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How To Find U.S. Marriage Records How To Find Illinois Marriage Records

Finding Illinois Marriage Records
Illinois land was part of the Northwest Territory established in 1787. It became part of the Indiana Territory in 1800; in 1809 the Illinois Territory was established. Illinois became a state in 1818.

Some counties began keeping marriage records as soon as the county was formed. Indexes of marriage records have been kept by the Illinois Department of Health, Division of Vital Records from 1962 through the present, but only verification will be made. County clerks are the official custodians of all marriage records in Illinois and copies must be obtained from them.

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Next Step: When did the marriage occur?

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 * Marriage Records
 * Choose a time period:
 * Before 1900
 * 1900 to 1962
 * 1962 to Present
 * Marriage year unknown


 * }

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases above, try searching for marriage information in other records.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
'''PART A: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes. '''

Illinois County clerks are the official custodians of all marriage records recorded in Illinois counties. To obtain copies of marriages, write the appropriate county clerk and include in your letter all of the information on the marriage.

OR

Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) hold original marriage records or microfilm copies for over seventy of the 102 counties in Illinois for the years 1809-1983. Consult the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database to see if IRAD has marriage records for the county and date of the marriage you are requesting. Type the search term MARRIAGE in the title field to return all marriage records in the IRAD holdings. If IRAD does have marriage records for the county you are searching and for the pertinent time period, write the appropriate Illinois Regional Archives Depository and include in your letter all of the information on the marriage. Marriage record searches are free, but a small copy fee will be billed for records found. IRAD provides uncertified copies only. Certified copies must be requested from the county clerk.

PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage


 * If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for the marriage date for a fee from the Local County Clerk or from the appropriate Illinois Regional Archives Depository. Consult the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database to see if IRAD has marriage records for the county and approximate date of the marriage you are requesting.
 * If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can try searching for marriage information in other records.

Marriage Records on Microfilm Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by county.
 * Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record
'''PART A: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records or the above indexes. '''

Illinois County clerks are the official custodians of all marriage records recorded in Illinois counties. To obtain copies of marriages, write the appropriate county clerk and include in your letter all of the information on the marriage.

OR

Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) hold original marriage records or microfilm copies for over seventy of the 102 counties in Illinois for the years 1809-1983. Consult the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database to see if IRAD has marriage records for the county and date of the marriage you are requesting. Type the search term MARRIAGE in the title field to return all marriage records in the IRAD holdings. If IRAD does have marriage records for the county you are searching and for the pertinent time period, write the appropriate Illinois Regional Archives Depository and include in your letter all of the information on the marriage. Marriage record searches are free, but a small copy fee will be billed for records found. IRAD provides uncertified copies only. Certified copies must be requested from the county clerk.

PART B: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage


 * If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for the marriage date for a fee from the Local County Clerk or from the appropriate Illinois Regional Archives Depository. Consult the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database to see if IRAD has marriage records for the county and approximate date of the marriage you are requesting.
 * If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can try searching for marriage information in other records.

Marriage Records on Microfilm Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.


 * Search the FHLC by county.
 * Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
 * For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages 1962 to Present
For a $5 fee, the Illinois Department of Health, Division of Vital Records can verify the facts of a marriage that has taken place from 1962 through the current index date available. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Division of Vital Records does not issue certified copies of marriage records. Certified copies are available from the county clerk in the county where the marriage occurred.

Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) hold original marriage records or microfilm copies for over seventy of the 102 counties in Illinois for the years 1809-1983. Consult the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database to see if IRAD has marriage records for the county and date of the marriage you are requesting. Type the search term MARRIAGE in the title field to return all marriage records in the IRAD holdings. If IRAD does have marriage records for the county you are searching and for the pertinent time period, write the appropriate Illinois Regional Archives Depository and include in your letter all of the information on the marriage. Marriage record searches are free, but a small copy fee will be billed for records found. IRAD provides uncertified copies only. Certified copies must be requested from the county clerk.

County clerks are the official custodians of all marriage records recorded in Illinois counties. To obtain copies of marriages found in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, write the appropriate county clerk and include in your letter all of the information on the marriage given in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

Ask for the marriage license or the marriage register, not the marriage certificate. The license or register usually contains more information.

If you cannot locate your ancestor's marriage in the sources above, try searching for marriage information in other records.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

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