Free Illinois Marriage Records Online
Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, has a rich and well-documented history stretching back to its statehood in 1818. Whether your ancestors were early settlers along the Mississippi River, farmers in the central prairies, or immigrants building lives in Chicago and Springfield, marriage records are a cornerstone of Illinois genealogy. These vital documents can reveal full names, ages, parents’ names, occupations, and residences — unlocking whole branches of your family tree. This guide walks you through finding both free online databases and official state resources to locate Illinois marriage records for your ancestors.
Illinois Vital Records Office
The official custodian of statewide marriage records in Illinois is the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Division of Vital Records. The office maintains marriage records for marriages that occurred from January 1, 1962 to the present. The IDPH holds certified copies of marriage licenses and certificates on file.
To request a certified copy by mail or online through VitalChek (for an additional fee), contact:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Vital Records
925 E. Ridgely Street
Springfield, IL 62702
The IDPH can provide certified copies for legal purposes (legal name changes or legal name change purposes) but also provides genealogical copies for research. Current fees typically range from $10-$15 per search plus $10-$15 per copy. You can order online through VitalChek (fees apply) or by mail with a check or money order payable to “Illinois Department of Public Health.”
For marriages prior to 1962, you must contact the county clerk’s office where the marriage license was issued.
Free Online Sources for Illinois Marriage Records
You can access tens of thousands of historical Illinois marriage records completely free through these trusted genealogy platforms:
– FamilySearch.org (Free): The FamilySearch “Illinois Marriages” collection includes over 1 million+ indexed entries covering marriages from 1815 to 1940s. This is your best free starting point.
– FamilySearch Church Records: Search “Illinois County Marriages” on FamilySearch — many counties have separate collections by county.
– AncestryLibrary.com: Free at any FamilySearch Center or public library with a free guest pass.
– Catholic Diocese Archives: Free parish registers available at local Catholic diocesan archives in Chicago (Chicago Archdiocese), Joliet Diocese, Peoria Diocese — many parish marriage registers are now digitized.
– Census & Probate Records: Many pre-1890 Illinois marriages may only exist at county level.
County-Level Marriage Records in Illinois
Because vital registration began statewide on January 1, 1877 — but counties began recording earlier — most historical marriages before that date exist only at the county clerk’s office level. Each county’s County Clerk maintains original marriage license applications and certificates from each county seat like Cook County Clerk’s Office in Chicago or Sangamon County Clerk’s Office in Springfield.
The key rule: If it happened before January 1962? Always start at the local county courthouse first.
How to Search Illinois Marriage Records Step by Step
Follow this step-by-step method:
1. Start with FamilySearch.org — search “Illinois Marriages” on FamilySearch first
2. Check State Vital Records — only covers post-January 1962
3. Contact Local County Clerk — call your specific county clerk’s office for pre-1900 licenses
4. Check Census Plus Probate — probate files sometimes replace lost church records
Pro tip: If you don’t know which exact town? Start with census showing “married within last year”
Illinois Marriage Record Requirements
To obtain an official certified copy from IDPH today: You must provide: full names of both parties + exact date + exact location city/county + reason required
If ordering genealogical copy without exact date? Provide approximate date range + known details
For current requests: Two forms accepted: Certified Copy ($15) vs Genealogical Copy ($15) + SASE + check payable accordingly
Fees current as of [current year]: $15 per search fee per record
Pro tip: If application rejected due lack fee? No refund given without proper documentation