Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Illinois. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Illinois. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Illinois.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 1 Day
- Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: 10 Days
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Illinois
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!
2 Officiating a Wedding in Illinois
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.
Select your County Clerk Recorder to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county contact
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3 License to Marry in Illinois
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Illinois to get an Ordination Package and to add a Letter of Good Standing to his or her order. While Minister registration is not technically required in Illinois you may be required to present proof of your ordination to the county clerk before the marriages you perform will be accepted as having been legally solemnized. Having this proof of your ordination will also provide peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.
Illinois does not require any specific ceremony for weddings, so the minister and the couple each have a great degree of autonomy in planning the special day. Currently, only DuPage County requires that a wedding ceremony include witnesses. In DuPage County, the law requires that marriage ceremonies require two witnesses who are able to comprehend what they are witnessing.
4 How to get Married in Illinois
Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Illinois marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 60 days, and there is a mandatory 1-day waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Illinois and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days of the wedding ceremony.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Illinois, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Illinois wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.
5 Important Illinois Wedding Planning Tips
If you think you'll spend about a year planning your wedding, you already have something in common with the vast majority of couples in Illinois. In Illinois, weddings are held in all different types of venues, from churches, to barns, to event centers, and even historic buildings. Keep in mind that venues in larger cities, such as Chicago, typically cost more and tend to be more upscale (and expensive). If you take a step away from the concrete clad cityscape to see something more natural, your budget may be able to let breathe a sigh of relief. Oftentimes the further away from the city you go in Illinois, the easier it will be to find what you're looking for at a lower rate. You may also find that your budget goes further in the winter! However, this is because the winters in Illinois are known to be some of the worst in the surrounding states. Freezing temperatures and biting winds can make this time of year less than ideal for a union, but even so, some estimated 5% of couples still hold their ceremonies as the winds pickup and the snow comes down.
Illinois Marriage Code
Marriage in Illinois is governed by Chapter 750 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.Sec. 209. Solemnization and Registration. (a) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, by a retired judge of a court of record, unless the retired judge was removed from office by the Judicial Inquiry Board, except that a retired judge shall not receive any compensation from the State, a county or any unit of local government in return for the solemnization of a marriage and there shall be no effect upon any pension benefits conferred by the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, by a judge of the Court of Claims, by a county clerk in counties having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, or in accordance with the prescriptions of any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, provided that when such prescriptions require an officiant, the officiant be in good standing with his or her religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group. View the Illinois Statutes on the official state site.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for Illinois state:
Illinois Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Alexander County
2000 Washington AveCairo, Illinois
62914
Phone: (618) 734-7000
Alexander County website »
Bond County
200 W. College AvenueGreenville, Illinois
62246
Phone: (618) 664-0449
Fax: (618) 664-2257
Bond County website »
Boone County
1212 Logan Avenue, Suite 103Belvidere, Illinois
61008
Phone: (815) 544-3103
Boone County website »
Brown County
200 W Court St, Room 5Mt Sterling, Illinois
62353
Phone: (217) 773-3421
Brown County website »
Bureau County
700 South Main St. Room 104Princeton, Illinois
61356
Phone: (815) 875-2014
Bureau County website »
Calhoun County
106 N County RdHardin, Illinois
62047
Phone: (618) 576-2351
Calhoun County website »
Cass County
100 East Springfield StreetVirginia, Illinois
62691
Phone: (217) 452-7217
Cass County website »
Champaign County
1776 East Washington StreetUrbana, Illinois
61802
Phone: (217) 384-3720
Fax: (217) 384-1241
Champaign County website »
Christian County
101 S Main StTaylorville, Illinois
62568
Phone: (217) 824-4969
Christian County website »
Clay County
111 E. Chestnut, Room 106Louisville, Illinois
Phone: (618) 665-3626
Fax: (618) 665-3607
Clay County website »
Clinton County
850 Fairfax StreetCarlyle, Illinois
62231
Phone: (618) 594-6620
Fax: (618) 594-0195
Clinton County website »
Coles County
651 Jackson Ave Room 122Charleston, Illinois
Phone: (217) 348-0501
Coles County website »
Cook County
69 W. Washington, Suite 500Chicago, Illinois
60602
Phone: (312) 603-5656
Cook County Marriage Laws »
Cumberland County
140 Courthouse Sq.Toledo, Illinois
62468
Phone: (217) 849-2631
Cumberland County website »
De Witt County
201 W. Washington St.Clinton, Illinois
Phone: (217) 935-7780
Fax: (217) 935-7789
De Witt County website »
DeKalb County
110 East Sycamore Street, 2nd FloorSycamore, Illinois
60178
Phone: (815) 895-7149
Fax: (815) 895-7148
DeKalb County website »
Douglas County
401 S. Center St.Tuscola, Illinois
61953
Phone: (217) 253-2411
Fax: (217) 253-2233
Douglas County website »
DuPage County
421 N. County Farm RoadWheaton, Illinois
Phone: (630) 407-6500
DuPage County website »
Edgar County
115 West Court Street, Room JParis, Illinois
61944
Phone: (217) 466-7433
Fax: (217) 466-7430
Edgar County website »
Edwards County
50 East Main StreetAlbion, Illinois
62806
Phone: (618) 445-2115
Edwards County website »
Effingham County
101 N. 4th St.Effingham, Illinois
Phone: (217) 342-6535
Fax: (217) 342-3577
Effingham County website »
Fayette County
221 South Seventh Street, Room 106Vandalia, Illinois
62471
Phone: (618) 283-5000
Fax: (618) 283-5004
Fayette County website »
Ford County
200 W State St, Room 101Paxton, Illinois
60957
Phone: (217) 379-9400
Fax: (217) 379-9409
Ford County website »
Franklin County
100 Public SquareBenton, Illinois
Phone: (618) 438-3221
Fax: (618) 435-3405
Franklin County website »
Fulton County
100 N Main St, Room 105Lewistown, Illinois
61542
Phone: (309) 547-3041 ext 117
Fulton County website »
Gallatin County
484 N. Lincoln Blvd. WShawneetown, Illinois
62984
Phone: (618) 269-3025
Gallatin County website »
Greene County
519 North Main StreetCarrollton, Illinois
Phone: (217) 942-5443
Greene County website »
Grundy County
111 E. Washington St, Room 12Morris, Illinois
60450
Phone: (815) 941-3222
Grundy County website »
Hamilton County
100 South JacksonMcLeansboro, Illinois
62859
Phone: (618) 643-2721
Hamilton County website »
Hancock County
500 Main StreetCarthage, Illinois
62321
Phone: (217) 357-3911
Hancock County website »
Henderson County
307 Warren StOquawka, Illinois
61469
Phone: (309) 867-2911
Fax: (309) 867-2033
Henderson County website »
Henry County
307 West Center StreetCambridge, Illinois
Phone: (309) 937-3575
Fax: (309) 937-2796
Henry County website »
Iroquois County
1001 East Grant Street, Room 104Watseka, Illinois
60970
Phone: (815) 432-6960
Iroquois County website »
Jackson County
1001 Walnut StreetMurphysboro, Illinois
62966
Phone: (618) 687-7360
Jackson County website »
Jasper County
204 W. Washington Street, Suite 2Newton, Illinois
62448
Phone: (618) 783-3124
Jasper County website »
Jefferson County
100 South 10th Street, Room 105Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Phone: (618) 244-8020
Fax: (618) 244-8023
Jefferson County website »
Jersey County
200 N. LafayetteJerseyville, Illinois
62052
Phone: (618) 498-5571 option 6
Jersey County website »
Jo Daviess County
330 North Bench Street, Room 104Galena, Illinois
61036
Phone: (815) 777-0161
Fax: (815) 777-3688
Jo Daviess County website »
Kane County
719 S. Batavia Ave., Bldg. BGeneva, Illinois
60134
Phone: (630) 232-5950
Kane County website »
Kankakee County
189 E. Court St.Kankakee, Illinois
60901
Phone: (815) 937-2990
Fax: (815) 939-8831
Kankakee County website »
Lake County
18 N County Street Room 101Waukegan, Illinois
Phone: (847) 377-2400
Fax: (847) 984-5822
Lake County website »
LaSalle County
707 E Etna RdOttawa, Illinois
61350
Phone: (815) 434-8202
Fax: (815) 433-9198
LaSalle County website »
Lawrence County
1100 State StreetLawrenceville, Illinois
62439
Phone: (618) 943-2346
Lawrence County website »
Lee County
112 E 2nd StDixon, Illinois
61021
Phone: (815) 288-3309
Fax: (815) 288-6492
Lee County website »
Livingston County
112 W Madison StPontiac, Illinois
61764
Phone: (815) 844-2006
Fax: (815) 842-1844
Livingston County website »
Logan County
601 Broadway StreetLincoln, Illinois
Phone: (217) 732–4148
Fax: (217) 732–6064
Logan County website »
Macon County
141 South Main Street, Room 104Decatur, Illinois
62523
Phone: (217) 424-1305
Macon County website »
Macoupin County
201 East MainCarlinville, Illinois
62626
Phone: (217) 854-3214
Fax: (217) 854-7349
Macoupin County website »
Madison County
157 North Main, Suite 109Edwardsville, Illinois
Phone: (618) 296-6200
Madison County website »
Marshall County
122 North Prairie St.Lacon, Illinois
61540
Phone: (309) 246-6325
Fax: (309) 246-3667
Marshall County website »
Massac County
1 Superman Square, Room 2AMetropolis, Illinois
62960
Phone: (618) 524-5213
Massac County website »
McDonough County
One Court House SquareMacomb, Illinois
Phone: (309) 833-2474
Fax: (309) 837-1154
McDonough County website »
McHenry County
667 Ware Road, Suite 107Woodstock, Illinois
60098
Phone: (815) 334-4242
McHenry County website »
McLean County
115 E. Washington St.Bloomington, Illinois
Phone: (309) 888-5190
Fax: (309) 888-5932
McLean County website »
Menard County
102 South Seventh StreetPetersburg, Illinois
62675
Phone: (217) 632-3201
Fax: (217) 632-4301
Menard County website »
Mercer County
100 S.E. 3rd St.Aledo, Illinois
61231
Phone: (309) 582-7021
Fax: (309) 582-7022
Mercer County website »
Monroe County
100 S. Main St.Waterloo, Illinois
62298
Phone: (618) 939-8681
Monroe County website »
Montgomery County
#1 Courthouse SquareHillsboro, Illinois
62049
Phone: (217) 532-9530
Fax: (217) 532-9581
Montgomery County website »
Morgan County
300 West State StreetJacksonville, Illinois
62650
Phone: (217) 243-8581
Fax: (217) 243-8368
Morgan County website »
Moultrie County
10 S. Main St., Suite 6Sullivan, Illinois
61951
Phone: (217) 728-4389
Fax: (217) 728-8178
Moultrie County website »
Ogle County
105 S. 5th Street, Suite 212Oregon, Illinois
61061
Phone: (815) 732-1115
Fax: (815) 732-1189
Ogle County website »
Peoria County
324 Main Street, Room 101Peoria, Illinois
61602
Phone: (309) 672-6056
Fax: (309) 672-6054
Peoria County website »
Perry County
3764 State Routes 13-127, Room 204Pinckneyville, Illinois
62274
Phone: (618) 357-5116
Fax: (618) 357-3365
Perry County website »
Piatt County
101 W Washington St, Room 110Monticello, Illinois
61856
Phone: (217) 762-9487
Piatt County website »
Pike County
121 E. Washington StreetPittsfield, Illinois
62363
Phone: (217) 285-6812
Fax: (217) 285-5820
Pike County website »
Pulaski County
500 Illinois AvenueMound City, Illinois
Phone: (618) 748-9360
Pulaski County website »
Putnam County
120 North 4th StreetHennepin, Illinois
61327
Phone: (815) 925-7129
Fax: (815) 925-7549
Putnam County website »
Randolph County
#1 Taylor Street, Room 202Chester, Illinois
62233
Phone: (618) 826-5000 ext 191
Fax: (618) 826-3750
Randolph County website »
Richland County
103 West Main, Suite 21Olney, Illinois
62450
Phone: (618) 392-3111
Fax: (618) 393-4005
Richland County website »
Rock Island County
1504 Third Avenue, First FloorRock Island, Illinois
61201
Phone: (309) 558-3569
Fax: (309) 786-7381
Rock Island County website »
Saline County
10 East Poplar StreetHarrisburg, Illinois
62946
Phone: (618) 253-8197
Saline County website »
Sangamon County
200 S. Ninth, Room 101Springfield, Illinois
62701
Phone: (217) 753-6700
Fax: (217) 535-3233
Sangamon County website »
Schuyler County
102 South Congress St PO Box 200Rushville, Illinois
Phone: (217) 322-4734
Fax: (217) 322-6164
Schuyler County website »
Scott County
35 East Market StreetWinchester, Illinois
Phone: (217) 742-3178
Scott County website »
St. Clair County
10 Public Square, 2nd FloorBelleville, Illinois
62220
Phone: (618) 277-3505
Fax: (618) 277-4213
St. Clair County website »
Stephenson County
50 West Douglas, Suite 500Freeport, Illinois
61032
Phone: (815) 235-8289
Stephenson County website »
Tazewell County
McKenzie Building<br>11 S. 4th Street, Suite 203Pekin, Illinois
61554
Phone: (309) 477-2264
Fax: (309) 477-2244
Tazewell County website »
Union County
309 West Market Street, Room 116Jonesboro, Illinois
62952
Phone: (618) 833-5711
Union County website »
Vermilion County
6 North Vermilion StreetDanville, Illinois
Phone: (217) 554-1900
Fax: (217) 554-1914
Vermilion County website »
Wabash County
401 Market St.Mount Carmel, Illinois
62863
Phone: (618) 262-4561
Wabash County website »
Washington County
E Elm StNashville, Illinois
62263
Phone: (618) 327-4800
Washington County website »
White County
301 E Main StreetCarmi, Illinois
62821
Phone: (618) 382-7211 ext 1
Fax: (618) 382-2322
White County website »
Whiteside County
200 E Knox StreetMorrison, Illinois
61270
Phone: (815) 772-5189
Fax: (815) 772-7673
Whiteside County website »
Will County
302 North Chicago StreetJoliet, Illinois
Phone: (815) 740-4615
Fax: (815) 740-4699
Will County website »
Williamson County
407 N MonroeMarion, Illinois
62959
Phone: (618) 997-1301
Williamson County website »
Winnebago County
404 Elm Street, Room 104Rockford, Illinois
61101
Phone: (815) 319-4250
Winnebago County website »
Woodford County
115 N Main Street, Room 202Eureka, Illinois
Phone: (309) 467-2822
Fax: (309) 467-7391
Woodford County website »
