For the purpose of preserving historical Public Marriage Records Online of Illinois residents, the Illinois State Archives tied up with the Illinois State Genealogical Society in joint effort to compile records of marriages that took place in Illinois from 1763 to 1900. More than a million records have been filed and it is the aim of these two organizations to make them readily accessible by people who want to trace them.
One of the main objectives is to avail them to the public in an easy and convenient way and there’s no better way than online. Online Illinois marriage records are not restricted to only pre-1901 marriages. They are available for marriages right up through the current index date. People now don’t have to travel to a particular government office for information as they can conduct a Free Marriage Records Search online. All that’s needed is a computer with internet access.
The main source of information is the offices of the respective County Clerks. It is derived from the original public marriage records which comprise of marriage registers, licenses, certificates and other documents and information. Information is also contributed by the county Genealogical societies and private citizens and can be uploaded directly by volunteers through the internet.
Typically, the information consists of the personal particulars of the marrying couple, their parents’, names of witnesses and officiant of the marriage and the date and place of the occasion. Although a ceremony or wedding is not mandatory, it must be in the county for which the marriage license is granted if one is conducted but neither of the couple need to be a local resident of the county. Therefore, if a search fails in the known county of residence, it’s worth a shot to extend it to a statewide one instead.
The State Of Illinois Marriage Records lists information which have been officially kept since they were first documented and filed. The Great Fire of Chicago in 1871 did destroy a good many public records but the Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD) today still has in its holdings of more than 70 of the 102 counties in Illinois. The surest bet are the individual County Offices and they are the only authorized agencies for certified copies but fees are required.
State Of Illinois Marriage Records are public records. As such, they are freely available from commercial information providers. The top tier of such private data-houses is highly professional. On top of public sources, they also have access to proprietary databases and networks. Competition is intense so only bona-fide can hold their own. This makes for good value for money. It’s no wonder why this form of information search is gaining popularity.
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