- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 1 Day
- Marriage License Validity Period: 60 Days
- Marriage License Return Period: 10 Days
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Illinois
If you haven't yet become ordained with the Universal Life Church, that is the first step. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is fast, easy, and completely free. Once you have your minister license, you'll be eligible to officiate a wedding. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
How to Officiate a Wedding in Illinois
Contact the County Clerk's office in the county where the ceremony will take place. Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding, and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Rest assured that any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
Bond County
200 W. College Avenue
Greenville, IL 62246
(618) 664-0449
(618) 664-2257
Bond County website »
Bureau County
700 South Main St. Room 104
Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 875-2014
Bureau County website »
Champaign County
1776 East Washington Street
Urbana, IL 61802
(217) 384-3720
(217) 384-1241
Champaign County website »
Clay County
111 E. Chestnut, Room 106
Louisville, IL
(618) 665-3626
(618) 665-3607
Clay County website »
Clinton County
850 Fairfax Street
Carlyle, IL 62231
(618) 594-6620
(618) 594-0195
Clinton County website »
De Witt County
201 W. Washington St.
Clinton, IL
(217) 935-7780
(217) 935-7789
De Witt County website »
DeKalb County
110 East Sycamore Street, 2nd Floor
Sycamore, IL 60178
(815) 895-7149
(815) 895-7148
DeKalb County website »
Douglas County
401 S. Center St.
Tuscola, IL 61953
(217) 253-2411
(217) 253-2233
Douglas County website »
Edgar County
115 West Court Street, Room J
Paris, IL 61944
(217) 466-7433
(217) 466-7430
Edgar County website »
Effingham County
101 N. 4th St.
Effingham, IL
(217) 342-6535
(217) 342-3577
Effingham County website »
Fayette County
221 South Seventh Street, Room 106
Vandalia, IL 62471
(618) 283-5000
(618) 283-5004
Fayette County website »
Ford County
200 W State St, Room 101
Paxton, IL 60957
(217) 379-9400
(217) 379-9409
Ford County website »
Franklin County
100 Public Square
Benton, IL
(618) 438-3221
(618) 435-3405
Franklin County website »
Fulton County
100 N Main St, Room 105
Lewistown, IL 61542
(309) 547-3041 ext 117
Fulton County website »
Gallatin County
484 N. Lincoln Blvd. W
Shawneetown, IL 62984
(618) 269-3025
Gallatin County website »
Henderson County
307 Warren St
Oquawka, IL 61469
(309) 867-2911
(309) 867-2033
Henderson County website »
Henry County
307 West Center Street
Cambridge, IL
(309) 937-3575
(309) 937-2796
Henry County website »
Iroquois County
1001 East Grant Street, Room 104
Watseka, IL 60970
(815) 432-6960
Iroquois County website »
Jasper County
204 W. Washington Street, Suite 2
Newton, IL 62448
(618) 783-3124
Jasper County website »
Jefferson County
100 South 10th Street, Room 105
Mt. Vernon, IL
(618) 244-8020
(618) 244-8023
Jefferson County website »
Jersey County
200 N. Lafayette
Jerseyville, IL 62052
(618) 498-5571 option 6
Jersey County website »
Jo Daviess County
330 North Bench Street, Room 104
Galena, IL 61036
(815) 777-0161
(815) 777-3688
Jo Daviess County website »
Kankakee County
189 E. Court St.
Kankakee, IL 60901
(815) 937-2990
(815) 939-8831
Kankakee County website »
Lake County
18 N County Street Room 101
Waukegan, IL
(847) 377-2400
(847) 984-5822
Lake County website »
LaSalle County
707 E Etna Rd
Ottawa, IL 61350
(815) 434-8202
(815) 433-9198
LaSalle County website »
Livingston County
112 W Madison St
Pontiac, IL 61764
(815) 844-2006
(815) 842-1844
Livingston County website »
Macon County
141 South Main Street, Room 104
Decatur, IL 62523
(217) 424-1305
Macon County website »
Macoupin County
201 East Main
Carlinville, IL 62626
(217) 854-3214
(217) 854-7349
Macoupin County website »
Marshall County
122 North Prairie St.
Lacon, IL 61540
(309) 246-6325
(309) 246-3667
Marshall County website »
Massac County
1 Superman Square, Room 2A
Metropolis, IL 62960
(618) 524-5213
Massac County website »
McDonough County
One Court House Square
Macomb, IL
(309) 833-2474
(309) 837-1154
McDonough County website »
McLean County
115 E. Washington St.
Bloomington, IL
(309) 888-5190
(309) 888-5932
McLean County website »
Menard County
102 South Seventh Street
Petersburg, IL 62675
(217) 632-3201
(217) 632-4301
Menard County website »
Mercer County
100 S.E. 3rd St.
Aledo, IL 61231
(309) 582-7021
(309) 582-7022
Mercer County website »
Montgomery County
#1 Courthouse Square
Hillsboro, IL 62049
(217) 532-9530
(217) 532-9581
Montgomery County website »
Morgan County
300 West State Street
Jacksonville, IL 62650
(217) 243-8581
(217) 243-8368
Morgan County website »
Moultrie County
10 S. Main St., Suite 6
Sullivan, IL 61951
(217) 728-4389
(217) 728-8178
Moultrie County website »
Ogle County
105 S. 5th Street, Suite 212
Oregon, IL 61061
(815) 732-1115
(815) 732-1189
Ogle County website »
Peoria County
324 Main Street, Room 101
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 672-6056
(309) 672-6054
Peoria County website »
Perry County
3764 State Routes 13-127, Room 204
Pinckneyville, IL 62274
(618) 357-5116
(618) 357-3365
Perry County website »
Piatt County
101 W Washington St, Room 110
Monticello, IL 61856
(217) 762-9487
Piatt County website »
Pike County
121 E. Washington Street
Pittsfield, IL 62363
(217) 285-6812
(217) 285-5820
Pike County website »
Putnam County
120 North 4th Street
Hennepin, IL 61327
(815) 925-7129
(815) 925-7549
Putnam County website »
Randolph County
#1 Taylor Street, Room 202
Chester, IL 62233
(618) 826-5000 ext 191
(618) 826-3750
Randolph County website »
Richland County
103 West Main, Suite 21
Olney, IL 62450
(618) 392-3111
(618) 393-4005
Richland County website »
Rock Island County
1504 Third Avenue, First Floor
Rock Island, IL 61201
(309) 558-3569
(309) 786-7381
Rock Island County website »
Sangamon County
200 S. Ninth, Room 101
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 753-6700
(217) 535-3233
Sangamon County website »
Schuyler County
102 South Congress St PO Box 200
Rushville, IL
(217) 322-4734
(217) 322-6164
Schuyler County website »
St. Clair County
10 Public Square, 2nd Floor
Belleville, IL 62220
(618) 277-3505
(618) 277-4213
St. Clair County website »
Stephenson County
50 West Douglas, Suite 500
Freeport, IL 61032
(815) 235-8289
Stephenson County website »
Tazewell County
McKenzie Building
11 S. 4th Street, Suite 203
Pekin, IL 61554
(309) 477-2264
(309) 477-2244
Tazewell County website »
Union County
309 West Market Street, Room 116
Jonesboro, IL 62952
(618) 833-5711
Union County website »
Vermilion County
6 North Vermilion Street
Danville, IL
(217) 554-1900
(217) 554-1914
Vermilion County website »
White County
301 E Main Street
Carmi, IL 62821
(618) 382-7211 ext 1
(618) 382-2322
White County website »
Whiteside County
200 E Knox Street
Morrison, IL 61270
(815) 772-5189
(815) 772-7673
Whiteside County website »
Winnebago County
404 Elm Street, Room 104
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 319-4250
Winnebago County website »
Woodford County
115 N Main Street, Room 202
Eureka, IL
(309) 467-2822
(309) 467-7391
Woodford County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Illinois
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. One of our most popular items in Illinois is the Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state of Illinois, there's always a possibility the county clerk will ask you to present proof of your ordination. Keep in mind that the couple may like to see your ordination credentials as well. Please place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid any complications.
How to Get a Illinois Marriage License
Licenses are issued by the County Clerk's office, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to know how marriage licenses work in Illinois and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Lake County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Lake County. In Illinois, the license is valid for 60 days. There is a mandatory 1-day waiting period between the time it is picked up and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony. If the couple is headed off on their honeymoon, you might offer to return it for them.
How to Perform a Wedding
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
Finalizing the Marriage
After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number, and witnesses are not required. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Don't forget that the signed license must be resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!
Illinois Marriage Laws
Illinois marriage law is primarily directed by Chapter 750 of the state's Compiled Statutes. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the state of Illinois, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
Sec. 209. Solemnization and Registration.
(a) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, by a retired judge of a court of record, unless the retired judge was removed from office by the Judicial Inquiry Board, except that a retired judge shall not receive any compensation from the State, a county or any unit of local government in return for the solemnization of a marriage and there shall be no effect upon any pension benefits conferred by the Judges Retirement System of Illinois, by a judge of the Court of Claims, by a county clerk in counties having 2,000,000 or more inhabitants, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, or in accordance with the prescriptions of any religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, provided that when such prescriptions require an officiant, the officiant be in good standing with his or her religious denomination, Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group. Either the person solemnizing the marriage, or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the marriage, both parties to the marriage, shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the county clerk within 10 days after such marriage is solemnized.
(a-5) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require any religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, to solemnize any marriage. Instead, any religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group is free to choose which marriages it will solemnize. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a refusal by a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group, or any minister, clergy, or officiant acting as a representative of a religious denomination or Indian Nation or Tribe or Native Group to solemnize any marriage under this Act shall not create or be the basis for any civil, administrative, or criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action.
(a-10) No church, mosque, synagogue, temple, nondenominational ministry, interdenominational or ecumenical organization, mission organization, or other organization whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advancement of religion is required to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. An entity identified in this subsection (a-10) shall be immune from any civil, administrative, criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action based on its refusal to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. As used in this subsection (a-10), "religious facilities" means sanctuaries, parish halls, fellowship halls, and similar facilities. "Religious facilities" does not include facilities such as businesses, health care facilities, educational facilities, or social service agencies.
(b) The solemnization of the marriage is not invalidated by the fact that the person solemnizing the marriage was not legally qualified to solemnize it, if either party to the marriage believed him or her to be so qualified or by the fact that the marriage was inadvertently solemnized in a county in Illinois other than the county where the license was issued.
(Source: P.A. 98-597, eff. 6-1-14.)