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Apply For Your Marriage License - "How To"
Wedding License Rules
It doesn't matter where you live... it is "where you are standing" during the ceremony. You must be together - there is NO proxi in Illinois. There is a one day waiting period after you obtain a marriage license, unles you're military. Buy your marriage license in the county you want the ceremony to be performed in. See below.
RULE 1: You must have a license from the county where the ceremony will take place.
RULE 2: you can not get married the same day you buy your license, Unless you're active military, see below.
RULE 3: You must both be together when you buy your license. Some states offer Proxy Illinois is NOT one of them.
Rule 4: You must be 18 years of age or older and pay the marriage license fee of $60+ check the website.
FYI: DID YOU KNOW?
YES> You can apply online for the marriage license but still must go together to pick it up
NO> You do not have to show proof of divorce if it has been over 2 years
NO> Blood Test is Required
YES> 1ST Cousin Marriage is Legal if your 50 years old
YES> Active Military Can Marry the Same Day Requires a free stamp on license
YES> if you are age 16 and 17 years old you get married with parental consent
NO> You do not have to change your name. But if you choose to - one, or "both" of you could change your last names. First names are much harder, but possible.
Cook County, Illinois
IN PERSON:
Couples may begin the marriage license application process online at marriageapplication.cookcountyclerk.com Marriage license applications can still be started and completed in person at any one of the Clerk's six office locations. Persons obtaining a license in Cook County may NOT use the license in any other county.
Need your Marriage License? Now Cook County has opened their online marriage application process. You will apply and pay on their website and then they will contact you to participate in a no-contact video meeting, or receive a date to go to pick up the paperwork.
APPLY HERE https://marriageapplication.cookcountyclerk.com/the
THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION IS:
Bureau of Vital Records
312-603-7788
Vital.Records@cookcountyil.gov
Customers seeking vital records services such as marriage licenses, birth, or marriage certificates can visit the 118 N. Clark location weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm.
ZOOM ONLINE CALL:
Virtual Marriage License Issuance via Online Video Call. https://www.cookcountyclerk.com/agency/virtual-marriage-license-issuance-online-video-call
*Please note Cook county can be delayed because of the pandemic. Please check current instruction on their website. If you need to get married fast and do not have a marriage license - you might want to consider McHenry County.
McHenry County, Illinois
Couples must appear together in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call the office at (815) 334-4242 ahead of time to schedule your appointment. The fee for a marriage license is thirty dollars ($30.00) cash or credit/debit card. https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/county-government/departments-a-i/county-clerk/vital-records/marriage-civil-union-licenses Persons obtaining a license in McHenry County may NOT use the license in any other county.
McHenry County Marriage Certificate
www.co.mchenry.il.us North Seminary, Woodstock, IL 815-334-4242
THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION
Office of McHenry County Clerk
McHenry County Administration Building
667 Ware Road, Suite 107
Woodstock, IL 60098
(815) 334-4242
Ian's Place Gogebic County Watersmeet MI
There is a (3) three day waiting period to obtain a license. The license will be given on the (4) fourth day. It doesn't mater where you live - this marriage license gives you permission to get married in this county. The license is valid for (33) thirty-three days from the date of application. Both parties must be at least 18 years of age. A person below the age of 18 can be married with written consent of a parent or legal guardian. Marriage license fees are: $20.00 for residents and $30.00 for non-residents. 44 Minutes from the island. Please check details on the website here. Gogebic County, MI | 200 N. Moore St. Bessemer, MI. 49911 | 906.667.0411
How To Get Married How-2
Other Local Counties
Du Page County Marriage certificate
$14 for the first copy and $2 for each additional copy of the same certificate, requested at the same time.
- IN-PERSON: Come into the DuPage County Clerk’s Office, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and fill out an application.
- ON LINE: For your convenience, you can process online requests for marriage certificates through an independent company that the DuPage County Clerk has partnered with to provide you this service; VitalChek Network, Inc. An additional fee of $10.00 is charged by VitalChek for this service, and all major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®. Place an order directly with VitalChek
- BY MAIL: Download Certification of Record of Marriage Application (PDF)
- Fill out the application and mail it with a check or money order made payable to the DuPage County Clerk to: DuPage County Clerk P.O. Box 1028 Wheaton, IL 60187
Kane County Marriage Certificate
www.co.kane.il.us 719 Batavia Ave. Geneva, IL 630-232-5950
Lake County Marriage Certificate
18 N County St. Waukegan, IL 847-360-6568
McHenry
How to After The Ceremony How-2
How To File Your Marriage License
Take your signed marriage license * with the seal, to any courthouse vital statistics department in the county you obtained the license.
- VIRUS UPDATE DO EVERYTHING ON LINE AFTER YOU Mail your license to: Karen Yarbrough, Bureau of Vital Statistics PO Box 641070 Chicago, IL 60664-1070 wait 30 days... then go online to buy certificate.
- Buy your certified copy (s) of the marriage license while you wait. You will leave with the certificates in hand.
- Read the back of the marriage license for cost & location
- you will need to purchase at least three (3) certified copies to change your name.
- you will need 2-4 certified copies for immigration paperwork.
- Version two: DURING COVID The couple Files the Paperwork in person.
- One of the two people named on the license can take it into the county courthouse and have the paperwork filed. The actual filing is already covered by the fee you paid when you purchased the license.
- While you are there, you need to prove it was filed by purchasing a legal certified copy. You will need three certified copies to change your name and usually 3-4 for immigration paperwork. If you buy them all at one time – it is cheaper.
- You can go to any vital stat department at any courthouse in the same county as the license, and if you need any extra copies later you can just go to currency exchange or purchase online.
How To Change Your Name
Just got hitched and now you want to change your last name. No Problem. Here’s Rev Pam’s easy 1,2,3.. how to change your name.
- Social Security Office
- Take one certified copy with your social security card to the social security office. In Chicagoland this could be a long line. 🙂 There you will need to bring in this document filled out or you can get one at the office when you come in. This PDF details what you need to bring if you were born outside the US. You will be updating your original SS# to a new name. Show them your certified copy of the marriage license and your original card and your ID.
- You must begin the name change process within the first year of marriage
- Remember – you are updating your current SS# not creating a new one.
- Department of Motor Vehicle
- Now take a second certified copy with your new SS card to the DMV and they will give you a form to fill out to change your name. wait in line. leave with the license.
- be prepared if its been awhile you might have to get a new photo too.
- while your there make sure you update your organ donor information and voters registration name or you may not be able to vote next time around.
- To participate in Illinois elections, you must register to vote with the Illinois Board of Elections. You may also obtain a voter registration form and register to vote through the IL Secretary of State when you apply for a driver’s license
- LETS START WITH THE US POST OFFICE. The local post office in Cook county has a State Department office for the purpose of updating your passport information. You do need to go in to make an appointment. When you do they will give you a list of things to bring to that appointment. here is a link to find the closest one
- while you’re at the post office fill out the address change / name change form and turn that in so they are aware of the name / address change for snail mail delivery.
After updating your identification, you’ll need to notify
- All employers. This sounds obvious, but it’s needed for new business cards, payroll and withholding tax forms.
- Your insurance companies (car, health, home, rent, life).
- All schools, if applicable.
- Your doctor, dentist, optician, veterinarian, and pharmacist.
- Your bank or credit union and all other financial institutions, Including IRA Loans Safety Dep. Box 401K stocks and bonds pension
- All utility companies (electric, phone, cable, gas).
- Magazine and newspaper circulation departments.
- State and federal tax departments.
- Your landlord or mortgage company.
- Credit card companies.
- Government assistance programs, if applicable.
- Veteran Affairs Department, if applicable.
- Your county tax assessor.
- Your library.
to avoid possible confusion updating:
- Car title, lease, car registration and club memberships
- Will
- Power of Attorney
- Health care directive
- Living trusts
