinois marriage records usually show:

• Full names of both spouses
• Date of the marriage or license
• County where the license was issued
• Ages and residences of both parties
• Name and title of the officiant
• Names of witnesses
• License and recording dates, with a volume, page or file number

Some county registers from 1877 onward also list birthplaces and parents' names, which makes them useful for family history research.

How to Search Illinois Marriage Records

Step 1: Find the county

Records are filed in the county that issued the license, not where the couple lived. If you are not sure, an IDPH verification (1962 onward) can confirm the county.

Step 2: Gather details

Have both full names, including maiden names, and the approximate year of the marriage.

Step 3: Check the county clerk's website

Many clerks offer online indexes or order forms. Cook County accepts requests online, by mail, in person and through VitalChek.

Step 4: Use the statewide index for older records

The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index covers 1763 to 1900.

Step 5: Submit your request and pay the fee

Include a copy of your photo ID if the county requires it.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Illinois

Contact the county clerk where the license was issued. Fees and methods differ by county. Cook County is the largest office in the state:

For marriages outside Cook County, search for the county clerk of the county where the license was issued.

How to Request an IDPH Verification

Send your request with a $5 check or money order (no cash) to IDPH Division of Vital Records, 110 W. Lawrence Ave., Springfield, IL 62704-2610. Include a copy of your valid photo ID.

How to Get a Marriage License in Illinois

Both partners must appear together before the county clerk, sign the application and pay the fee. Here are the main rules:

• Age: 18. Applicants aged 16 or 17 need consent from both parents or a guardian, or a judge's approval.
• ID: a valid ID with proof of age. Applicants aged 16 or 17 also need a certified birth certificate.
• Recent divorce: bring the divorce decree if it was finalized within the last 6 months (Cook County).
• Fee: varies by county. Cook County charges $60. You can start the application online there but must finish it in person.
• Waiting period: the license takes effect 1 day after it is issued.
• Expiration: the license expires 60 days after it takes effect.
• Where it is valid: only in the county that issued it.

After the Ceremony

The officiant must return the completed certificate to the county clerk within 10 days. The marriage is then recorded, and you can order certified copies. Judges, retired judges, some county clerks, mayors, village presidents and clergy can perform marriages. Officiants do not need to register with the state.

Free Ways to Search Illinois Marriage Records

• Illinois Statewide Marriage Index (1763 to 1900): a free online database from the Illinois State Archives with over 1 million marriages and about 2 million names.
• Cook County genealogy records: older Cook County records can be searched and ordered online for genealogy.
• FamilySearch: free collections include Illinois County Marriages (1810 to 1940) and Cook County Marriages (1871 to 1968).

Free indexes are useful for confirming a marriage, but you still need a certified copy from the county clerk for legal use.

Historical and Genealogy Records in Illinois

County marriage records begin when each county was created. The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists marriages from 1763 to 1900. Copies of indexed records come from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) when it holds that county's records, or from the county clerk.

Cook County records before October 8, 1871 were destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. Surviving Cook County marriage records start after that date. Cook County genealogy copies cost $15 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy, plus $1 for each extra year searched (up to 10 years).

Common Law Marriage in Illinois

Illinois does not recognize common law marriages formed in the state after June 30, 1905 (750 ILCS 5/214). Illinois does recognize a common law marriage that was valid in the state where it was formed.

Divorce Records in Illinois

Divorce records follow the same pattern as marriage records. IDPH offers $5 verifications for divorces from 1962 onward. Certified copies of divorce decrees come from the circuit court clerk in the county that granted the divorce.

Correcting an Illinois Marriage Record

Corrections are handled by the county clerk that recorded the marriage, not by IDPH. Contact the clerk's office for its correction form and required proof.

Changing Your Name After Marriage in Illinois

A certified marriage certificate is the main document for a name change. Update your Social Security record first, using the certificate as proof of your new name. Then update your Illinois driver's license or state ID with the Secretary of State, followed by your passport, bank and other accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions