How To Register Marriage In Chicago

How to Go Married in Chicago Right At present

Written by Rebecca of RMP Chicago Events :

In normal circumstances, to get married in Cook County, Chicago, IL, you needed to qualify for and obtain a marriage license and be married by an ordained officiant (or minister or Justice of the Peace).

Nosotros aren't in normal circumstances any more than and you wouldn't exist here if you weren't confused and desperately trying to figure out your options for marriage right now, either equally a couple or an officiant or planner. While we don't have a crystal ball to predict how all this shakes out, we do have a step by stride guide for you to become married during this crazy time.

How to Get Married in Chicago during COVID-19 featured on CHI thee WED

Officiant

Option one is to hire an officiant that gets you. Your style, organized religion, vibe, whatever is important to you. As an ordained wedding ceremony planner, I am proud to offer you a uniquely qualified experience peculiarly in the case of elopements where you might not have a large vendor team and y'all might not have the luxury of time. There are other great reasons to hire professional officiants, too, they might exist gifted writers, speakers, a local glory or larger than life personality.

Confirm their ordination and inquire any questions y'all have about the process of marriage licenses, anniversary scripting, ceremony acts and any other details y'all're curious about.

Selection 2 is to take someone close to you lot become ordained. There are several ways to become virtually this and I'm going to requite my best recommendation based on my experience.

Designate your Officiant-to-be. Inquire them in a personal style if they are willing to become ordained and perform your ceremony. Yous might cull a parent, sibling, friend or mentor. Your option might exist based on sentimental reasons, yet, information technology'due south of import to go on in mind that they might not be comfortable with speaking in front end of groups or being part of the spotlight. Others might be honored and excited but don't know where to outset. I offering consultations for these officiantshoped-for to help put them at ease and walk them through the process so they can and then guide you through your ceremony.

Once your officiant-to-be agrees to this award, they should go ordained! Everyone has seen that Friends episode, the ane where Joey tries to get ordained? Talking to officiants-to-be, at present. There's no reason to wait, go ordained equally soon equally you can.

Union License

In normal circumstances, your officiant wouldn't involve themself in the wedlock license application process, nonetheless, over again, things are annihilation merely normal right now.

Equally Illinois and Chicago's shelter-in-place persists, land and city offices are closed to the public. Usually I would propose my couples to take a half day off of piece of work, go downward to the Office of Vital Records and get in line to apply for their marriage license through the following standard process.

To qualify, yous must both be at least 18 years old or 16 years old with consent of both parents, not blood relatives and not legally married to anyone else. Y'all tin can start your pre-application online or in person.

Once you lot're set to apply, you must both appear in person at a county clerk'south part and provide a sworn consent of marriage after providing valid identification. If you intend to alter whatever names, it'southward important to mention and start this process while filling out the spousal relationship license.

Marriage licenses are issued while you wait and are valid later on a 24 hour period until 60 days from the date of application.

Later on the ceremony, your officiant should consummate the marriage license promptly. Yous may print your own names for the photo opportunity and to receive closure only it's optional because y'all have already signed at the county clerk's office. Your officiant may print your names on your behalf and and so sign their proper noun and complete the address portion. Exist careful about using a black ink pen and containing your information within the provided boxes.

Signed licenses are due dorsum to the Office of Vital Records within 10 days of the ceremony.

COVID-19 Marriage License Relief

On May one, 2020, Governor Prtizker published Executive Order 2020-36, loosening many of the restrictions around spousal relationship license applications and ceremonies while socially distancing. Now the application process is entirely virtual. Yous tin can utilise for an emergency virtual marriage license application date for yourself or on behalf of your couple, as their officiant.

If your wedding date is between now and the end of July, fill out the form and submit information technology as soon every bit possible. The office is processing hundreds of requests a day and they're application appointment slots inside 10 days of the desired wedding date based on availability. I applied for 1 couple ahead of their July engagement and received an appointment scheduled for 7 days before their wedding and a June couple received an appointment scheduled for just ii days earlier their nuptials appointment.

It is of import to note that as role of the Executive Lodge, the 24 60 minutes hold period before a matrimony license becomes valid is waived, as is the strict 10 day render menstruum post-ceremony. Marriage Licenses normally elapse at sixty days, however, they are currently protected and extended through the Governor'due south Disaster Proclamations.

Once yous've submitted the request, sentry your email over the next 2-three business days for your acceptance or refusal notice. In both cases I received acceptance responses three business organisation days after and around 6:00pm at night.

Your email will expect like this:

Your request to apply for a Matrimony License is approved.
[license application link]

We have received an overwhelming number of requests for marriages and all of our available slots for the month of May take been filled and we are currently scheduling available date slots in June. Our office is all the same closed and nosotros are working with a express staff during this COVID-19 pandemic. We repent for the inconvenience and are doing our best to schedule all date requests as soon every bit possible.

Yous must complete your online matrimony application prior to your scheduled appointment.

Your Online Marriage License appointment is scheduled for: [engagement and time]

Our function direction will contact you at your scheduled fourth dimension at the number you lot provided in your questionnaire at which time a link will be sent to y'all during the call to join a Zoom video meeting.
Yous must have your IDs present during the call.
The Officiant is non required to exist nowadays during the call.
Your payment is required at the time of your scheduled date.
The marriage awarding and the marriage license will be emailed to y'all during your scheduled appointment.
The marriage application has to be signed by both parties and emailed back to our office during your scheduled appointment.
The union awarding and the marriage license with the wet/ink signatures must be returned to our office later your anniversary and mailed to the following address:Cook County ClerkBureau of Vital RecordsP.O. Box 641070Chicago, IL 60664Attention: Marriage License Dept.
Requests for a marriage certificate must be mailed to our office, at the address above (Attention: Mail Tracking Dept.) along with a check or money order payable to Cook County Clerk for $fifteen ($4 for additional copies).

The online application process looks similar this:

Before your appointment, it'due south important to note all the elements mentioned in the approving email and to have each piece set up to go. The Executive Gild stipulates that two-way audio-video technology must be set up between the parties and the county clerk, that your connection is solid enough and video clear enough for the county clerk to inspect your identification live, and that yous attest that your concrete location is currently in the State of Illinois and y'all are applying in the canton you intend to ally in, for example, Melt County.

As y'all prepare for your engagement, ostend that y'all have the time plus 15 minutes of prep time booked on the calendar. Brand certain all advisable photo identification is handy, that your officiant is on the phone call if they submitted on your behalf (engagement information volition be sent to the submitter directly and they'll have to share it with you) or that y'all accept information technology in writing that your officiant is available for your date.

Fill out the application class before the date and take a credit card ready to pay the $60 application fee on the call. MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express equally well as debit cards are accustomed. Yous can expect a transaction fee under $2.00. Don't forget to examination your technology beforehand, making certain your wifi, zoom, computer camera, printer and scanner or phone camera are all working properly.

Legal Ceremony Requirements

Looking back, virtual weddings were non legally acknowledged in Illinois. This is likewise currently allowed under the Executive Order. It requires that two-way audio-video technology facilitates a direct connexion betwixt you and your officiant, that all parties should have proper photo identification on paw in case information technology is requested, that the marrying parties are physically located within the county they intend to marry, that the marriage license is signed and filled out per the county clerk's instructions and that it is returned to the canton clerk every bit soon as possible.

Illinois does not require witnesses for union ceremonies and you won't find a spot for them to sign on your spousal relationship license.

When it comes to your ceremony and the actual act of marrying, in that location are legal minimum acts that must exist satisfied.

The Announcement of Intent

This is the part that often sounds like this:"Do you _______, accept ______ to be your ___________?" (lawfully wedded married woman, husband etc)"I exercise."

Pronouncement

This role may go like this:"Past the power vested in me past the State of Illinois, I now pronounce you _______ and _______ (Mr./Mrs. & Mr./Mrs., married, joined in marriage etc)

You and your officiant can take xxx seconds to perform these pieces, finalize the spousal relationship license and phone call it a twenty-four hours or you tin can script a ceremony around information technology that is personal and meaningful to you.

Once you've received confirmation that your marriage license has been returned to the county clerk's office (I recommend taking a photograph equally receipt of dropping it off in person or by mail), marker your agenda for about two weeks out and set a reminder to lodge your marriage certificate. This is what yous go to frame or file abroad. It'south cheaper to get two copies at first, than it is to order 1 afterward the wedding and another one downwards the route if the original is lost or destroyed.

To epitomize, you will need the following to be married in Chicago:

Ordained Officiant
Marriage License
Proclamation of Intent
Pronouncement
Submission of the signed Union License to the county clerk

I encourage yous to consider marrying legally in 2020. Your date might concur significance to you and it volition make for an amazing outset anniversary if y'all choose to push your public wedding to 2021.

At the stop of this process, you lot will be legally married in Cook County, Chicago, IL. If you lot accept any further questions about the marriage process or accept questions almost elopements, total or micro weddings, you lot can achieve out to Rebecca of RMP Chicago Events at rebecca@rmpchievents or world wide web.rmpchievents.com.

Credits:

Planning - RMP Chicago Events
Venue - Artifact Events
Photo - Ryan Greenleaf Photography
Beauty - Pilus by Michelle K (Karakas)
Officiant - Tony Padilla
Floral - Anna Held Floral Studio
Suit - BLVDier