Adams County Marriage License Records

Adams County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Decatur. If you need to apply for a marriage license or search existing records in Adams County, the clerk office handles both tasks. This guide covers what you need to bring, what you'll pay, and how the process works from start to finish.

Adams County Clerk of Courts

The Adams County Clerk of Courts office in Decatur handles all marriage license applications. Shelly Brite serves as the Adams County Clerk of Courts. The office is open Monday through Friday and you should plan to arrive early enough to complete your paperwork before the 4:00 PM close time. Staff are available to help both applicants fill out forms correctly and answer questions about the marriage license process in Adams County.

Both people applying must come to the clerk office in person on the same day. You cannot send one person to apply on behalf of both. This requirement comes from Indiana state law under IC 31-11-4-3, which says both applicants must appear together when the marriage license is issued. Adams County follows this rule without exception. If you have questions before your visit, call the office directly. The clerk can tell you what to bring and help you avoid delays on the day you come in.

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Adams County

Applying for a marriage license in Adams County takes a single visit to the clerk office in Decatur. The process itself usually goes quickly once you have the right documents in hand. Indiana Courts offers an online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage that lets you fill out basic information before you go. This saves time at the counter. But filling it out online does not replace the in-person visit. Both parties must still appear at the Adams County Courthouse.

At least one applicant must live in Adams County if you are an Indiana resident. If both of you live outside Indiana, you can still get a license in Adams County, but only if your ceremony will take place here. The clerk will ask for your county of residence when you apply. Out-of-state applicants pay a higher fee. Make sure you know which category applies to your situation before you go to the Adams County courthouse.

Under IC 31-11-4-1, certain information is collected when you apply. This includes both full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and places of birth. You will also need to give the full names of both parents, including maiden names. If either of you has been married before, you must provide the date and way that marriage ended, whether by divorce or death. Bring any divorce decree or death certificate you have. Adams County clerks use this to verify your eligibility to marry.

Note: The pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage saves time at the clerk office but does not hold your place in line or reserve an appointment in Adams County.

What to Bring to the Adams County Clerk

Getting the right documents together before you visit the Adams County Clerk makes the process smooth and fast. Missing even one item can mean a second trip. Check this list carefully before you head to Decatur. Both applicants need to bring their own ID; you cannot share one form of identification.

• Valid government-issued photo ID: driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number (card or number memorized; not all offices require the card itself)
• Birth certificate if your ID does not show your date of birth
• Divorce decree if you were previously married and divorced
• Death certificate if your previous spouse passed away
• Payment for the license fee ($25.00 for residents, $65.00 for out-of-state applicants)

Some Adams County applicants assume a passport replaces all other requirements. A passport covers your ID and birth date, but you will still need your Social Security number. If your name has changed since any prior documents were issued, bring proof of that change too. The clerk in Adams County must match your current legal name to what appears in their system.

Adams County Marriage License Fees

The fee to get a marriage license in Adams County is $25.00 for Indiana residents. Out-of-state applicants pay $65.00. Some counties in Indiana add a $4.00 document fee, bringing the resident total to $29.00. Call the Adams County Clerk at (260) 724-5309 to confirm the exact amount before your visit, as fees can change. Certified copies of your marriage license cost $4.00 each. You may want to order a few copies on the day you pick up the license to have on hand for name change purposes later.

Most clerk offices in Indiana prefer cash for marriage licenses. Adams County may accept other payment types, but it is safest to bring cash or a money order to be sure. Do not bring a personal check unless you have confirmed with the clerk that they accept it. Payment is due at the time you pick up the license.

Note: Certified copies ordered later from the Indiana State Department of Health through ISDH Vital Records cost $8.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy of the same record.

Using Your Adams County Marriage License

Once issued, your Adams County marriage license is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. You must have your ceremony within that window. If the 60 days pass and the ceremony has not happened, the license expires and you must apply again and pay the fee once more. There is no extension option in Indiana.

Indiana has no waiting period between when the license is issued and when you can use it. You can get married the same day if you want. Your ceremony can take place anywhere in the state of Indiana, not just in Adams County. The officiant who performs your ceremony is responsible for signing the license and returning it to the Adams County Clerk within 60 days of the ceremony. Once the clerk records it, the marriage becomes part of the official Adams County marriage record. You can request certified copies of the recorded license from the clerk office afterward.

Under IC 31-11-4-11, the officiant must return the completed license to the clerk who issued it. So even if your ceremony happens in another Indiana county, the license goes back to Adams County for recording. This is important to know if your officiant is not familiar with Indiana rules.

Search Adams County Marriage License Records Online

The Indiana Courts system offers a free public search tool that covers marriage records from all 92 counties, including Adams County. The Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL lets you search by name and see results going back to 1993. This is useful if you need to confirm a license was issued, look up a record date, or find basic information about a marriage that occurred in Adams County.

For older Adams County marriage records predating 1993, the Indiana State Library keeps historical vital records. The Indiana State Library digital archives include marriage records from the 1800s through portions of the 20th century. These can help with genealogy research on Adams County families. Records from 1958 through 2018 are also available through the state library's legacy collection.

Getting Certified Copies of Adams County Marriage Records

After your marriage is recorded in Adams County, you can get certified copies from two places. The first is the Adams County Clerk office in Decatur. Certified copies cost $4.00 each and can be ordered in person. Call the clerk at (260) 724-5309 to ask about mail-in or phone order options if you cannot come in person.

The second option is the Indiana State Department of Health through ISDH Vital Records at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages. The state charges $8.00 for the first certified copy and $4.00 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. ISDH has marriage records for Indiana going back several decades. You can also order through VitalChek, the state's authorized third-party partner, which adds a service fee but offers online ordering and faster processing in many cases.

Cities in Adams County

All cities and towns in Adams County file marriage licenses at the Adams County Clerk office in Decatur. Decatur is the county seat and location of the courthouse. No individual city pages exist for Adams County communities, as none exceed the population threshold for a dedicated page. Residents of Berne, Geneva, Monroe, and all other towns in Adams County apply at the same clerk office at 112 S 2nd St, Decatur.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Adams County. Each has its own clerk office for marriage license applications. If you live near a county line, confirm which county you reside in before applying.