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Marriage Licenses
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Age
Both applicants must be present to obtain a license and be 18 years of age. Marriage applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age may marry in Illinois only when both parents or legal guardians complete a consent form at the time of the license application. Parental consent forms are available from the Clerk's office. Valid identification and the original birth record are required for applicants under the age of 18.
Identification Requirements
Both applicants must present identification and proof of age. A valid U.S. driver’s license, valid U.S. state identification card, valid U.S. passport, or valid U.S. military identification card are accepted.
Applicants must present valid identification displaying the exact name as it will appear on the license. For example, if it's desired to have the full middle name appear on the marriage license, then identification provided must display the full middle name.
If you do not have the above forms of identification, alternative identification accepted includes any two (2) pieces: a certified copy of a birth certificate (certified English translation required for foreign certificates), a valid foreign passport, U.S. naturalization papers, a valid U.S. resident alien card or an official consulate identification card. Personal affidavits are not acceptable.
Previous Marriages / Civil Unions
We must know how a previous marriage or civil union ended, including the date, county and state in which it ended. If a prior marriage or civil union ended within the last six months, the County Clerk's office must see a certified copy (a photocopy is not sufficient) of the death record, dissolution or annulment decree.
Social Security Number (if applicable)
If a Social Security number has been issued to you, you will be asked to provide the number on your marriage application.
Non-Residents
If either applicant resides in another state, a license will be issued only if the marriage would not be prohibited by the state of residency.
Effective Date
Marriage licenses must be obtained at least one day prior to the marriage. The marriage must take place in Lake County and occur within 60 days of the date the license is issued. After 60 days, any license not completed (no marriage performed), is invalid.
Fee
$35 for Marriage license application
$10 for first certified copy
$4 for each additional certified copy
Payment may be made in cash or by check/money order payable to the Lake County Clerk. Some credit and debit cards are accepted and include an additional processing fee. Certified copies of the completed Marriage License may be ordered and pre-paid at the time the license is issued. Certificates are mailed once the completed license is returned by the officiant.
Medical Examination
No medical tests are required in Illinois.
Clergy
The Clerk’s office is not an agent for any clergy or ministers and cannot provide contact information for those who perform non-sectarian services.
Judges for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court are available to perform ceremonies after regular court business is completed. No appointments are needed. Check the court calendar or contact the Court Administration office by calling 847-377-3600 for availability if you are planning a ceremony near a holiday.
Requirements for the ceremony
For a judge to perform a weekday ceremony, begin at the Circuit Court Clerk's office located at 18 North County Street, Waukegan, lower level of the Annex Building to pay the $10 ceremony fee. The Circuit Court Clerk will then direct you and your marriage party to the courtroom for the ceremony.
Monday - Friday 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Lake County Courthouse and Administrative Complex, 18 North County Street, Waukegan, Illinois
Weekend ceremonies
For either weekend day, arrive at the Babcox Justice Center close to starting time. $10 ceremony fee is paid to the deputy in Courtroom 120. On Sunday, the judge will leave once all court business and any known marriages are completed.
Saturday 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Sunday 9:00 am ONLY
Babcox Justice Center, 20 South County Street, Waukegan, Illinois
Marriage Information Line
The court sponsors a Marriage Information Line (847.377.3999) to assist in answering questions concerning marriage by a judge. Selections are recorded in both English and Spanish.
A marriage record may be requested by:
Types of Marriage Records
Due to the cost and the inability to re-purpose the state-mandated security paper used to issue vital records, once an order for certificate copies is processed, our office cannot offer any refunds.
- Age
- Identification Requirements
- Previous Marriages / Civil Unions
- Social Security Number
- Non-Residents
- Effective Date
- Fee
- Medical Examination
- Clergy or Judge Services
- Requesting Copies of Marriage Record
- Office Hours & Directions
Age
Both applicants must be present to obtain a license and be 18 years of age. Marriage applicants who are 16 or 17 years of age may marry in Illinois only when both parents or legal guardians complete a consent form at the time of the license application. Parental consent forms are available from the Clerk's office. Valid identification and the original birth record are required for applicants under the age of 18.
Identification Requirements
Both applicants must present identification and proof of age. A valid U.S. driver’s license, valid U.S. state identification card, valid U.S. passport, or valid U.S. military identification card are accepted.
Applicants must present valid identification displaying the exact name as it will appear on the license. For example, if it's desired to have the full middle name appear on the marriage license, then identification provided must display the full middle name.
If you do not have the above forms of identification, alternative identification accepted includes any two (2) pieces: a certified copy of a birth certificate (certified English translation required for foreign certificates), a valid foreign passport, U.S. naturalization papers, a valid U.S. resident alien card or an official consulate identification card. Personal affidavits are not acceptable.
Previous Marriages / Civil Unions
We must know how a previous marriage or civil union ended, including the date, county and state in which it ended. If a prior marriage or civil union ended within the last six months, the County Clerk's office must see a certified copy (a photocopy is not sufficient) of the death record, dissolution or annulment decree.
Social Security Number (if applicable)
If a Social Security number has been issued to you, you will be asked to provide the number on your marriage application.
Non-Residents
If either applicant resides in another state, a license will be issued only if the marriage would not be prohibited by the state of residency.
Effective Date
Marriage licenses must be obtained at least one day prior to the marriage. The marriage must take place in Lake County and occur within 60 days of the date the license is issued. After 60 days, any license not completed (no marriage performed), is invalid.
Fee
$35 for Marriage license application
$10 for first certified copy
$4 for each additional certified copy
Payment may be made in cash or by check/money order payable to the Lake County Clerk. Some credit and debit cards are accepted and include an additional processing fee. Certified copies of the completed Marriage License may be ordered and pre-paid at the time the license is issued. Certificates are mailed once the completed license is returned by the officiant.
Medical Examination
No medical tests are required in Illinois.
Clergy
The Clerk’s office is not an agent for any clergy or ministers and cannot provide contact information for those who perform non-sectarian services.
Judge Services
Judges for the 19th Judicial Circuit Court are available to perform ceremonies after regular court business is completed. No appointments are needed. Check the court calendar or contact the Court Administration office by calling 847-377-3600 for availability if you are planning a ceremony near a holiday.
Requirements for the ceremony
- Valid marriage license issued by the County Clerk at least one day prior
- $10 ceremony fee (cash only)
- Identification documents presented to the County Clerk's office at time of license application
- Third-party interpreter if either person does not speak or understand English.
- Witnesses
- Rings
- Small group of family or friends
For a judge to perform a weekday ceremony, begin at the Circuit Court Clerk's office located at 18 North County Street, Waukegan, lower level of the Annex Building to pay the $10 ceremony fee. The Circuit Court Clerk will then direct you and your marriage party to the courtroom for the ceremony.
Monday - Friday 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Lake County Courthouse and Administrative Complex, 18 North County Street, Waukegan, Illinois
Weekend ceremonies
For either weekend day, arrive at the Babcox Justice Center close to starting time. $10 ceremony fee is paid to the deputy in Courtroom 120. On Sunday, the judge will leave once all court business and any known marriages are completed.
Saturday 9:30 am to 11:00 am
Sunday 9:00 am ONLY
Babcox Justice Center, 20 South County Street, Waukegan, Illinois
Marriage Information Line
The court sponsors a Marriage Information Line (847.377.3999) to assist in answering questions concerning marriage by a judge. Selections are recorded in both English and Spanish.
Requesting Copies of a Marriage Record
A marriage record may be requested by:
- those named in the record,
- child of person named in the record,
- a family member, or
- another individual acting as an agent or legal representative of the person named in the record.
Types of Marriage Records
- Certified
Acceptable for legal name change on driver’s license, passport, bank account, etc.
$10 for first certified copy
$4 for each additional copy - Non-certified
Used in researching family history and is available only if the record is at least 75 years old
$4 for each non-certified record marked “For Genealogical Purposes Only” - No Record Found Certification
If the record is not found to be on file within our office, a certificate of no record found is available for purchase.
$1.50 for certification
- Walk-in same-day service
- Certified or non-certified record
- Downtown Waukegan
- No appointment needed
- Valid identification is required
- Processing time is normally less than 30 minutes
- Payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card
(Additional service fees apply to credit card payment) - Office hours, holiday calendar, and map to our office
- For faster service bring completed Marriage Record Request Form (fillable PDF), printed, and signed
- Ordering by mail with check or money order payment
Record is requested by and mailed to customer through the U.S. Postal Service’s first-class mail- Certified or non-certified record
- Two business day processing, once request is received by our office
- Record can be sent to a street address or P.O. box.
Items needed:
- Completed Marriage Record Request Form (fillable PDF), printed, and signed
- Photocopy of valid identification (acceptable ID is listed on form)
- Check or money order payable to the Lake County Clerk
- Self-addressed envelope with sufficient first-class U.S. postage stamp affixed
- Mail all items to:
Lake County Clerk Carla Wyckoff
Vital Records Department
18 N. County Street, Room 101
Waukegan, IL 60085 - Ordering online with credit card payment
VitalChek Network, Inc. is an independent company and our selected partner providing vital record ordering services when payment is made by credit card, expedited delivery is required, or order is placed by fax or email. Additional service fees will be applied.
- Ordering by fax or email
For instructions on how to place an order by fax or email, please call the Clerk’s Vital Record Department at 847.377.2411. Credit card payment will be processed through VitalChek, and all applicable service fees will be applied.
Due to the cost and the inability to re-purpose the state-mandated security paper used to issue vital records, once an order for certificate copies is processed, our office cannot offer any refunds.