Marriage license info (what you need to get married)

The key: you must get your marriage license from the county you will be married in, regardless of where you live. So, click below on the county in which the marriage will take place (not the one you live in.)

By Illinois state law, you can get your marriage license

• no sooner than 60 days before your wedding
• but later than the day before your wedding.

You need to apply together, in person, and bring the proper identification and money (sometimes cash) with you. If you are divorced, you need to know the date or bring a copy of the divorce decree. Click on the county’s web site, below, that you are getting married in for details.

Bring the marriage license to the rehearsal (if you have one) or the wedding and give to Rev. Phil as soon as he arrives. Make it the best man’s job.

It is a crime — a misdemeanor — if I do not mail it in. It is important to you so I will mail it in.

BTW, the marriage license is not what makes you legally married. It is not valid until signed by a proper official — like Rev. Phil — and returned to the county clerk. (It is Rev. Phil’s legal obligation to mail it to the county clerk.)

The marriage license is a legal document so be careful with it.

Note that the information below is subject to change. Look over the web site provided for each county carefully for current information.Please let Rev. Phil know if something is no longer correct on this page.

DuPage County

Lake County (IL)

Will County

Kane County

McHenry County

Marriage certificate/record info (what you need to prove that you are married for insurance or drivers license)

How to prove that you are married — so you can add a spouse on to your insurance, for a name change, for voter registration? Get a marriage certificate, sometimes called a marriage record. You get it from the county in which you got married.

It will not automatically come to you — you must fill out another form and make another payment (it’s government). I do not get a copy so I can not send you one either.

Hint: order copies of your marriage certificate/record at the same time as you apply for your marriage license. Only Cook County makes you wait until after you are married.

It’s typically about $10 for first one and $3 for every one ordered at the same time. Order several copies.

You can order it later (i.e. if you did not order at the time you applied for your marriage license). You can apply for it by mail. Unlike your marriage license, you do not need to appear in person.

You will receive a certified copy — with the county’s seal embossed/imprinted in the paper. That proves it is legitimate. (Copying this document on a copier will not be recognized for the seal will be missing.)

 It typically takes 4-6 weeks after your wedding to receive.

When you go to the drivers license facility to get an updated drivers license, remember to update your voter registration (or register to vote if you have not done so.) Failure to do so will mean you can not vote in the next election.

Click on the county you got married in for marriage certificate/record info: