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Cook County Marriage License, IL

Couples are required to appear together at one of the Cook County Clerk's six (6) locations. Couples must: Fill out and sign a marriage license application. Present valid identification with proof of age.

Local Officiants

Cook County
Marriage License Requirements

Illinois 750 ILCS 5. CS 5, Part II Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act

Marriage License Fee: $60.00

Cook County Clerk’s Office/Bureau of Vital Records
Downtown – Daley Center
50 W. Washington St. Level – 25
Chicago, IL 60602
Ph: 312-603-7790
8:30 am – 4:30 pm / M – F

(except for Court Approved Holidays)

Bridgeview - SW. SuburbsChicago Marriage and Civil Union Court Markham - S. Suburbs
Maywood - W. SuburbsRolling Meadows - NW. SuburbsSkokie - N. Suburbs

Chicago Wedding Officiants for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to top-rated marriage officiants in your locality. You choose the best IL Wedding Officiant.

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  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL

Marriage Application Requirement Illinois: Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

To complete the application for a marriage license, a couple must:

  • Both applicants must be present to obtain a license and be 18 years of age.

  • Both applicants must fill out and sign a marriage license application.

  • Both applicants must present valid identification with proof of age.

  • Bring your fee for the marriage license.

  • Applicants who have divorced within the last six weeks must provide a certified copy of their divorce decree upon applying for a marriage license.

  • Applicants who were widowed within the last 6 weeks must provide a certified copy of the death certificate.

  • License is valid for sixty (60) days only in the county in which it was issued.

It is important that you verify all information with your local County Clerk’s office before making a trip to purchase your marriage license.

Marriage ID Requirement Illinois:

  • State drivers license

  • State issued identification

  • U.S. passport or foreign passport (Must be readable, must have issue and expiration dates.)

  • U.S. Armed Forces identification card

  • Matricula Consular

  • Permanent Resident Card

  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL

Marriage Waiting Period Requirement Illinois:

llinois has a twenty-four (24) hour waiting period to get married.

Marriage Residency Requirement Illinois:

You do not have to be a resident of Illinois.

Previous Marriages: ✔ Search Marriage | Divorce Records

  • Applicants who have divorced within the last six weeks must provide a certified copy of their divorce decree upon applying for a marriage license.

  • Applicants who were widowed within the last 6 weeks must provide a certified copy of the death certificate.

  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL

Marriage License Fees Illinois:

The marriage license fee in Cook County is $60.

Proxy Marriages Illinois:

No.

Cousin Marriages Illinois:

Yes, first cousins may marry if they are older than the age of 50.

Common Law Marriages Illinois:

No.

  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL

Marriage Blood Test Illinois:

No. Illinois does not require blood tests.

Name Change Illinois:

Getting a marriage license with your new name on it does not mean your name has automatically changed. If you need to change your last name, you can use an online marriage name change kit.

  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL

Marriage Age Requirements Illinois: ✔ Get Copy Of Birth Certificate

Minors under age 18 but over age 16 may be married with the consent of parents. Both parents must appear at the time the license is issued and sign an affidavit consenting to marriage.

Marriage Officiants Illinois:

Sec. 209. Solemnization and Registration.

(a) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, by a retired judge of a court of record, unless the retired judge was removed from office by the Judicial Inquiry Board, except that a retired judge shall not receive any compensation from the State, a county or any unit of local government in return for the solemnization of a marriage and there shall be no effect upon any pension benefits conferred by the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, by a judge of the Court of Claims, by a county clerk in counties having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, or in accordance with the prescriptions of any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, provided that when such prescriptions require an officiant, the officiant be in good standing with his or her religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group. Either the person solemnizing the marriage, or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the marriage, both parties to the marriage, shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the county clerk within 10 days after such marriage is solemnized.

(a-5) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, to solemnize any marriage. Instead, any religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose which marriages it will solemnize. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a refusal by a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group to solemnize any marriage under this Act shall not create or be the basis for any civil, administrative, or criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action.

(a-10) No church, mosque, synagogue, temple, nondenominational ministry, interdenominational or ecumenical organization, mission organization, or other organization whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advancement of religion is required to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. An entity identified in this subsection (a-10) shall be immune from any civil, administrative, criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action based on its refusal to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. As used in this subsection (a-10), “religious facilities” means sanctuaries, parish halls, fellowship halls, and similar facilities. “Religious facilities” does not include facilities such as businesses, health care facilities, educational facilities, or social service agencies.

(b) The solemnization of the marriage is not invalidated by the fact that the person solemnizing the marriage was not legally qualified to solemnize it, if either party to the marriage believed him or her to be so qualified or by the fact that the marriage was inadvertently solemnized in a county in Illinois other than the county where the license was issued.


Chicago Wedding Officiants for your wedding or vow renewal ceremony. Submit one form to top-rated marriage officiants in your locality. You choose the best IL Wedding Officiant.

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  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL
  • Marriage License Cook County, Cook County Marriage License, IL

Marriage Witnesses Illinois:

Witnesses are not required by Illinois law.

Expiration Date of Marriage License Illinois:

Illinois marriage license is valid for sixty (60) days only in the county in which it was issued.

Copy of Certificate of Marriage License

Illinois Dept. of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
605 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62702-5097
Ph: 217.782.6553
Fx: 217.523.2648

Please Note: State and county marriage license requirements often change. The above information is for guidance only and should not be regarded as legal advice. For more information regarding Illinois marriage records please visit www.idph.state.il.us.

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