Elkhart Marriage License Records

Elkhart residents have a convenient option for applying for a marriage license: the Elkhart County Clerk has a local branch office right in Elkhart at 101 N Main Street, Suite 106. You do not have to drive to the county seat in Goshen. The Elkhart location handles marriage license applications for Elkhart city residents. This page covers how to apply, what to bring, fees, hours at both locations, and how to search for marriage license records in Elkhart and Elkhart County.

Elkhart County Clerk Offices for Marriage Licenses

Elkhart County has two clerk locations where you can apply for a marriage license. Elkhart city residents can use the local Elkhart office on N Main Street. Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-3 requires both applicants to appear in person at the same time. The local Elkhart office makes this easier for residents of the city who would otherwise have to drive to Goshen, the county seat.

Call (574) 296-1718 to confirm current hours at the Elkhart branch before you visit. Hours at the local branch may differ from those at the Goshen main office. Both offices serve Elkhart County residents and process the same application. The clerk's website at clerk.elkhartcounty.com has current information on both locations.

Note: The Elkhart city clerk at elkhartindiana.org handles city government matters but does not issue marriage licenses.

Elkhart County Clerk Resources

The Elkhart County Clerk's website provides information about both the Goshen and Elkhart office locations. The image below shows the Elkhart County Clerk portal where you can find marriage license details, hours, and other services.

Elkhart County has a two-location setup for clerk services, with the Goshen courthouse serving as the main office and the Elkhart branch providing local access for residents of the city. Both locations process marriage license applications and issue licenses. Check the website or call ahead to confirm which services are available at each location on a given day.

Documents You Need for a Marriage License in Elkhart

Both applicants must bring proof of identity and age to either the Elkhart or Goshen clerk's office. Under IC 31-11-1-4, each person must be at least 18. Applicants who are 16 or 17 must have a juvenile court order fully emancipating them and granting permission to marry. The Elkhart County Clerk will not issue a license to a minor without that court order in hand.

Each applicant needs to bring one of the following:

• Valid driver's license or Indiana state ID
• U.S. or foreign passport
• Certified copy of birth certificate
• Military ID showing date of birth
• Immigration or naturalization record with date of birth

You need your Social Security number for the application. If either of you was previously married, a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for a deceased spouse is required. The clerk's office wants the actual certified document, not a photocopy. The application also asks for full names, last known addresses, and birthplaces for both parents. Have all of this ready before going to either the Elkhart or Goshen office.

Marriage License Fees in Elkhart

Elkhart County charges $25.00 for Indiana residents. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. Certified copies of the marriage license are $4.00 each. Call (574) 296-1718 for the Elkhart branch or (574) 535-6469 for the Goshen office to confirm current payment methods and whether cash is required. Fees are set by state statute but may be supplemented by county policy, so confirming ahead of time is always the smart move.

Applying for a Marriage License in Elkhart

Indiana requires a marriage license before a couple can legally marry under IC 31-11-4-1. The process in Elkhart starts at the local clerk's branch on N Main Street or at the Goshen main office. Both of you go together, show your documents, fill out the application, and pay the fee. The clerk processes everything and issues the license the same day in most cases.

Use the state's online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage before your visit. It lets you enter basic information ahead of time, which can speed things up at the counter. You still need to come in person with your documents. Indiana has no waiting period, so you can marry the same day you pick up the license. The license is valid for 60 days from issue under IC 31-11-4-10. If you miss the 60-day window, you have to reapply and pay the fee again.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and files it with the Elkhart County Clerk. The clerk records and indexes it as a permanent record under IC 31-11-4-18. Under IC 31-11-6-1, judges, clergy, mayors, and other authorized individuals can perform the ceremony anywhere in Indiana.

Search Elkhart Marriage License Records

The Indiana Courts public database at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is free and covers marriage licenses issued in Indiana since 1993. Filter by Elkhart County to search for Elkhart city records. The search results show basic license information but not certified copies. For older records, the Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy has databases covering marriages through 1850 and from 1958 to 2018.

To get a certified copy of an Elkhart County marriage record, contact the clerk at (574) 535-6469 for Goshen or (574) 296-1718 for Elkhart. You can also request a Record of Marriage from the Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages for $8.00 per copy (marriages since 1958), or order online through VitalChek.

Note: Under IC 31-11-11-1, giving false information on a marriage license application is a Level 6 felony in Indiana.

Nearby Cities

Nearby cities with marriage license information include Goshen (Elkhart County seat), Mishawaka (St. Joseph County), South Bend (St. Joseph County), and Michigan City (LaPorte County).

Elkhart County Marriage License Records

Elkhart is in Elkhart County, and all marriage licenses are issued by the Elkhart County Clerk at either the Goshen main office or the Elkhart branch location. For full county-level information on marriage licenses in Elkhart County, visit the Elkhart County marriage license page.

View Elkhart County Marriage License Records