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Illinois marriage license: fee, waiting period and how to apply

What Illinois's official pages say about getting married there: the fee, the waiting period, how long the license lasts, witnesses, officiants, ID and where to apply. Each rule links its source.

By Wedding RemedyPublished October 30, 2026

Editorial standards

Illinois marriage license at a glance

Fee: $60 at the Cook County Clerk. Fee is waived for couples converting a civil union to a marriage within 60 days of applying. Waiting period: The license becomes effective 1 day after it is issued, so there is a one-day wait before the ceremony. How long it is valid: Valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. A ceremony after expiration is not valid.

Illinois counties set their own fee. The fee shown is from Cook County, the largest county; ask your county clerk for its fee.

Illinois marriage license rules

The rules below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked October 30, 2026. Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice: confirm with the clerk where you apply before you rely on a rule.

Fee: $60 at the Cook County Clerk. Fee is waived for couples converting a civil union to a marriage within 60 days of applying. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Premarital education discount: None stated on the official pages we read. Check with your county clerk. Official page
Waiting period: The license becomes effective 1 day after it is issued, so there is a one-day wait before the ceremony. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
How long the license is valid: Valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. A ceremony after expiration is not valid. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where the license can be used: A Cook County license is valid only for ceremonies in Chicago and suburban Cook County. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Witnesses: Check with your county clerk. Official page
Who may officiate: Judges and retired judges of a court of record, certain public officials and mayors, and officiants under the rules of a religious denomination. No state registration is required. (Source: ilga.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Officiants ordained online: Not stated here. Ask the county clerk before you rely on an online ordination. Official page
Age: Must be 18. Applicants 16 or 17 can get a license with sworn consent of both parents or guardians, a certified birth certificate and a second ID. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
ID and documents to bring: Both applicants present valid identification with proof of age. If divorced within six months, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where to apply: In person, together, at one of the Cook County Clerk's four Vital Records locations. Licenses are issued while you wait. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Online application: Yes. You can start the application online, but both must still appear at a Clerk's office to finish, sign and pay. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Certified copy of the marriage certificate: Order in person, online through VitalChek, by phone or by mail from the Cook County Clerk. Certified copies are $15, then $4 for each additional copy. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked October 30, 2026)

Common questions

How much is a marriage license in Illinois?

$60 at the Cook County Clerk. Fee is waived for couples converting a civil union to a marriage within 60 days of applying. Illinois counties set their own fee. The fee shown is from Cook County, the largest county; ask your county clerk for its fee.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Illinois?

The license becomes effective 1 day after it is issued, so there is a one-day wait before the ceremony.

How long is a Illinois marriage license valid?

Valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. A ceremony after expiration is not valid.

Who can officiate a wedding in Illinois?

Judges and retired judges of a court of record, certain public officials and mayors, and officiants under the rules of a religious denomination. No state registration is required.

How do you get a certified copy of a Illinois marriage certificate?

Order in person, online through VitalChek, by phone or by mail from the Cook County Clerk. Certified copies are $15, then $4 for each additional copy.

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