Indiana Marriage License Records
Indiana marriage license records are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each of the state's 92 counties. To apply for a marriage license in Indiana, both you and your future spouse must appear together in person at the clerk's office in the county where one of you lives. You can search marriage licenses issued since 1993 through the free Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This guide covers how to apply, what documents to bring, fees across the state, and how to get a certified copy of an Indiana marriage license record.
Indiana Marriage License Quick Facts
Applying for an Indiana Marriage License
To get a marriage license in Indiana, both applicants must appear in person at the same time at the clerk's office. There is no way around this step. You cannot mail in an application or send someone else in your place. Under Indiana Code 31-11-4-3, you apply in the county where at least one of you lives. If neither of you lives in Indiana, you apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. The clerk's office checks your documents, takes the fee, and issues the license on the spot. Most couples walk out the same day with their Indiana marriage license in hand. There is no waiting period in the state, so you can hold your ceremony on the same day you pick up the license if you choose.
The Indiana Courts system offers an online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage that you can fill out before your visit. This does not reserve a time slot or hold a spot, but it does speed things up once you arrive at the clerk's window. Both people must still come in person to sign the final application and pay the fee. The pre-application is accepted at all 92 Indiana county clerk offices. Call ahead to confirm hours and ask if your county has any local requirements before you make the trip.
The clerk issues the license right away. No waiting. You can marry the same day.
The Indiana Courts marriage license page has the full list of what to bring, along with answers to common questions about the process. It is a good first stop before you visit your county clerk.
The Indiana Courts application guide walks you through each step, from what ID to bring to how the online pre-application works. Reviewing it before your visit helps you avoid a second trip to the clerk's office.
Indiana Marriage License Requirements
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old to get a marriage license in Indiana without a court order. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds may apply only with a juvenile court order that grants approval and full emancipation under IC 31-11-1-4. One applicant cannot be more than four years older than the other if either person is 16 or 17. The clerk will not issue a license to anyone under 16.
You need a valid photo ID to apply for an Indiana marriage license. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver's license, state-issued ID card, passport, US military ID, or a certified copy of your birth certificate. The ID must show your full name, date of birth, and current address. You also need your Social Security number, though you may not need to bring the physical card. If you were married before, bring the date your last marriage ended. Some county clerks in Indiana ask for a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of a former spouse. Requirements vary by county, so check with your local clerk before you go.
Acceptable forms of proof of age and identity include:
- Driver's license or state ID with date of birth and current address
- Passport (US or foreign)
- Military ID or selective service card with date of birth
- Certified copy of a birth certificate
- Court record or immigration document showing date of birth
Indiana law also sets certain conditions under which the clerk cannot issue a marriage license. Under IC 31-11-4-11, a clerk must refuse to issue a license if either person appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of application, if the applicants are more closely related than second cousins, or if either person has been judged legally incompetent. Applicants who are lifetime sex or violent offenders may apply only after filing a notice with local law enforcement. Anyone who gives false information on a marriage license application commits a Level 6 felony under IC 31-11-11-1. Non-English documents need a certified translation before the clerk can accept them.
Search Indiana Marriage License Records Online
The Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup is a free online database that covers all 92 Indiana counties. It includes marriage license records from 1993 to the present day. You can search by the last name of either applicant, filter by county, or narrow results by year range. The system does not provide certified copies. It shows basic record information: names, county of issue, and date. To start a search, go to public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. The site notes that "County Issued is the Indiana county where the couple applied for their marriage license, not necessarily their current county of residence." If you are not sure which county issued the license, leave that filter blank and search by name alone.
For records before 1993, the Indiana Courts database has no data. You have two other options. First, the Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy has free marriage databases covering records through 1850 and again from 1958 through recent years. Second, you can contact the clerk's office directly in the county where the marriage took place. The Indiana Courts Public Records Portal explains what is available online and how to request items that are not. For divorce-related records tied to marriage files, search case information at mycase.in.gov.
The Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is the fastest way to confirm a license was issued in Indiana since 1993. Results are free and accessible to anyone with internet access.
Indiana Marriage License Fees
Indiana marriage license fees depend on the residency of both applicants. Indiana residents pay $25.00 for a license. If both parties are out-of-state residents, the fee is $65.00. Some county clerks add a $4.00 document fee, making the total $29.00 for residents or $69.00 for non-residents at those offices. Certified copies of the marriage license each cost $4.00. Most Indiana county clerks require cash, though a few offices accept checks or credit cards. Call your county clerk before going to confirm the payment method and the exact amount. Fees can change. The figure that matters is what the clerk charges on the day you apply.
There is no blood test required in Indiana. No waiting period applies after the license is issued. You can be married on the same day you receive your Indiana marriage license.
License Validity and Recording the Marriage
Under IC 31-11-4-10, an Indiana marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you do not hold the ceremony within 60 days, the license expires. You cannot extend it. You must go back to the clerk and apply for a new Indiana marriage license. Make sure your wedding date falls within the 60-day window after you pick up the license.
The person who performs the ceremony is called the officiant. Authorized officiants in Indiana include judges, ministers, priests, rabbis, and other religious leaders under IC 31-11-6-1. Friends or family members who become ordained online may also be able to officiate a wedding in Indiana, though some counties may have local rules. The officiant signs the license after the ceremony and must return it to the county clerk within the time period required by the county. Once the clerk receives and records the signed license, the marriage becomes an official public record. Under IC 31-11-4-18, county clerks are required to maintain an index of all marriage records, which may be kept in paper or electronic form.
Keep a copy of your license before the officiant returns it. Once recorded by the clerk, you can request certified copies, but getting them takes time.
Indiana's Public Records Portal gives a clear breakdown of which court documents are available online and how to request records that are not. Certified marriage records from county files are not available through the portal and must be requested directly from the county clerk.
Getting a Certified Copy of an Indiana Marriage Record
There are two ways to get a certified copy of an Indiana marriage record. The first is through the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the license was issued. That office holds the original signed document. Fees vary by county but are usually $4.00 to $5.00 per copy. Visit or call the clerk directly to ask about mail requests and wait times. For a full list of county clerk contact information, use the county pages on this site or check the Indiana Courts directory.
The second option is through the Indiana State Department of Health, which keeps a statewide marriage index going back to 1958. You can request a Record of Marriage from the state, which costs $8.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Mail requests to: Vital Records, Indiana State Department of Health, P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. The state office can be reached at (317) 233-2700. For more on the state marriage records program, visit in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages. Note that the state issues a Record of Marriage, not the full marriage certificate. The full certificate comes only from the county clerk where the license was issued.
VitalChek is the authorized online partner for ordering Indiana vital records, including state-level marriage record copies. Additional service fees apply on top of the $8.00 state fee.
Historical Indiana Marriage Records
For genealogy research on Indiana marriages, the Indiana State Library offers the deepest free resources. Their digital databases at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy include marriage records from before 1850 and a separate collection covering 1958 through 2018. These records are free to access. The library itself is at 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Records between 1851 and 1957 that fall outside both database ranges must be requested directly from the county clerk where the marriage took place. Many early county marriage records are held at the county level in Indiana and have not been digitized.
Several Indiana counties built reputations as elopement destinations over the decades. Crown Point in Lake County was one of the most famous, drawing couples from Illinois and other nearby states who wanted a quick, no-fuss wedding. Other counties known for out-of-state marriages include Steuben County (Angola), Vanderburgh County (Evansville), Floyd County, Clark County (Jeffersonville), Dearborn County (Lawrenceburg), and Porter County (Valparaiso). If you are doing genealogy research and know an ancestor married quickly in Indiana, these counties are good places to search. All such records from 1993 forward are in the free Indiana Courts marriage license database.
The Indiana State Library's digital collections are one of the best free resources for pre-1993 marriage record research. Crown Point and other elopement counties have especially rich marriage record archives worth checking for genealogical work.
Browse Indiana Marriage License Records by County
Each of Indiana's 92 counties has a Circuit Court Clerk who handles marriage licenses. Pick a county below to find local contact details, fees, and resources.
Indiana Marriage License by City
Marriage licenses in Indiana are issued at the county clerk's office. Pick a city below to find the clerk office that serves your area and learn what to expect when you apply.