Fort Wayne Marriage License Lookup
Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city and the county seat of Allen County. Marriage licenses for Fort Wayne residents are issued by the Allen County Clerk at the Allen County Courthouse on South Calhoun Street. The clerk handles all marriage license applications for Fort Wayne and the rest of Allen County. This page covers where to apply, what to bring, fees, courthouse wedding options, and how to search for Fort Wayne marriage license records.
Fort Wayne Quick Facts
Allen County Clerk - Fort Wayne Marriage License Office
The Allen County Clerk of Courts issues all marriage licenses for Fort Wayne. The office is in Room 201 of the Allen County Courthouse in downtown Fort Wayne. Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-3 says both applicants must appear in person at the same time. No proxy and no split visits. Fort Wayne is the county seat, so the clerk's office is right in the city, which makes the process convenient for most residents.
| Office | Allen County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | Allen County Courthouse, Room 201 715 S. Calhoun Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 |
| Phone (Main) | (260) 449-7245 |
| Phone (Marriage License) | (260) 449-7370 |
| Fax | (260) 449-7658 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | allencountyclerk.in.gov |
One thing to know about the Allen County Courthouse: electronic devices are banned inside the courthouse. Leave your phone in your car or put it away before you go through security. Bring a valid photo ID for courthouse entry as well. The marriage license division phone line is (260) 449-7370 if you have specific questions about your appointment or documents before you come to the Fort Wayne courthouse.
Note: The Allen Circuit Court in Fort Wayne also offers courthouse wedding ceremonies Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM and 4:45 PM for $150.00, paid 7 days in advance. Contact circuitcourtweddings@outlook.com or (260) 449-7602 to schedule.
Indiana Marriage License Application Information
The Indiana Courts marriage license information page explains the statewide requirements that apply to all applicants in Fort Wayne and the rest of Allen County.
Fort Wayne follows the same Indiana statewide process as every other county. The state courts page gives a full breakdown of what to bring, who can apply, and what the license covers. Fort Wayne couples can use the pre-application tool on that site before their visit to the Allen County Courthouse.
Documents Needed for a Fort Wayne Marriage License
Both applicants must bring proof of age and identity. Under IC 31-11-1-4, each applicant must be at least 18. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need a juvenile court order that grants permission to marry and fully emancipates them. The Allen County Clerk's office will not issue a license to a minor without that court order.
Bring one of these documents for each person:
- Valid Indiana driver's license or state-issued ID
- U.S. or foreign passport
- Certified copy of birth certificate
- Military identification card showing date of birth
- Immigration or naturalization document with birth date
You also need your Social Security number. If either applicant was previously married, bring the certified divorce decree or death certificate for a deceased spouse. Non-English documents need translation and notarization before the Allen County Clerk can accept them. Have both parents' full names, last known addresses, and birthplaces ready for the application form. This information is required statewide and is part of every Indiana marriage license application.
Because electronic devices are banned at the courthouse, write down or print out the information you need rather than planning to look it up on your phone inside.
Marriage License Fees in Fort Wayne
Indiana residents pay $25.00. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. Certified copies of the marriage license cost $4.00 each. Allen County does not appear to charge the extra $4.00 document fee that some Indiana counties add, but call (260) 449-7370 to confirm the current total before your visit. If you are getting married at the courthouse, that ceremony costs an additional $150.00 paid to the court 7 days in advance.
The Allen County Clerk's office processes a high volume of applications given that Fort Wayne is Indiana's second-largest city. Call the marriage license line at (260) 449-7370 ahead of time if you have specific questions about the day's schedule or any local requirements that may have changed recently.
Applying for a Marriage License in Fort Wayne
Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-1 requires a marriage license before any legal marriage in the state. Both applicants go to Room 201 at the Allen County Courthouse together, show their 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 online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage before your courthouse visit. Entering your information ahead of time speeds up the counter process in Fort Wayne. Both people still need to show up in person to sign and finalize. Indiana has no waiting period, so you can hold the ceremony the same day you get the license. The license is valid for 60 days from issue under IC 31-11-4-10.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the Allen County Clerk. The clerk records it permanently under IC 31-11-4-18. Under IC 31-11-6-1, judges, clergy, mayors, and other authorized persons can perform the ceremony. The Allen Circuit Court offers a scheduled courthouse option if you prefer a civil ceremony right in Fort Wayne.
Search Fort Wayne Marriage License Records
Indiana's free marriage license database at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers records since 1993. Filter by Allen County to search Fort Wayne-area records. The search returns basic information like names, county, and issue date. Certified copies are not available through the state portal. For a certified copy of an Allen County marriage record, contact the clerk at (260) 449-7370.
For older records, the Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy has databases for marriages through 1850 and from 1958 to 2018. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages issues Records of Marriage for $8.00 per copy for marriages since 1958. You can also use VitalChek for online ordering with an added service fee.
Note: Under IC 31-11-11-1, knowingly giving false information on a marriage license application is a Level 6 felony in Indiana.
Nearby Cities
Fort Wayne is the largest city in northeast Indiana. Nearby cities with marriage license information include Kokomo (Howard County), South Bend (St. Joseph County), Mishawaka (St. Joseph County), and Muncie (Delaware County).
Allen County Marriage License Records
Fort Wayne is the county seat of Allen County. All marriage licenses for Fort Wayne and the surrounding area are issued by the Allen County Clerk at the Allen County Courthouse. For complete county-level information on marriage licenses in Allen County, visit the county marriage license page.