If you do not have your own officiant, you can be joined in marriage or a civil union by a Cook County judge at the Marriage and Civil Union Court, in the lower level of 119 W. Randolph St. (the City …

Before getting married in Chicago or suburban Cook County, couples must obtain a marriage license from the Cook County Clerk's office. Marriage Equality has been the law in Cook County since …

Dec 8, 2025 · Marriage is a legally and socially sanctioned union that is regulated by laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the rights and duties of the partners and accords status …

Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them …

Nov 3, 2025 · Here, we break down the different definitions of marriage, plus various types of unions and popular alternatives.

Dec 19, 2025 · Couples married for decades reflect on how love, patience and resilience helped them weather life’s challenges and sustain lasting, meaningful unions.

Get tips & advice on marriage, relationships, & divorce from experts. Articles on getting married, married life, marriage help, history, definition & more.

Marriage is the legal union of individuals.The basic elements of a marriage are: (1) the parties' legal ability to marry each other, (2) mutual consent of the parties, and (3) a marriage contract as required …

Marriage brings great joy to many but it also brings challenges, often profound ones. How a couple manages them often determines whether their relationship collapses or holds firm.

The definition of marriage shown here is intentionally broad enough to encompass the different types of marriage that are currently recognized in varying cultures, places, religions, and systems of law.