County Clerk Marriage Copies
Certified marriage copies for DuPage marriages come from the DuPage County Clerk, currently listed as Jean Kaczmarek. The County Clerk's office is in the County Administration Building at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, next door to the courthouse. The main number is (630) 407-5500. Mail requests go to a P.O. Box in Wheaton with a check or money order made out to the DuPage County Clerk in the exact fee amount.
The official county website carries the County Clerk department page along with the marriage application PDF and contact details. Open dupagecounty.gov for the County Clerk department links.
The same site links the marriage license schedule, the genealogy rules, and the County Clerk's other records services.
Marriage Record Fees
The County Clerk's published marriage fee schedule is short and predictable. Most users only need the certified-copy fees.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certified marriage copy, first copy | $14 |
| Each additional certified copy of the same record at the same time | $2 |
| Genealogy copy for records 75 years or older | $1 |
Note: A mail request with the wrong fee is returned, so use the County Clerk's posted schedule on the day the check is written.
Marriage Certification Form Fields
The DuPage marriage certification request form is the same paper PDF whether the request comes by mail or in person. Use the fee schedule above to calculate the total before mailing the form.
| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Number of copies requested | Drives the total cost from the certified-copy schedule. |
| Spouse A first, middle, last name on birth certificate | Both spouses must be named as they appeared on a birth certificate. |
| Spouse B first, middle, last name on birth certificate | The form requires the birth-name spelling. |
| Date of Marriage | Month, day, and year. |
| Place of Marriage | City, town, or village in DuPage County. |
| Print name and Signature of Person Making the Application | Requester signs and prints. |
| Relationship to Person on Document | Write SELF if the certificate is for the requester. |
| Mailing Address, Apt., City, State, ZIP | Where the County Clerk mails the certified copy. |
| Phone Number and Email Address | Contact data for follow-up. |
| Office use: date pre-payment, processed, payment info | Cash, credit, or check number with initials. |
How to Apply for a DuPage Marriage License
A marriage license in Illinois is issued by the county clerk in the county where the wedding will take place. DuPage County couples apply through the County Clerk in Wheaton. The steps below match the general Illinois process; confirm the exact appointment requirement, identification list, and waiting period on the County Clerk's marriage license page before scheduling.
- Confirm that both applicants are at least 18 or have the required consent or court order for minors under Illinois law.
- Gather identification, proof of age, and any documentation from a prior marriage if applicable.
- Check the County Clerk's current appointment policy and fees.
- Apply in person at the County Clerk's Wheaton office during business hours.
- Wait the required period before the license is effective for the ceremony.
- After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the County Clerk for recording.
Circuit Clerk Divorce Records
Divorce is a court case. Every DuPage divorce file is filed with the Clerk of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court and is heard in the Domestic Relations division of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk issues the certified judgment for dissolution of marriage. The County Clerk does not have divorce records and cannot certify a divorce decree.
Common documents in a DuPage divorce file include the petition, summons, appearance, parenting plan, allocation of parental responsibilities judgment, financial affidavits, marital settlement agreement, judgment for dissolution, and post-decree motions. Some financial filings and minor-child information are restricted under Illinois Supreme Court rules even when the broader case file is public.
Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Law
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act governs marriage, license issuance, solemnization, divorce or dissolution, allocation of parental responsibilities, and post-decree relief. The Act sets residency requirements, the no-fault standard, and the timing of certain post-decree motions. Authorized officiants and the rules around premarital agreements appear in related statutes.
The full Act is online. Open 750 ILCS 5 at the Illinois General Assembly to read the current Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.
The Act is the primary state-law reference for DuPage divorce records, parenting plans, and post-decree filings.
How to File for Divorce in DuPage County
People who file pro se in DuPage divorce cases use Illinois-approved statewide forms or attorney-prepared filings. The court fee can be waived for qualifying low-income filers.
- Confirm Illinois residency and venue under 750 ILCS 5.
- Prepare approved statewide divorce forms or attorney-drafted documents.
- E-file through Illinois eFileIL or an accepted provider unless exempt.
- Pay the filing fee or file a fee waiver application.
- Serve the respondent under the applicable rules.
- Attend case management, parenting, mediation, prove-up, or contested hearings as ordered.
- Obtain the certified judgment of dissolution from the Circuit Clerk.
Confidential Family Documents
Some DuPage family-court documents are restricted from public view. Financial affidavits, child-custody evaluations, addresses of protected parties, and certain mental health records typically carry confidentiality classifications under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 8 and family-law statutes. Sealed filings can be accessed only by the parties, attorneys of record, the court, or a person who has a court order allowing access.
Note: A certified judgment of dissolution is generally available to the parties on request, but the underlying confidential filings stay restricted to the parties and their counsel.
Marriage Records vs. Divorce Records in DuPage
The two records have a lot in common as the legal beginning and end of a marriage, but they live in two different offices and follow two different paths to request.
| Topic | Marriage Record | Divorce Record |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing office | DuPage County Clerk | Clerk of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court |
| Office address | 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton | 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton |
| How a copy is requested | Application for Certification of Marriage form, by mail or in person | Circuit Clerk order-copy workflow or counter visit |
| Certified copy cost | $14 first, $2 additional at the same time | Per current Circuit Clerk fee schedule |
| Confidential elements | Modern records open; genealogy rules apply for 75-year-old records | Financial affidavits and minor data may be restricted |
| Legal use | Certified copy required for legal proceedings | Certified judgment of dissolution required for legal proceedings |
People often need both records together, for example when changing a name or updating immigration status; budget for two separate fees and two separate trips when the marriage and the divorce are both in DuPage.
Genealogy Copies
Marriage records that are 75 years or older are released as uncertified genealogy copies by the County Clerk for $1 per copy. Genealogy copies are not for legal use and are not certified for court or government purposes. Researchers should also check Illinois State Archives and county historical societies for related DuPage family-history sources.