Illinois doesn`t have any special qualifications for who can serve as an officiant, so it can be anyone from your minister to your best friend. We recommend that you choose a responsible person you can count on to submit your marriage certificate quickly. Her little niece may be a deliciously photogenic officiant, but she is probably not an acceptable stewardess of a legal document. Since Illinois has a 24-hour waiting period for marriage licenses, this means you`ll have to wait at least a day after applying before you can legally marry. In some counties, you can start the application process online, but you`ll still need to go to the physical office to complete the application. Depending on where you are getting married, you may need to meet different legal requirements for the marriage to be valid. Marriage laws vary from state to state, and if you`re not familiar with local requirements, you may find yourself in hot water. Since timing and preparation are so important for most weddings, it`s important to make sure you`re qualified under the government. Since you don`t want to throw a big wedding party and you technically don`t want to get married, it makes sense to have all your ducks online when it comes to state marriage laws.

If you still have questions, you can also find more general information on this topic in the marriage law section of FindLaw. You can also contact an experienced family law attorney in Illinois if you need legal assistance. Marriage certificate: For your marriage to be legally binding, you must both apply for a marriage certificate. Without this document, you will not be formally married in the eyes of the law. In Illinois, you`ll need to contact the local clerk of the county where you`re getting married to get a valid license (we`ll discuss the process in more detail later). Once your marriage is consummated and your license signed and filed with the county official, you will receive a marriage certificate as proof of your marriage. In California, the applicable law is found in California Family Code Sections 302 and 304 (2019): “An unmarried person under the age of 18 may obtain a marriage certificate upon receipt of a court order authorizing the person or persons to marry in accordance with the requirements described in Section 304.” [11] Historically, Section 56 of the California Civil Code (1872) established 15 as the age at which a woman could marry without her parents` consent. In 1921, the age was raised to 18. [12] Official qualifications: Your marriage must be solemn to be valid. All this means is that someone, usually an officiant, has to perform the wedding ceremony to marry you to your spouse. State and federal judges (active or retired), religious leaders or ministers, or even the county clerk can all serve as officiants. (750 ILCS 5/203) (chap.

40, para. 203) § 203.