Goshen Marriage License Records

Goshen is the county seat of Elkhart County, and the Elkhart County Clerk's main office at 101 N Main Street handles all marriage license applications for Goshen and the rest of Elkhart County. Goshen residents have the convenience of the clerk's office being right in the city. Both people applying must appear together in person. This page explains how to get a marriage license in Goshen, what documents to bring, the fees, and how to find marriage license records in Goshen and Elkhart County.

Elkhart County Clerk Main Office - Goshen

The Elkhart County Clerk's main office in Goshen is where all marriage licenses for Goshen residents are issued. Goshen serves as the Elkhart County seat, putting the main clerk's office right in the city. Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-3 requires both applicants to appear in person together at the clerk's office. You cannot apply separately or through a third party. For Goshen residents, the main office is the closest and most convenient option.

Notice that the Monday hours are extended to 5:00 PM at the Goshen main office, which gives couples who work traditional hours an extra window on Mondays. Tuesday through Friday the office closes at 4:00 PM. There is also a branch office in Elkhart city at 101 N Main St Suite 106, Elkhart, IN 46516, reachable at (574) 296-1718, for applicants who live closer to that side of the county.

Note: The Goshen city clerk at 202 S 5th St can be reached at (574) 533-8627 or clerk@goshencity.com, but that office handles city government records, not marriage licenses.

Goshen City Resources

The City of Goshen's official website provides access to city services and information for Goshen residents. The image below shows the Goshen city portal.

Goshen has about 34,000 residents and is known for its historic downtown and diverse community. As the county seat, it is home to the Elkhart County Courthouse where the clerk's office is located. The Elkhart County Clerk manages marriage license records for both Goshen and the city of Elkhart, with a two-location setup that covers the county well.

Documents Needed for a Goshen Marriage License

Both people applying for the marriage license must bring proof of age and identity to the Goshen office. Under IC 31-11-1-4, each applicant must be at least 18 years old. If either person is 16 or 17, they need a juvenile court order that fully emancipates them and grants approval to marry. This is an Indiana requirement and applies to all counties, including Elkhart County.

Each applicant must bring one of the following:

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

You also need your Social Security number. If either applicant has been married before, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree or a death certificate for a deceased spouse. The clerk in Goshen needs the original certified document. Also prepare both parents' full names, last known addresses, and birthplaces for the application form. Having all of this ready before you go to the Goshen courthouse makes the visit quick and easy.

Marriage License Fees in Goshen

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) 535-6469 before your visit to confirm the current fee and what payment methods are accepted at the Goshen main office. Paying in cash is always a safe bet since many Indiana county clerks require it, though some accept other forms of payment as well.

Applying for a Marriage License in Goshen

Indiana requires a marriage license before any legal marriage in the state under IC 31-11-4-1. In Goshen, both applicants go to the Elkhart County Clerk's main office at 101 N Main Street together. Show your documents, fill out the application, and pay the fee. The clerk reviews everything and issues the license the same day in most cases.

Before your visit, use the state's pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage to fill in basic information online. This makes the process at the Goshen office go faster. Both people must still come 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 the issue date under IC 31-11-4-10.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and files it with the Elkhart County Clerk in Goshen. The clerk records and indexes it as a permanent public record under IC 31-11-4-18. Under IC 31-11-6-1, judges, clergy, mayors, and other authorized persons can perform the ceremony anywhere in Indiana. There is no requirement to hold the ceremony in Goshen or Elkhart County.

Search Goshen Marriage License Records

The Indiana Courts free marriage license database at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers all 92 Indiana counties from 1993 to the present. Filter by Elkhart County to find Goshen-area records. The database shows basic information including applicant names and issue date. For older records, use the Indiana State Library databases at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy, which cover marriages through 1850 and from 1958 to 2018.

For a certified copy of an Elkhart County marriage record, contact the Goshen office at (574) 535-6469 or check the clerk's website at clerk.elkhartcounty.com. You can also get a Record of Marriage from the Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages for $8.00 per copy for marriages since 1958. VitalChek handles online orders with an added service fee.

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

Nearby Cities

Goshen is the county seat of Elkhart County. Nearby cities with marriage license information include Elkhart (also in Elkhart County, with a branch clerk office), Mishawaka (St. Joseph County), South Bend (St. Joseph County), and Michigan City (LaPorte County).

Elkhart County Marriage License Records

Goshen is the county seat of Elkhart County. The Elkhart County Clerk's main office in Goshen handles marriage licenses for all Elkhart County residents. For full county-level information on marriage licenses in Elkhart County, visit the county marriage license page.

View Elkhart County Marriage License Records