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Marriage Licenses
As you prepare for
your new life together, there are many things that you need to
consider, such as obtaining a marriage license. In order to get
married in Knox County, you will need to obtain a certified marriage
license from the Office of the Knox County Clerk. This brochure will
answer the most commonly asked questions about obtaining a marriage
license. We would like to offer our sincere congratulations on your
forthcoming marriage. Click
here for the brochure.
To
Obtain a Marriage License:
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You must be
getting married in Knox County
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Both parties need
to be present. Please come to the Office of the Knox County
Clerk, Knox County Courthouse, First Floor, 200 S. Cherry St.,
Galesburg, IL
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No appointment is
necessary; however, parties must apply by 4:00 p.m. on weekdays
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You must not be
related or of the same sex
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You must show some
type of identification with your birth date on it, preferably a
driver's license or a State ID card
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The fee is $15
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You must apply for
the license at least one day in advance and no more than 60 days
in advance
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No blood test is
required
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Certified copies
can be issued after the marriage ceremony has taken place and
the license is returned by the person who officiated the
ceremony. Click here to
order copies.
Information
Required on the License Application:
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Your names and
current address (including cities, counties and states)
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Your dates of
birth, ages, states of birth and occupations
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Your parents full
names (including your mothers full maiden name), addresses of
both, if living, and the states in which they were born
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Your highest grade
of completed education
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If either of you
have been previously married, you will need to know the month,
day and year of the previous divorce or death, also the county
and state where it became final
If
Bride and/or Groom are Minors (16 or 17 years old):
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Both parents are
required to be present with identification and will have to sign
a consent form
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If one parent
cannot be located, then the other parent will need to sign an
affidavit attesting to that fact
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If the bride
and/or groom are under 16 years of age they are not eligible to
apply. However, a judge can issue a court ordered marriage.
What
If the Bride and Groom Want to Get Married by a Judge:
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To get married by
a judge, you must make an appointment by calling the Knox County
Judges' Chambers at 309/345-3847
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As the
availability of judges vary, appointments should be made well in
advance.
Does
Illinois restrict some marriages:
Certain marriages are
prohibited in Illinois. These include marriages entered into prior
to the dissolution of an earlier marriage of one of the parties;
those between an ancestor and a descendant or between a brother and
sister, whether the relationship is by the half or the whole blood
or by adoption; and those between an uncle and a niece or between an
aunt and a nephew. Generally, marriages between cousins of the first
degree are prohibited; however, first cousins may marry if:
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Both parties are
50 years of age or older; or
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Either party, at
the time the couple applies for a marriage license, presents to
the county clerk of the county in which the marriage is to take
place a certificate signed by a licensed physician stating that
the party to the proposed marriage is permanently and
irreversibly sterile.
Are
there any special requirements for those individuals who have been
previously married?
Information regarding
how previous marriages ended must be furnished in the application
for a marriage license. This includes whether the former spouse died
or was divorced and, if so, when and where the divorce was granted.
A certified copy of the divorce decree(s) or certificate(s) of
dissolution of marriage may be required by the clerk issuing the
marriage license.
Is
a marriage ceremony required?
No particular ceremony
is required except that the parties must state in the presence of an
authorized member of the clergy or a public official that they take
each other as husband and wife.
Who
can perform a marriage ceremony?
To be valid, a
marriage ceremony must be performed by one of the following
individuals:
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A judge of a court
of record or a retired judge of a court of record
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A public official
whose powers include solemnizing marriages
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An officiant
performing the marriage in accordance with the prescriptions of
any religious denomination, Indian nation or tribe or native
group
The person solemnizing
the marriage must complete the marriage certificate form and forward
it to the county clerk within 10 days after such marriage is
solemnized.
What
You Should Know About Legal Access to Vital Records:
In an effort to
prevent identity theft and protect the privacy of those named on
vital records, the Office of the Knox County Clerk works diligently
to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the records
maintained by the County Clerk. Click here to learn more about
legal access to vital records.
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