Illinois marriage license guide
How to get a marriage license in Illinois
Illinois requires a one-day waiting period (the license is issued same-day but cannot be used until the next calendar day) and is valid for 60 days only in the county where issued. Fees vary widely — Cook County charges $60, smaller counties as little as $15. One witness is required. Illinois abolished common-law marriage in 1905; pre-1905 marriages and those formed in recognizing states are still honored.
Illinois marriage license at a glance
- Issued by
- County Clerk
- License fee
- $15–$75
- Waiting period
- 1 day
- Validity
- 60 days from issuance
- Minimum age
- 18 (without parental consent)
- Witnesses required
- 1
- ID requirement
- Government-issued photo ID; Social Security number
- Blood test?
- No (not required in any US state)
- Common-law marriage?
- Not recognized
- Statute
- 750 ILCS 5/201 et seq. (Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act)
Source: www.cookcountyclerkil.gov. Fees vary by county within Illinois — check with the local clerk before applying.
Illinois counties — where to apply
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Informational only — not legal advice. Verify all requirements with your local county clerk before applying.