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Cook County, Illinois marriage license: fee, offices and what to bring
What official pages say about getting a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois: the $60 fee, where to go, appointments, ID and who must appear. A fact is linked to the page it was read on.
Cook County marriage license at a glance
Fee: The Cook County Clerk lists a marriage license fee of $60.
Where to go: Downtown Chicago - Vital Records, 118 N. Clark St., Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602, or the 2 other offices in the table below.
Appointment: Appointments are required at the Markham, Maywood and Skokie offices. The Downtown Chicago office is not marked as appointment required, and the Clerk's booking page offers appointments there too.
Cook County marriage license: what the office asks for
Issued by the Cook County Clerk's Office. The lines below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked November 13, 2026. Fees and hours change, and this is not legal advice: confirm with the office before you go.
- Fee
- The Cook County Clerk lists a marriage license fee of $60. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- How to pay
- For in-person orders at the Clerk's locations, cash, debit cards and credit cards are accepted. Debit cards carry a $1.25 processing fee and credit cards $1.75. Checks are not accepted. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- Appointment
- Appointments are required at the Markham, Maywood and Skokie offices. The Downtown Chicago office is not marked as appointment required, and the Clerk's booking page offers appointments there too. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- Online application
- Couples may begin the application online, but it is optional. Those who start online must still appear at a Clerk's office to finish and sign the application. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- ID and documents to bring
- Bring valid identification with proof of age. Divorced applicants must give the date the divorce was finalized; those divorced within the last six months must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- Who must appear
- Both applicants must appear together at one of the Clerk's locations. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- Valid only in Cook County
- A Cook County marriage license is valid only for ceremonies performed in Chicago and suburban Cook County. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- Return the license within 10 days
- The license must be returned to the Cook County Clerk's Office within 10 days after the ceremony, by mail or in person. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
- Court ceremonies
- Couples without their own officiant can be married by a Cook County judge at the Marriage and Civil Union Court, lower level of 119 W. Randolph St.; ceremonies are performed there six days a week. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
Where to get a marriage license in Cook County
| Office | Address | Hours | Source, checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Chicago - Vital Records | 118 N. Clark St., Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602 | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | cookcountyclerkil.gov Nov 13, 2026 |
| North Suburbs - Skokie | 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Room 149, Skokie, IL 60077 | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. | cookcountyclerkil.gov Nov 13, 2026 |
| South Suburbs - Markham | 16501 S. Kedzie Avenue, Room 238, Markham, IL 60428 | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. | cookcountyclerkil.gov Nov 13, 2026 |
The Clerk has four Vital Records locations for marriage licenses: Downtown Chicago, Skokie, Markham and Maywood. (Source: cookcountyclerkil.gov, checked November 13, 2026)
Official links
How Cook County compares with the Illinois rule
The fee on the Illinois page is this county's own: $60.
- Illinois 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 a Illinois 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)
Illinois marriage license: fee, waiting period and how to apply has the state’s other rules: witnesses, who may officiate, age and certified copies.
Common questions
How much is a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois?
The Cook County Clerk lists a marriage license fee of $60. For in-person orders at the Clerk's locations, cash, debit cards and credit cards are accepted. Debit cards carry a $1.25 processing fee and credit cards $1.75. Checks are not accepted.
Where do you get a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois?
The Cook County Clerk's Office issues it. Downtown Chicago - Vital Records, 118 N. Clark St., Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) North Suburbs - Skokie, 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Room 149, Skokie, IL 60077 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) South Suburbs - Markham, 16501 S. Kedzie Avenue, Room 238, Markham, IL 60428 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) The Clerk has four Vital Records locations for marriage licenses: Downtown Chicago, Skokie, Markham and Maywood.
Do you need an appointment for a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois?
Appointments are required at the Markham, Maywood and Skokie offices. The Downtown Chicago office is not marked as appointment required, and the Clerk's booking page offers appointments there too. Couples may begin the application online, but it is optional. Those who start online must still appear at a Clerk's office to finish and sign the application.
Do both people have to be there to get a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois?
Both applicants must appear together at one of the Clerk's locations.
What do you bring for a marriage license in Cook County, Illinois?
Bring valid identification with proof of age. Divorced applicants must give the date the divorce was finalized; those divorced within the last six months must bring a certified copy of the divorce decree.
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