Benton County Marriage License Records

Benton County marriage licenses are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk at the Benton County Courthouse in Fowler, Indiana. If you plan to apply for a marriage license in Benton County or need to look up an existing record, this page covers the clerk office details, required documents, fees, and how to search Benton County marriage records online.

Benton County Circuit Court Clerk

Jennifer Greenberg serves as the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Benton County. The office is on the third floor of the Benton County Courthouse on East 5th Street in Fowler. Holly Logsdon serves as Chief Deputy. The clerk office handles marriage license applications along with other court-related functions such as traffic fines, child support payments, and election records.

Benton County is a small, rural county in northwest Indiana. The clerk office is the sole place to get a marriage license in the county. Both applicants must come in together under IC 31-11-4-3. There is no online or mail-in option for picking up the actual license. The online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage can save time, but both people still need to appear in person at the Fowler courthouse to complete the process and receive the Benton County marriage license.

The office closes at 4:00 PM Monday through Friday and is closed on major holidays. If you need to reach the clerk before your visit, Jennifer Greenberg's direct email is jgreenberg@bentoncounty.in.gov and the deputy clerk can be reached at bcclerkstaff@bentoncounty.in.gov.

How to Apply for a Benton County Marriage License

Getting a marriage license in Benton County follows the standard Indiana process. Both applicants must go to the courthouse together. At least one of you must live in Benton County if you are Indiana residents applying for the resident rate. Out-of-state applicants who plan to have their ceremony in Benton County can also obtain a license from this office. If both of you live in Indiana but outside Benton County, you need to apply in your county of residence instead.

The Indiana Courts online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage lets you get a head start on the paperwork before your visit. Both people fill in their information separately through the online form. Do not pay online. The fee is collected in person at the Benton County Courthouse in Fowler. Once you have completed the online portion, go to the courthouse during business hours. The clerk will verify your information, check your IDs, and issue the marriage license. The whole process usually takes less than 30 minutes if your documents are in order.

Indiana has no waiting period for marriage licenses, so the license can be used the same day it is issued. Under IC 31-11-1-4, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants between 16 and 17 need a juvenile court order from a judge before the Benton County Clerk can issue a license.

Note: Benton County is a small office. If you have questions before your visit, email the clerk or call ahead to confirm hours and availability.

What to Bring to the Benton County Clerk

Every marriage license applicant in Benton County must bring their own valid ID and additional documents. The clerk cannot accept a license application without proper identification for both people. Here is what you need to have ready when you walk in:

• Valid photo ID: driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number for each applicant
• Date of birth documentation if not shown on your ID
• Divorce decree if you were previously married
• Death certificate if a prior spouse passed away
• $25.00 for Indiana residents or $65.00 for out-of-state applicants

Certified copies of your Benton County marriage license cost $4.00 each. You can request these after your ceremony is recorded. If you need copies for a name change, insurance, or other legal purposes, order them directly from the Benton County Clerk at 765-884-0930 or through the state via the Indiana State Department of Health.

Using Your Benton County Marriage License

Your Benton County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue per IC 31-11-4-10. You must hold your ceremony within that time. If the license expires before the ceremony, you must apply again and pay the fee once more. Indiana does not extend expired marriage licenses.

The good news is that your ceremony can take place anywhere in Indiana, not only in Benton County or Fowler. Once you marry, the person who officiates must sign the license and send it back to the Benton County Clerk within 60 days. Once recorded, the marriage becomes part of Benton County's official public records. You can request certified copies from the clerk office after that point. Under IC 31-11-6-1, marriages conducted under a valid Indiana license are legally recognized throughout the state.

Search Benton County Marriage License Records Online

The Indiana Courts public lookup tool at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is free and covers all 92 Indiana counties, including Benton County. Search by name to find marriage license records filed since 1993. This is helpful for confirming a license was issued or looking up record details without visiting the Fowler courthouse.

For Benton County marriages before 1993, the Indiana State Library's Legacy collection includes marriage records going back to the 1800s and through 2018. This is the best free resource for genealogy research involving Benton County families. Certified copies of any recorded Benton County marriage license can also be requested through VitalChek for an additional service fee.

Cities in Benton County

Benton County is one of Indiana's smaller counties. Fowler is the county seat and home to the courthouse. All residents of communities in Benton County, including Boswell, Earl Park, Otterbein, and Ambia, apply for marriage licenses at the clerk office in Fowler. No individual city pages exist for Benton County communities, as none exceed the qualifying population threshold.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Benton County in northwest Indiana. Each has its own clerk office where residents apply for marriage licenses.