Find a Marriage License in Mishawaka
Mishawaka is a city in St. Joseph County, and residents here have a convenient option for getting a marriage license: the St. Joseph County Clerk has a dedicated Mishawaka division at 219 Lincolnway West, right in the city. Mishawaka and neighboring South Bend make up the two largest cities in St. Joseph County. The county clerk serves both cities from separate locations. You can search existing Mishawaka marriage license records at no cost through Indiana's public lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL.
Mishawaka Quick Facts
St. Joseph County Clerk - Mishawaka Division
Mishawaka residents can apply for a marriage license at the St. Joseph County Clerk's Mishawaka Division, which is located right in the city at 219 Lincolnway West. This is a branch of the St. Joseph County Clerk's office and handles marriage license applications for Mishawaka and the eastern part of St. Joseph County. You do not have to go to South Bend to apply. The Mishawaka location makes the process local and accessible.
| Office | St. Joseph County Clerk - Mishawaka Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 219 Lincolnway West Mishawaka, IN 46544 |
| Phone | (574) 235-9635 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | sjcindiana.gov/2396/Marriage-Divorce-Information |
The South Bend location is at 101 S Main Street in South Bend, also reachable at (574) 235-9635. Both locations handle the same services and are run by the same St. Joseph County Clerk. For most Mishawaka residents, the Lincolnway West location is the closer and more convenient choice. The fee is $25 for Indiana residents and $65 for out-of-state applicants. Both applicants must appear in person at the same time.
Important note: The Mishawaka City Clerk's office, led by Deborah S. (Ladyga) Block and located at 100 Lincolnway West, (574) 258-1630, handles city council records and some ceremonial functions. The city clerk can perform wedding ceremonies but does not issue marriage licenses. The city clerk at mishawaka.in.gov is not where you apply for a license. Go to 219 Lincolnway West for the county clerk's office.
Mishawaka Marriage License Requirements
Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-3 requires both people to be physically present at the county clerk's office when applying. This is a hard rule with no exceptions. Both of you must go to 219 Lincolnway West together, present your IDs, and sign the application. The process is the same at both the Mishawaka and South Bend locations of the St. Joseph County Clerk.
You need a valid government-issued photo ID. The St. Joseph County Clerk accepts a driver's license, U.S. passport, state ID, or military ID. A birth certificate can be used but must be accompanied by a photo ID. Both applicants must provide their Social Security numbers. If either of you was married before, bring the divorce decree or a death certificate from the prior marriage. Come with the original or certified copy, not a photocopy. The clerk needs to see it before they will issue the license.
Age requirements fall under IC 31-11-1-4. Applicants 18 or older can apply without parental consent. If you are between 16 and 17, a parent or legal guardian must appear with you at the Mishawaka Division office and give in-person consent. Indiana does not permit marriage for anyone under 16.
Before going to the Mishawaka Division, complete the Indiana online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage. This is required by IC 31-11-4-1. Filling it out ahead of time on a laptop or desktop speeds up your visit and satisfies the state's pre-application requirement.
Mishawaka City and St. Joseph County Clerk Resources
The Mishawaka city website at mishawaka.in.gov is a resource for city services. The screenshot below shows the Mishawaka city page, which helps with local contacts and services. The St. Joseph County Clerk's marriage page at sjcindiana.gov/2396/Marriage-Divorce-Information has the official details on marriage license applications for Mishawaka residents.
The St. Joseph County Clerk's marriage and divorce information page covers both the Mishawaka and South Bend locations, hours, and all requirements. Call (574) 235-9635 with any questions before your visit to 219 Lincolnway West in Mishawaka.
After Getting Your Mishawaka Marriage License
Your marriage license is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. Indiana has no waiting period. You can hold your ceremony on the same day you receive the license, or any day within those 60 days. The license is valid for any legal ceremony anywhere in Indiana. You are not required to marry in Mishawaka or St. Joseph County.
After the ceremony, the officiant must complete the return section of your marriage license and send it back to the St. Joseph County Clerk within 30 days. This is required by IC 31-11-4-18. Once filed, your marriage becomes an official record. Indiana marriage licenses are public documents under IC 31-11-11-1 and are searchable by the public through the state's online tool.
For certified copies of your Mishawaka marriage record, contact the St. Joseph County Clerk at (574) 235-9635. Certified copies are also available from the Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/. State records go back to 1958. VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles online orders for a service fee.
Note: If your license expires before the ceremony, you must apply again and pay the full fee a second time.
Search Mishawaka Marriage Records Online
The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is a free tool that covers St. Joseph County marriage records from 1993 onward. Search by name. No account required. Mishawaka marriage licenses filed through the St. Joseph County Clerk are in this database and searchable online.
For records before 1993, the Indiana Digital Archives at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ maintained by the Indiana State Library has some historical St. Joseph County indexes. Some older Mishawaka-area marriage records may appear there. The Indiana courts public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records/ also links to additional statewide research tools.
Nearby Cities in the Area
Mishawaka is adjacent to South Bend on the eastern side. South Bend is St. Joseph County's largest city and uses the same St. Joseph County Clerk for marriage licenses. To the east in Elkhart County, you have Elkhart and Goshen, both of which use the Elkhart County Clerk. To the northwest along Lake Michigan, Michigan City in LaPorte County is also a qualifying city with its own marriage license page.
St. Joseph County Marriage License Records
Mishawaka is in St. Joseph County, and the St. Joseph County Clerk handles all marriage license applications for the city. The St. Joseph County page has more on the full process, both clerk locations, fees, and county-level resources.