Are County Courts open for marriage ceremonies on Jan 01, 2010?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We are planning for a civil ceremony for January 01, 2010 at the DuPage County Courthouse. I called the court house today to find out whether they will be performing marriage ceremonies on Jan 01, 2010, but the court is currently closed for holidays and I beleive re-opens on Monday. Does anyone know whether they perform civil ceremonies on Jan 01?

Thanks in advance!

No way the courthouse will be open. You could possiblily get a civil judge or JP to come to your home for a ceremony.

I have to advise, also, getting married Jan. 1 will probably cost you thousands of dollars in tax benefits. If you get married the day before you can file as "married, filing joint" for the entire year of 2009 and receive all sorts of marriage and family tax benefits. Tax status is determined by your status at midnight on December 31 of each year. There is no way I would pay the thousands in refund I received for a civil wedding on January 1 as opposed to Dec 31. That will be the most expensive civil wedding in history.

[Tahoma 2,297]

We are planning for a civil ceremony for January 01, 2010 at the DuPage County Courthouse. I called the court house today to find out whether they will be performing marriage ceremonies on Jan 01, 2010, but the court is currently closed for holidays and I beleive re-opens on Monday. Does anyone know whether they perform civil ceremonies on Jan 01?

Thanks in advance!

In Seattle, you can get married at the courthouse even if the courthouse is closed due to a weekend or a holiday. All you have to do is arrange the day and the time with a judge who is willing to perform the ceremony on their own time. Oh, and you need to bring along two witnesses and $150. Maybe this would work at the DuPage County Courthouse.

Congratz on your upcoming marriage.

PS...How about those income tax benefits from getting married on December 31?

[SunDrop 59]

There are no tax considerations for the UK, as we're taxed at source unless we're uniquely self-employed. Unless her soon to be hubby (yay!) continues to earn a UK income, or files self-assessment, any income earnt will have been finalised taxation wise on his last payslip.

I know that he was on a student visa, so technically only allowed to work 20 hours per week during term time. The likelihood that he has any tax to pay (or reclaim) is very slim.

[MARM 7]

Thanks everyone for bringing up the important point of taxes and getting married in 2009.

I managed to get a hold of a retired judge to perform our ceremony on Dec. 29th, 2009 (Tuesday). Of course she charges $150 instead of the usual $10 the courts do, but we don't have much of a choice really, I called the other judges on the list and did not get a response. Now I am off to figure out whether I can walk the certificate to the county clerk's office the same day for registering and getting the seal or whatever, as we need the certificate urgently for AOS...I hope it is possible...$150 is a quite a bite out of the pocket for just a civil ceremony judge...

[Lisa and Ian 7]

Thanks everyone for bringing up the important point of taxes and getting married in 2009.

I managed to get a hold of a retired judge to perform our ceremony on Dec. 29th, 2009 (Tuesday). Of course she charges $150 instead of the usual $10 the courts do, but we don't have much of a choice really, I called the other judges on the list and did not get a response. Now I am off to figure out whether I can walk the certificate to the county clerk's office the same day for registering and getting the seal or whatever, as we need the certificate urgently for AOS...I hope it is possible...$150 is a quite a bite out of the pocket for just a civil ceremony judge...

I'm surprised they only charge $10 to perform a ceremony at the courthouse. I got married at a courthouse in Nebraska (states vary, I know!), and the fees are $100.

Because we got married at the courthouse, our judge walked the paperwork down to the marriage license dept on Monday morning and our certified copy was ready the next day.

Good luck, and how exciting is it to be planning your wedding?

Edited December 4, 2009 by Snowbunnies

[MARM 7]

Thanks Snowbunnies!

I hope we too can get the certified copy the next day!

[Darnell 8,479]

i think is possible, if you can pre-arrange the honorarium with a judge.

But it must be the RIGHT honorarium

Good Luck !

Edited December 4, 2009 by Darnell

[Darnell 8,479]

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perhaps think to find a group of people who want to marry this way, at the courthouse, then the judge make more money that day... so - go find em !! i like idea of group, for that day, much .. (but is some work, on your part, to find them )

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

January 1 is a federal holiday, ALL public buildings are closed.

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

Thanks everyone for bringing up the important point of taxes and getting married in 2009.

I managed to get a hold of a retired judge to perform our ceremony on Dec. 29th, 2009 (Tuesday). Of course she charges $150 instead of the usual $10 the courts do

I hear she retired to become a Civil Surgeon.