Introduction to Illinois Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get an Illinois Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure. 
    

Illinois Marriage certificates have been maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records for individuals married in the state of Illinois since 1962.

Illinois Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Illinois state law, Illinois Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Illinois Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Illinois Marriage Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Illinois Marriage Certificate

Illinois Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Uncertified copies of Illinois Marriage certificates may be available for genealogy and other purposes on a restricted basis.

Illinois Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Illinois Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Illinois Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Illinois Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Illinois Marriage Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Illinois Marriage certificate online.  It usually takes 3-4 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Illinois Marriage certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Illinois Marriage certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Illinois Marriage certificate
• Date of Marriage on the Illinois Marriage certificate
• County (or city) of Marriage on the Illinois Marriage certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose Illinois Marriage certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the Illinois Marriage certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

Illinois Department of Public Health

Division of Vital Records

605 W. Jefferson St.

Springfield, IL 62702-5097

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Illinois: You may go to any county health department in the State of Illinois to obtain a certified copy of an Illinois Marriage certificate. Most Illinois Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Illinois Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for an Illinois Marriage certificate is $5.00, which includes one certified copy of the Illinois Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Illinois Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $5.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "Illinois Department of Public Health." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.