IL HB4444

Marriage license applications must now include a question asking whether either party is under a court-ordered guardianship in any state.

County clerks cannot issue marriage licenses unless neither party is under guardianship, or if one party is under guardianship, a court has made a judicial determination that the marriage is in the best interests of the person under guardianship.

Courts determining whether a marriage serves a ward's best interests must now follow (rather than merely consider) specified standards from the Probate Act.

Marriages of wards that occur without a prior best interests hearing before a judicial officer are void ab initio (void from the beginning).

Any person who knowingly enters into a marriage with a ward without following required procedures is guilty of a Class 4 felony.