Chicago Marriage License, IL
Couples are required to appear together at one of Chicago's two (2) locations. Couples must: Fill out and sign a marriage license application. Present valid identification with proof of age.
Local Officiants
Chicago
Marriage License Requirements
Illinois 750 ILCS 5. CS 5, Part II Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act
Marriage License Fee: $60
Downtown Chicago - Marriage and Civil Union Court 119 West Randolph Street | Downtown Chicago - County Clerk 50 W. Washington Street |
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Minimum age to marry is 18.
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There’s a 1-day waiting period.
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No blood test or exams.
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Marriage license has no expiration date.
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There are no residency requirements to marry in Chicago.
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Witnesses are not required.
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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Application:
Before getting married in Chicago or suburban Cook County, couples must obtain a marriage license from the Cook County Clerk’s office.
Marriage ID Requirement in Illinois:
One form of ID if submitting one of the following:
- State drivers license
- State identification
- U.S. passport
- U.S. Armed Forces identification card
– OR –
Two of these forms of ID:
- Certified copy of Birth Certificate (English translations required for foreign certificates must be notarized)
- U.S. naturalization certificate
- U.S. resident alien card
- Life insurance policy (at least 1 year old)
- Foreign passport
- Baptismal record (date of birth must appear)
- Consulate identification card (matricula)
Marriage Waiting Period in Illinois:
There’s a 1-day waiting period.
Marriage Residency Requirement:
Non-residents cannot obtain a marriage license if said marriage would be void in their state.
Previous Marriages: ✔ Search Marriage | Divorce Records
If either applicant is divorced, they must provide final divorce papers signed by the judge.
Marriage License Fees:
The marriage license fee in Chicago is $60.
Same Sex Marriages:
Yes, same-sex couples can get married in Illinois as of June 1, 2014.
Proxy Marriages:
No.
Cousin Marriages:
Yes, first cousins may marry if they are older than the age of 50.
Common Law Marriages:
No.
Marriage Blood Test Illinois:
No tests.
Name Change:
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 Age Requirements: ✔ Get Copy Of Birth Certificate
Marriage applicants 16- and 17-years old may obtain
a marriage license with:
- Consent of parents listed on applicants’ birth certificates. All parents listed on each minor’s birth certificate must be present and show valid identification.
- Certified copies of applicants’ birth certificates
- A second form of identification showing applicants’ dates of birth.
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.
Marriage Witnesses
No.
Expiration Date of Marriage License:
Marriage licenses are:
- issued while you wait
- effective the following calendar day after they are issued
- valid for 60 days
- effective only in Chicago and suburban Cook County
Copy of Certificate of Marriage License
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 license laws please visit www.cookcountyclerk.com.