Indianapolis Marriage License Records
Indianapolis residents apply for a marriage license through the Marion County Clerk's Office, which operates the Marriage License Division inside the City-County Building. As Indiana's capital and largest city, Indianapolis has a consolidated city-county government called Unigov, so the city and Marion County share administrative functions. The Marion County Clerk handles all marriage licenses for Indianapolis, and you can also search Indianapolis marriage license records back to 1993 through the free state tool at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL.
Indianapolis Quick Facts
Where to Get a Marriage License in Indianapolis
The Marion County Clerk's Office runs the Marriage License Division out of the City-County Building in downtown Indianapolis. This is the primary location for all Indianapolis marriage license applications. The office is on the first floor at room W122. You can also reach the clerk by email at marriage@indy.gov, which is useful for questions before your visit.
| Office | Marion County Clerk's Office - Marriage License Division |
|---|---|
| Address | City-County Building, 200 E. Washington Street W122 Indianapolis, IN 46204 (1st Floor) |
| Phone | (317) 327-4720 |
| marriage@indy.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (arrive by 4:00 PM) |
| Website | indy.gov/agency/marion-county-clerks-office |
The Marion County Clerk has two additional locations that may be more convenient for some Indianapolis residents. The Community Justice Campus at 675 Justice Way, Indianapolis, IN 46203 also handles marriage license services. A records facility at 1330 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225 serves the southern part of the city. Call ahead at (317) 327-4720 to confirm which services are available at each location before making the trip.
Payment is accepted by cash or credit and debit card at the Marion County office. Note that a processing fee applies when you pay by card. The fee for Indianapolis residents and Indiana residents is $25. Out-of-state residents pay $65.
Indianapolis Marriage License Requirements
Indiana law requires both applicants to appear in person at the clerk's office, as stated in IC 31-11-4-3. You cannot apply by mail or online for the actual license. You go in together, present your IDs, and sign the application at the counter. The clerk reviews the documents and issues the license the same day if everything checks out.
You need a valid, government-issued photo ID. The Marion County Clerk accepts a driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military ID. A birth certificate can be used if you also bring a separate photo ID. Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers. You do not need the physical card, just the number. If either of you ended a prior marriage through divorce, bring the divorce decree. If widowed, bring a death certificate. Under IC 31-11-1-4, both applicants must be at least 18 years old, or 16 to 17 with a parent or guardian present to give consent.
Before going to the City-County Building, complete the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage. This is required by Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-1. Doing it online first makes the visit faster and gets you through the process more smoothly. It is best to complete it on a laptop or desktop before you leave home.
Note: Arriving by 4:00 PM is recommended even though the office closes at 4:30 PM, to ensure you receive same-day service.
Marion County Clerk and Indianapolis Marriage License Portal
The Marion County Clerk's Office manages marriage licenses through the city's Unigov system. The screenshot below is from the Marion County Clerk's page at indy.gov/agency/marion-county-clerks-office, which is where Indianapolis residents find the most current information on how to apply for a marriage license.
The Indiana Courts application page at courts.in.gov/marriage is where you complete your pre-application before visiting the clerk's office. That step is mandatory for Indianapolis applicants. The site also explains general state requirements that apply across all Indiana counties.
After Getting Your Indianapolis Marriage License
Once the Marion County Clerk issues your marriage license, it is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. Indiana has no waiting period, so you can schedule your ceremony the same day you receive the license. The license is good anywhere in Indiana, not just in Indianapolis or Marion County.
After your ceremony, the person who performs it must complete the return section of the license. Under IC 31-11-4-18, the officiant must return the completed license to the Marion County Clerk within 30 days. Once that happens, your marriage becomes a public record. Indiana does not require a blood test, and there is no mandatory waiting period between application and ceremony.
If you need a certified copy of your Indianapolis marriage record later, contact the Marion County Clerk directly at (317) 327-4720 or email marriage@indy.gov. You can also order certified copies through the Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/. The state keeps marriage records from 1958 forward. VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles online orders for certified copies with a service fee added.
Search Indianapolis Marriage License Records
Indiana offers free access to marriage license records through the Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This database covers all Indiana counties, including Marion County, and goes back to 1993. You can search by the names of the applicants and get basic record details at no cost. Under IC 31-11-11-1, Indiana marriage licenses are public records and accessible to anyone.
Older Indianapolis marriage records from before 1993 are available through the Indiana Digital Archives at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/. The Indiana State Library maintains those historical indexes. Marion County records in this system go back several decades and give access to historical marriage data that predates the online database. The Indiana courts public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records/ also has links to additional search tools and resources for marriage and other vital records.
Nearby Cities Around Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the central hub of central Indiana. Many neighboring cities are in Hamilton County or other surrounding counties, so they use different county clerks for marriage licenses. Cities close to Indianapolis that have their own marriage license pages include Lawrence, which is within Marion County itself. Just north, in Hamilton County, you have Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield. South of Indianapolis, Greenwood is in Johnson County. Further south and east, Bloomington and Franklin are also nearby qualifying cities.
Marion County Marriage License Records
Indianapolis is in Marion County, and all marriage license applications go through the Marion County Clerk. The county page has full details on the process, all clerk locations, fees, and resources specific to Marion County.