ILROOTS-L Archives

From: "Karima" <>
Subject: [ILROOTS] How to obtain copies of original marriage records in Illinois.
Date: Sun, 3 Feb 2002 10:21:42 -0600
References: <01aa01c1acca$6009a2a0$1b13f8d1@default>

Good Morning,

Many of you are already aware of the following, but for those who are not
aware of this fine resource available for searching for marriage records in
Illinois, I am listing the following guidelines:

First, check the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763–1900, to see if you
can find your ancestors listed. If you don't find them the first time, then
try different variations of the spellings. Also, don't narrow your search
to only the county you think they might have been married in. I suggest
doing a general search for the surname(s).

The data base is at the following:
http://www.sos.state.il.us/cgi-bin/archives/marriage.s

If you find a marriage for your ancestor in the data base, then you can
request a copy of that record.

=========================================
Obtaining copies of original marriage records.
=========================================
Copies of marriage records included in the Statewide Marriage Index may be
obtained from the Illinois Regional Archives Depository System if IRAD holds
marriage records for that county or from the county clerk in the county in
which the marriage occurred.

=========================================
Requesting a Marriage Record from IRAD
=========================================
Illinois Regional Archives Depositories (IRAD) hold original marriage
records or microfilm copies for many Illinois counties. The IRAD holdings
include marriage records for over seventy of the 102 counties in Illinois.
Consult the Local Governmental Records Holdings Database to see if IRAD has
marriage records for the county and date of the marriage you are requesting.
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/irad/iradholdings.html

Type the search term MARRIAGE in the title field to return all marriage
records in the IRAD holdings. If IRAD does have marriage records for the
county you are searching and for the pertinent time period, write the
appropriate IRAD depository and include in your letter all of the
information on the marriage given in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index.

Click here for the addresses and telephone numbers of the Illinois Regional
Archives Depositories.
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/irad/iradaddr.html

Marriage record searches are free, but a small copy fee will be billed for
records found. IRAD provides uncertified copies only. Certified copies must
be requested from the county clerk.

=========================================
Request a Marriage Record from a County Clerk
=========================================
County clerks are the official custodians of all marriage records recorded
in Illinois counties. To obtain copies of marriages found in the Illinois
Statewide Marriage Index, write the appropriate county clerk and include in
your letter all of the information on the marriage given in the Illinois
Statewide Marriage Index.

Click here for the addresses of the county clerks in all 102 Illinois
counties.
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/cntyaddr.html

Only county clerks may issue certified copies of marriage records. Search
and copy fees will vary from one county to another.

Hope this helps,

Karima
List Administrator for:

Illinois Discussion List (ILROOTS-L)
http://www.rootsweb.com/~illinois/Illinoismailinglist3.html
Southern Illinois Discussion List (SOIL-L)
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilsoil/welcomeSoil.html
Jackson County, IL Discussion List (ILJACKSO-L)
http://www.rootsweb.com/~illinois/JacksonCoWelcome.html

Illinois GenWeb Project - Unknown IL Counties Web Site
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilunknow/

This thread:

• [ILROOTS] How to obtain copies of original marriage records in Illinois. by "Karima" <>