Knowledge Base

Marriage Solemnization

Category: City Clerk

In the City of Evanston, the City Clerk and the Mayor can solemnize marriages pursuant to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act 750 ILCS 5/ et seq. Please contact our office to make an appointment at cityclerk@cityofevanston.org or 847-448-8189. If you wish for the Mayor to solemnize your marriage, please contact him directly at dbiss@cityofevanston.org. For emergency marriages or religious marriages, you may contact former City Clerk Pastor Rodney Greene at Raptors0304@hmail.com or (847) 208-7607. He is available if needed for all couples, denominations, and civic and religious weddings.  You may make any donation for his services.

NOTE: The City Clerk's office does not issue Marriage Licenses or have access to Cook County Marriage records. Before getting married in Chicago or suburban Cook County, couples must obtain a Marriage License from the Cook County Clerk's office. To obtain a Marriage License, please visit Marriage Licenses | Cook County Clerk.


Timelines and restrictions

Marriage licenses are:

  • Issued while you wait.
  • Valid only for ceremonies performed in Chicago and suburban Cook County.
  • Effective 1 day after issuance.
  • Valid for 60 days from the date of issuance.

NOTE:

  • Must be returned to the Cook County Clerk's Office within 10 days after the ceremony, by mail or in person.
  • A marriage ceremony taking place after the expiration date is not valid

Marriage License Timeline

Updated 8/8/2024 7:49 PM
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