Chicago is a beautiful and amazing city with lots of happy pairs. Many are already married, some are about to be married, others have marriage in contemplation but are not yet prepared for it. This article is beneficial to many but would be more beneficial to those who are interested in knowing or learning about what is required for one to successfully acquire a marriage license in Chicago. In order to get a marriage license in Chicago, here are some basic requirements which you need to have
1) you must be of eligible age
In Chicago, the eligible age for marriage is 18 years. Not 18 years and below, but 18 years and above. So, for you to acquire a marriage license, you must be 18 years and above. For persons who are below 18 years and intend to get married, the law makes provisions for them with some exceptions though. To benefit from the exceptions
- These persons must tender a certified copy of their birth certificate, and
- they must also tender a second form of any certificate showing their date of birth.
- The persons must have Parental consent. Only with parental consent can they be granted a marriage license in Chicago. Where there is no parental consent, these persons cannot be granted a marriage license. And these parents or guardian must
- a) appear in person during the process, the process
- b) tender a sworn consent to the marriage of the parties
- c) tender valid identification. For example, drivers license, US passport, military identification card, and so on. Where the parent is a legal guardian appointed by the court, such guardian must tender a certified copy of such appointment.
2) the parties must be single and not legally married to some other person
The parties intending to get a marriage license must be single and not already married to another person. Where a party has already been married in the past, he must be legally and properly divorced before he or she can be granted a legal marriage license. Where any of the parties has been divorced for less than 6 months, he must tender a certificate showing that he or she is divorced.
3) the parties must apply for the marriage license
Parties intending to acquire a marriage license can either do part of their application online before going to the registry to finish the process, or they could apply in person and go through the whole process at the registry. Whichever the couple is intending to get a marriage license chooses, they must appear in person before the registry. Appearing in person is inevitable.
For couples that intend to apply for a license online they would;
- Visit U.S Marriage Laws to ensure they meet all of the required criteria
- Visit any of the vital locations and inform the clerk that you have already filled the online marriage application
- Ensure to go with valid identification and proof of age as well because you would need to tender it.
For parties who are applying for a marriage certificate in person, they must
- Apply in Person to any of the location of vital records
- Present a valid ID and document showing proof of age
After these, the couple whether they have applied online or in-person
- would be given a marriage license which you would have to append your signature
After that,
- you would be required to pay a marriage license fee of about $60.
- Your marriage license would then be issued to you while you wait.
- And following the next calendar day, your marriage license would be valid
- , and it would last for 60 days only.
3) jurisdiction of Chicago marriage license
The marriage license would be valid only in the city of Chicago and suburban Cook county. If you leave Chicago to another state, the jurisdiction of that Chicago marriage license would come to an end or be extinguished, and the laws of the state in which you are residing would bind you.
4) after the marriage ceremony has taken place
After the marriage ceremony, the officiants must append his signature on the bottom of the paper and must fill out the necessary areas. After which the license must be mailed back or delivered to the clerk’s office. Whenever you so desire, you may obtain your license from the clerk’s office.
