How to Find Illinois Marriage Records
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.
Next Step: When did the marriage occur? |
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Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records
Marriages Before 1900
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
| Illinois Marriage Database - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934 |
Free; name index and images of county marriages from the state of Illinois at FamilySearch. Not complete - additional records will be added as they are completed. |
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| Illinois Marriage Databases - Index Only | ||||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives |
Free; Illinois Statewide Marriage Index |
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| Illinois Marriages 1815-1935 |
Free; Name index to marriage records from the state of Illinois at FamilySearch. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. | |||
| Ancestry Databases | |||
| Ancestry, Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | |
| Ancestry, Illinois Marriages to 1850 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | |
| Ancestry, Illinois Marriages 1851-1900 | Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers | $, Use your own Ancestry subscription | |
| Can't access Ancestry? | Visit your local Family History Center or your local public library. | |
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. |
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases above, try searching for marriage information in other records.
| 1. Look first in | 2. Then search |
| Church Records |
Census 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.
Marriages 1900 to 1962
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information
| Illinois Marriage Database - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934 |
Free; name index and images of county marriages from the state of Illinois at FamilySearch. Not complete - additional records will be added as they are completed. |
|||
| Illinois Marriage Database - Index Only | ||||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Illinois Marriages 1815-1935 |
Free; Name index to marriage records from the state of Illinois at FamilySearch. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. |
|||
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.
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.
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When ordering Illinois marriage records: |
Ask for the marriage license or the marriage register, not the marriage certificate. The license or register usually contains more information.
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. |
If you cannot locate your ancestor's marriage in the sources above, try searching for marriage information in other records.
| 1. Look first in | 2. Then search |
| Church Records |
Census Records |
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