Get Your Certified Illinois Marriage Certificate

A marriage license is the document you obtain before your wedding that legally authorizes you to marry in Illinois. A marriage certificate is the official record proving your marriage took place. After your ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the appropriate office for filing. Once recorded, it becomes the official marriage certificate. You need the certificate for legal purposes like name changes, insurance benefits, tax filing, and immigration applications.

You can obtain a certified copy of a Illinois marriage certificate from the state vital records office, the county clerk or recorder where the marriage was filed, or online through VitalRecordsOnline.com. For older records, you may need to contact the county directly or the state archives. Processing times vary by method, with online and in-person requests typically being the fastest options.

The cost of an Illinois marriage certificate varies by county. In Cook County, a certified copy costs approximately $15 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy. Other counties may have different fee structures. Contact your local county clerk for exact pricing.

Yes, you can order an Illinois marriage certificate online in many counties through their official websites or approved service providers. You can also apply by mail or in person at the county clerk office where the marriage license was issued.

In Illinois, eligible requesters include either spouse named on the certificate, immediate family members, or a legal representative. If you need someone else to request the certificate on your behalf, they may submit a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA) or a signed affidavit from an authorized applicant.

An apostille is typically needed when filing a birth certificate with a foreign government. Apostilles are issued for birth certificates initially filed with the Division of Vital Records. Apostilles for Illinois birth records can be obtained online through VRO or the Secretary of State Index Department.

VRO provides apostille services for all 50 U.S. states, is recognized by governments and organizations, and is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO provides apostille services for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, all with professional support. The cost for the apostille service starts at $149 (plus government fees).

1. Complete the VRO Apostille Express online application.
2. Submit the required documents for approval.
3. Receive your apostille document.

Once your apostilled Illinois vital records are ready, we will mail them to you via FedEx or DHL. It doesn’t matter if you live in the U.S. or not—we use recognized shipping companies to deliver your documents anywhere in the world.

If you are manually sending your certificates to the Secretary of State Index Department, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Your certified copy of your vital records certificate.
• A completed Application for Authentication or Apostille stating in which country the certificate will be used.
• A payment of $2.00 per document can be either a check or a money order made payable to the Secretary of State.
• A self-addressed, stamped return envelope – if you use prepaid Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS, or Airborne Express, you must include a prepaid bill receipt and pre-printed shipping label from that carrier.

For Express or standard courier:

For in-person, walk-in service:

Illinois Marriage certificate is not public information or part of the Freedom of Information Act. Access to the records depends on the type of record and the year the marriage occurred. Numerous third-party websites can assist you in researching Illinois marriage records. These websites, typically not limited by geographic location, can be an excellent reference point when analyzing records. However, the data on third-party sites may vary from official government records. To find the certificate on a third-party website, the person requesting must provide the following:

• The location of the record you're looking for, including the city, county, or state where it was recorded.
• The name of the person on record.

The IDPH Division of Vital Records’ process for correcting or amending an individual's marriage certificate is straightforward. The forms required depend on the information that needs to be amended. When Illinois marriage records are changed, an amendment is necessary.

To correct or amend an Illinois marriage record, you will need:

1. A completed amendment application: State of Illinois Affidavit and Certificate of Correction Request. The form must be signed in the presence of a notary public.
2. Supporting documentation: A copy of a non-expired, government-issued photo ID of the person requesting the correction. Visit the IDPH website http://www.idph.state.il.us/vitalrecords/correctioninfo.htm for more information on the types of documents needed.
3. Appropriate fee(s): A $15.00 check or money order made payable to IDPH.

You can get a replacement for a lost or stolen Illinois Marriage Certificate. Below is the process to follow after losing it and how to get a replacement:

If you lose your marriage certificate:

1. Submit an application for a certified replacement copy in person, by mail, or online through the issuing county. You will need to complete the application, gather the required identification and documents, and pay the fees determined by the issuing county clerk’s office.
2. 1. For in-person applications: Present the completed application and required documents to the correct County Clerk’s office during hours of availability.
   2. For applying by mail: Send your application, documents, and a check or money order for the replacement fee to the issuing county clerk’s office. Check the Directory of Counties for the requirements and address:
      Illinois County Directory
      
2. The issuing county will mail the certified copy(s) after processing.