Illinois Civil Union Law - Frequently Asked Questions
Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act
Please note: Absolutely no information can be given over the telephone regarding Vital Records. Under Illinois State Law (410 ILCS 535-Vital Records Act) only specific individuals have legal access to birth, death, marriage or civil union certificates. The Sangamon County Clerk's Office will issue certificates to authorized individuals only. To do otherwise is a violation of Illinois Law. Vital Records are not considered public information, nor are they subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
To Obtain a Marriage or Civil Union License
- Ceremony must be held in Sangamon County
- You will complete your application on-line by clicking on this on-line marriage application link and note that you'll also pay for the license here. Please follow the directions, submit and pay for your license. An employee of our office will call you when the application and payment has been processed and will let you know you'll both need to come to the office to pick up the license and show your ID's. Please come to the Sangamon County Clerk's Office, Sangamon County Complex, 200 S. Ninth Street, Room 101, Springfield, IL to pick up the license.
- You must not be related
- The fee is $75. We will accept cash, check, money order or Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express.
- You must apply for the license at least one day in advance and no more than 60 days in advance
- No blood test is required
You will be required to provide the following application information on-line:
- Full name (first, middle, last)
- Maiden name
- Current address
- Date of Birth
- Age
- State in which you were born
- Social Security Number
- Occupation/Job title
- Parents Names including mother's maiden name
- City and state in which your parents live
- State in which your parents were born
- Relationship, if any, to the other party
- Certain statistical information including:
- Race, education, number of previous marriages/civil unions, date and state and county the last marriage/civil union ended
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Acceptable Forms of Identification
Valid driver's license, Valid State issued I.D., Valid U.S. Passport, or Valid Military I.D. are considered acceptable forms of identification.
Someone who is not a US Citizen must have a valid Passport as identification.
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Bride and Groom are Minors (16 or 17) - For a Civil Union License must both be at least 18
- Both parents are required to be present with identification and will have to sign a consent form
- If one parent cannot be located, then the other parent will need to sign an affidavit attesting to that fact
Acceptable Forms of Identification for a Minor
Valid driver's license and a certified birth record, Valid State issued I.D. and a certified birth record, Valid U.S. Passport and a certified birth record, Valid military ID and a certified birth record are considered acceptable forms of identification.
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Marriage or Civil Union Ceremony by a Judge
To get married or have a civil union performed by a judge, you must make an appointment by calling (217) 535-3186. You must obtain your marriage license prior to scheduling the appointment with a judge. You must pay a $10 fee to the Circuit Clerk in Room 405. This fee can be paid at any time prior to the marriage or civil union. The receipt you are given must be shown to the judge. You will go to Room 404 for the ceremony on your wedding day.
For more information, please call (217) 753-6700, e-mail by clicking here or come to Room 101 of the Sangamon County Complex, 200 S. Ninth Street, Springfield, IL 62701
Civil Union License Conversion - (effective June 1, 2014)
How do we convert our civil union to a marriage?
Couples who wish to convert their civil unions to marriages have two options (you will need valid ID for both):
1) From June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015, a couple can convert their civil union into a marriage. That marriage will be effective from the date of their original civil union. Simply apply for a marriage license and request to use the date of your civil union as your date of marriage. In this instance, the couple will immediately sign the license, without needing a ceremony. There is no fee within the first year of the new law, however, if you wish to have a certified copy of the marriage, you will have to pay $25 for a certified copy and $7 for each additional copy.
2) Apply for a marriage license and have a marriage within 60 days of application. The $75 marriage license fee will be waived, however, if you wish to have a certified copy of the marriage, you will have to pay $25 for a certified copy and $7 for each additional copy.
We had our civil union in a different county but plan to get married in Sangamon County. Will the fee still be waived?
Yes, the fee is waived no matter where in Illinois you received your civil union license. You must bring your previous civil union license with you.
If we live in a different state, can we get a marriage license in Sangamon County?
If you get a marriage license in Sangamon County, the marriage ceremony must occur in Sangamon County within 60 days. If you live outside Illinois at the time of your marriage and intend to continue living outside Illinois following your marriage, we advise that you speak with an attorney - prior to getting a marriage license - about whether your marriage will be valid.
We were already married in another state that allows same-sex marriage. Do we need to get another license in Illinois or have a ceremony in Illinois?
No. Out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples will now be recognized as a marriage in Illinois.
Marriage Licenses Issued in Sangamon County
2024
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 44 |
66
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 52 |
60
|
74
|
82
|
102
|
73
|
84
|
110
|
108
|
95
|
57
|
56
|
953 |
2022
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 52 |
59
|
84
|
105
|
93
|
91
|
76
|
124
|
140
|
59
|
66
|
63
|
1,012 |
2021
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 43 |
60
|
71
|
99
|
101
|
112
|
94
|
129
|
129
|
75
|
56
|
69
|
1,038
|
2020
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 57 |
60
|
72
|
51
|
75
|
97
|
118
|
126
|
119
|
96
|
68
|
48
|
987
|
2019
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 42 |
56
|
81
|
105
|
128
|
104
|
93
|
110
|
129
|
106
|
48
|
66
|
1,068
|
2018
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
52
|
48
|
74
|
98
|
136
|
114
|
110
|
140
|
133
|
133
|
115
|
73
|
1,226
|
2017
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
44
|
61
|
83
|
99
|
130
|
129
|
95
|
124
|
151
|
107
|
65
|
57
|
1,145
|
2016
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
55
|
72
|
89
|
107
|
149
|
120
|
96
|
137
|
156
|
111
|
64
|
77
|
1,233
|
2015
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
50
|
58
|
89
|
122
|
138
|
114
|
112
|
134
|
129
|
131
|
58
|
71
|
1,206
|
2014
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
45
|
62
|
72
|
88
|
135
|
244
|
146
|
138
|
159
|
118
|
71
|
92
|
1,370
|
2013
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
36
|
56
|
64
|
115
|
142
|
127
|
93
|
127
|
149
|
109
|
45
|
62
|
1,125
|
2012
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
48
|
70
|
95
|
111
|
142
|
111
|
94
|
125
|
133
|
123
|
63
|
88
|
1,203
|
2011
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
50
|
65
|
77
|
102
|
129
|
134
|
120
|
128
|
158
|
96
|
47
|
64
|
1,106
|
2010
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
60
|
69
|
97
|
105
|
115
|
158
|
138
|
131
|
141
|
102
|
68
|
66
|
1,250
|
2009
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
59
|
89
|
102
|
120
|
135
|
133
|
118
|
126
|
137
|
105
|
52
|
65
|
1,241
|
2008
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
54
|
74
|
86
|
121
|
172
|
142
|
116
|
128
|
149
|
121
|
56
|
67
|
1,286
|
2007
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
78
|
72
|
80
|
117
|
150
|
155
|
122
|
139
|
124
|
93
|
59
|
69
|
1,258
|
2006
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
71
|
79
|
93
|
132
|
153
|
156
|
122
|
147
|
128
|
115
|
72
|
70
|
1,338
|
2005
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
62
|
83
|
100
|
101
|
166
|
122
|
127
|
127
|
137
|
119
|
84
|
86
|
1,314
|
Civil Union Licenses Issued in Sangamon County
2024
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
| 0 |
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2023
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4 |
2022
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2 |
2021
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
2020
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
2019
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
2018
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
2017
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
8
|
2016
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3 |
2015
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1 |
2014
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
8 |
2013
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
6
|
0
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
45 |
2012
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
4
|
8
|
6
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
57 |
2011
|
JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUNE
|
JULY
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
Totals |
|
|
|
|
|
|
49
|
20
|
11
|
8
|
5
|
6
|
11
|
110
|