How To Obtain A Chicago Marriage License
To get legally married in Chicago, you first need to get a wedding license. Thankfully, this only takes a few simple steps, but it’s important to be familiar with the process. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Prepare your paperwork: Both parties will need to present one or more forms of valid identification with proof of age, such as a driver’s license, passport, or birth certificate.
Appear together at a county clerk’s office: When applying for a marriage license, Cook County requires that both parties appear together at one of the six County Clerk’s vital records offices with their valid forms of ID.
Fill out a license application: You can start the application process online, but you must finish it in-person at one of the County Clerk’s offices. If you’ve had a divorce, you need to provide the date the divorce was finalized. If the divorce was in the last six months, it’s required to present a copy of the divorce decree.
Pay the marriage license fee: It costs $60 to obtain a marriage license in Chicago.
Get married within the designated time frame: In Chicago, a marriage license takes effect the day after it was issued. Therefore, you’re required to wait 24 hours from when you obtain your wedding license to when you wed. The license is then valid for 60 days, so plan to get married within that time frame.
Return the signed license to the clerk’s office: After the ceremony, your officiant has 10 days to sign and complete the bottom portion of the marriage license and mail or deliver it back to a clerk’s office. Once this step is complete, you’re all done—it’s official! If you want, you can then request your own copy of the marriage certificate.
Do I Need a Chicago Wedding License?
To get married in Illinois, your marriage license must be issued in the same county where you plan to get married. For Chicago and the closest surrounding suburbs, that’s Cook County. This applies even if you’re an international traveler or out of state.
Where to Get Your Marriage License
There are six County Clerk’s records offices in Cook County, so you can get your marriage license issued at any one of them. It’s recommended to start the application process online, but to complete the process and receive your license, you and your partner must appear at one of the clerk’s offices together.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Marriage License in Chicago?
After applying at the county clerk’s office, the marriage license will be issued to you immediately.
Can I Get Married the Same Day in Chicago?
Even though you receive your license right after applying, it’s not valid until 1 day later. So, plan to save your “I Do’s” for at least 24 hours after you get your license. Once you receive it, the license is valid for up to 60 days.
For more information about planning a wedding in Chicago, please visit here.
Until next time…WEDologize!