Illinois marriage license offices — by county

Every county that issues marriage licenses in Illinois, with the office name, address, phone and hours. Pick your county below.

Illinois has 102 counties, and each one issues marriage licenses through its county clerk (in most counties the clerk also serves as recorder). The Illinois Department of Public Health does not keep marriage records or take applications: its own marriage records page directs couples to the county clerk in the county where the marriage occurred for certified copies.

Statewide rules that apply in every county

• A license only becomes usable one day after it is issued, so apply at least one day before the ceremony.
• The license is void 60 days after it is issued, which is also the outer limit for when the ceremony can take place.
• The license may only be used in the county that issued it, not in another Illinois county or another state.
• Both applicants normally appear in person with government-issued photo ID; county pages such as Bureau County's state that both parties must be present.
• No blood test is required, and applicants must be 18, or 16–17 with parental consent.
• Fees are set per county and vary widely; published examples in this directory run from $27 in Clark County to $75 in Bureau, Hamilton, Marshall and Massac counties.

The directory below covers all 102 counties with the clerk's office address, phone, published hours, website and, where the county publishes one, the license fee. Contact details were taken from the county clerk directory that the Illinois Department of Public Health links to from its marriage records page, and cross-checked against county websites where those pages were reachable. Rules, fees, hours and appointment practice are local, so confirm them with the clerk before travelling.

Questions people ask

Who issues marriage licenses in Illinois?

The county clerk of the county where the marriage will take place. The Illinois Department of Public Health does not issue licenses or hold marriage records; it only verifies facts of marriages from 1962 onward for a $5 fee.

Is there a waiting period in Illinois?

Yes. A license cannot be used until one day after it is issued, so the application has to be made at least one day before the ceremony.

How long is an Illinois marriage license valid?

60 days from issuance. After that it is void and the couple must apply again. The license is also only valid in the county that issued it.

How much does a marriage license cost?

It varies by county. Published fees range from $27 in Clark County to $75 in Bureau, Hamilton, Marshall and Massac counties, and some offices accept cash only.

Do we both need to appear in person?

Yes, both applicants normally appear together at the clerk's office with photo ID, although several counties let you start the application online first.

The 102 counties

Directory last checked 2026-10-24.