Cook County Marriage Record Search

A Cook County marriage record search involves reviewing or requesting official documents that detail marriages registered in the county. These offical documents include marriage licenses and certificates. The official custodian of these documents in Cook County is the County Clerk's Office. As a result, marriage record search requests are typically submitted to the Cook County Clerk's office.

Interested persons may seek out Cook County marriage records for several reasons, such as conducting genealogy research and obtaining legal proof of their marriage. The latter usually arises due to legal processes, like requesting a name change after marriage, that require specific marriage records to be completed. It is worth noting that marriage records are considered vital records and separate from Cook County Court Records, unlike divorce records.

Are Marriage Records Public?

No. Cook County marriage records are protected from public access and are only available to certain eligible persons under the Illinois Vital Records Act. These eligible persons include the subjects of the record (i.e., the groom and bride named in the record) and individuals with a direct interest in the record. Other persons or entities may also be allowed access to a marriage record under the authority of a court order or when the record's subject authorizes them.

Types of Marriage Records in Cook County

The most common types of marriage records available in Cook County are marriage licenses and marriage certificates:

• Marriage license: Prospective couples are required to obtain marriage licenses from the Cook County Clerk's office, allowing them to get married in Chicago or suburban Cook County. Under Illinois law, these couples must meet specific eligibility requirements before they can get a marriage license:
  • They must be 18 years or older;
  • They can not be blood relatives;
  • They must not already be legally married to someone else or each other.

Certain exceptions to the requirements mentioned above exist. For instance, first cousins older than 50 and individuals who are 16 or 17 years old with parental consent may obtain a marriage license under state laws.

• Marriage certificate: This is an official document accepted as legal proof of a marriage. It is issued after the officiant of a marriage ceremony completes, signs, and returns a marriage license to a County Clerk's office for recordation following a marriage ceremony. In Cook County, locally, married couples can request three types of marriage certificates: standard, wallet, and commemorative certificates. Standard and wallet certificates both cost $15 each. Meanwhile, commemorative certificates cost $65, but local artists design them, and they make an ideal keepsake or gift.

The Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records can verify details about marriages between 1962 and the current index date available in Cook County and the rest of Illinois. A marriage verification request costs $5 and can provide requesters with marriage details, such as the names, dates of birth, date of marriage, and city/county of marriage.

How to Find Marriage Records in Cook County

Record seekers can find marriage records in Cook County through:

• The Cook County Clerk's office
• Authorized third-party websites

Cook County Marriage License Lookup

In Cook County, dedicated marriage license records are not preserved. Instead, marriage certificates are the only type of marriage record maintained by the Cook County Clerk's Office that eligible record seekers can look up or request. Hence, individuals who wish to look up Cook County marriage licenses must settle for searching or requesting marriage certificates.

Where Do I Get A Certified Copy Of My Marriage Certificate

In Cook County, an individual can order a certified copy of their marriage certificate through the County Clerk's office. As previously mentioned, an eligible person can order three types of marriage certificates from the Cook County Clerk's Office: a standard marriage certificate, a wallet marriage certificate, and a commemorative marriage certificate. Regardless of the type of marriage certificate an individual chooses to request, they must present acceptable photo identification(s) and pay the required fee to facilitate their request. These fees vary based on the type of marriage certificate. Standard and wallet certificates cost $15, while commemorative certificates cost $65.

Generally, there are different ways each type of marriage certificate can be ordered, as explained below:

Standard Marriage Certificate

Eligible persons can order a standard marriage certificate in one of five ways: in person, online, by phone, by mail, and through a Local Currency Exchange. Orders can be placed online via approved third-party websites or in person at any of the Cook County Clerk's locations.

On the other hand, individuals can call the toll-free number (866) 252-8974 to order by phone or place orders at a local Currency Exchange. For the latter, requesters can call (847) 759-8905 or visit the Mycurrencyexchange website to find the hours and locations of local Currency Exchanges in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Note that there is a $5 surcharge for using Currency Exchanges to obtain records.

Lastly, requesters can use the Marriage Certificate Request Form to order by mail. Requesters must complete the request form and mail it with a photocopy of their photo identification, the required fee (via check or money order payable to the Cook County Clerk), and a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Cook County Clerk’s Office
Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box A3390
Chicago, IL 60690

Wallet Marriage Certificate

Eligible persons can order a wallet marriage certificate in person or by mail. For in-person requests, visit any of the Cook County Clerk's locations. Note that the downtown office offers same-day delivery. Meanwhile, requesters can utilize the Marriage Certificate Request Form to make requests by mail.

Commemorative Marriage Certificate

There are two ways to order this type of marriage record: in person at one of the Cook County Clerk's locations or online through the County Clerk's Commemorative Certificate Store.

Get a Marriage Certificate Online in Cook County

Eligible persons can order a Cook County marriage certificate online through authorized third-party websites. However, only standard marriage certificates are available through these third-party websites. Furthermore, users must provide certain information about the sought-after marriage certificate to facilitate searches on these websites. These include the name of the place (i.e., the city, town, or village in Cook County) where the marriage occurred, the spouses' names, and the date of marriage. Additionally, besides the set fee ($15) for a standard marriage certificate, third-party websites typically charge users additional fees for processing requests.

Find Public Marriage Records Free Online

Unfortunately, the Cook County Clerk's Office currently does not provide any online resources individuals can use to find or request marriage records kept by the office. As a result, record seekers may need to rely on authorized third-party websites that offer marriage records search and request services to find Cook County marriage records online. However, these websites usually charge a fee for using services they provide, whether performing a search or ordering a marriage record. Nonetheless, some third-party websites may allow users access to basic information about marriage records for free, but users must pay a fee or subscription for comprehensive details.