Decatur County Marriage License Records

Decatur County marriage license records are kept at the Clerk's office in Greensburg. Both applicants must appear in person to apply, and the license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. Use the search tool below to look up Decatur County marriage licenses online, or read on for full details on fees, requirements, and how to get a copy of a license or certified record.

Decatur County Clerk's Office

The Decatur County Clerk in Greensburg handles all marriage license applications and records for the county. Janet Howell serves as the current clerk. This office is where you go to apply for a Decatur County marriage license, get a certified copy, or look up a past record. Staff can help you find what you need, whether it is a recent license or one from years back.

Under IC 31-11-4-1, every couple must apply for and be issued a marriage license before marrying in Indiana. The Decatur County Clerk is the office that handles this process locally. Both the person applying and their future spouse must come in together. The clerk checks your documents, collects the fee, and issues the license on the spot. You can marry as soon as the same day you get the license in Decatur County.

The Indiana Courts website at courts.in.gov/marriage lets you start a pre-application online before your in-person visit. This can save time at the counter. But both parties still have to show up in person to complete the process at the Decatur County Clerk's office.

The Decatur County Courthouse is at Courthouse Square in Greensburg. The clerk's suite is on the second floor. If you have questions before you visit, call the office at (812) 663-8223 during business hours. Staff can confirm current requirements or let you know if anything has changed since this was last updated.

The official Decatur County Clerk website is a good place to check for any local updates on procedures or documents needed. Local policies in Indiana can vary from county to county, so it is always worth a quick call or visit to the site before you make the trip.

Decatur County Clerk Online

The screenshot below shows the Decatur County Clerk's official website, where you can find current information about marriage license applications in Greensburg.

Visit decaturcounty.in.gov/clerk/ for official hours, contact details, and any updates to local marriage license procedures in Decatur County.

What You Need to Apply in Decatur County

Decatur County follows standard Indiana requirements for marriage licenses. Both applicants must show up together at the Courthouse Square office in Greensburg. Each person needs valid photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or birth certificate paired with photo ID all work. The clerk also asks for your Social Security number, though you usually do not need to bring the card itself.

If either person was married before, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. That means a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for a deceased spouse. Under IC 31-11-1-4, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants who are 16 or 17 years old need a juvenile court order to marry in Indiana. The clerk will check all documents before issuing the Decatur County marriage license.

If your documents are in a language other than English, have them translated and notarized before your visit. The clerk cannot accept foreign-language documents without a proper translation.

Note: Decatur County requires both applicants to appear in person on the same visit. You cannot apply on separate days or have one person come in without the other.

Marriage License Fees in Decatur County

The fee for a Decatur County marriage license is $25.00 for Indiana residents. If neither applicant lives in Indiana, the fee is $65.00. Most county offices require payment in cash, so bring exact change or small bills. Call the Decatur County Clerk at (812) 663-8223 to confirm accepted payment methods before you go.

Certified copies of a Decatur County marriage license cost $4.00 each. You may order additional copies at the time you apply or come back later to request them. Keep in mind that the state-level option through the Indiana State Department of Health costs $8.00 for a first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. For most purposes, the certified copy from the Decatur County Clerk is what you will need, since ISDH vital records only keeps indexes, not certified copies of the actual license.

Out-of-state residents who plan to marry in Decatur County should be ready to pay the $65.00 fee. Under IC 31-11-4-3, non-residents can apply for their license in the Indiana county where the wedding will take place.

License Validity and Record Search

A Decatur County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date the clerk issues it. This is set by IC 31-11-4-10. If you do not marry within those 60 days, the license expires and you have to apply for a new one. There is no waiting period in Indiana. You can marry on the same day you get your license at the Decatur County Clerk's office.

To look up a Decatur County marriage license online, use the free Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This database covers licenses issued from 1993 to the present across all Indiana counties. Search by one or both applicants' last names, filter by county, and narrow results by year range. The search tool gives you basic license information but not a certified copy. For a certified copy, contact the Decatur County Clerk directly.

The Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ has marriage records through 1850 and from 1958 onward. These databases are free and open to the public. They are useful for genealogy research or finding older Decatur County marriage records that predate the online court database.

Note: The online court database covers 1993 forward. For Decatur County records before that date, contact the clerk's office or use the State Library databases.

Indiana Marriage Laws That Apply in Decatur County

Several Indiana Code sections shape how marriage licenses work in Decatur County. Under IC 31-11-4-18, the Decatur County Clerk must keep records of all marriages. These records can be paper or electronic, and they must be indexed so the public can find them. The clerk cannot refuse a public records request for a marriage license without a legal reason to do so.

Under IC 31-11-4-11, the clerk may not issue a Decatur County marriage license if either applicant appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, has been judged mentally incompetent, or if the parties are more closely related than second cousins. Providing false information on a marriage license application is a Level 6 felony under IC 31-11-11-1. Give accurate information when you apply.

Indiana requires no blood test and no waiting period. This makes the process in Decatur County faster than in many other states. Once the license is issued, an authorized officiant can perform the ceremony right away. Under IC 31-11-6-1, those authorized to perform ceremonies in Indiana include judges, clergy, and other persons authorized by law.

Getting Certified Copies of Decatur County Records

After a Decatur County marriage ceremony takes place, the officiant returns the signed license to the Clerk's office. The clerk then records it and can issue certified copies. You can get certified copies in person at the Decatur County Courthouse in Greensburg. Bring a valid photo ID when you come to request copies.

For mail-in requests or online ordering, VitalChek is the authorized partner for Indiana vital records. Visit vitalchek.com to order a certified copy of a Decatur County marriage record. VitalChek adds a service fee on top of the standard copy fee. Processing times vary, so order early if you need the record for a legal matter.

The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ can also provide a Record of Marriage. The state fee is $8.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Note that the state only keeps indexes since 1958. For the actual certified marriage license, the Decatur County Clerk is your primary source.

Cities in Decatur County

All Decatur County residents apply for marriage licenses at the Clerk's office in Greensburg, regardless of which city or town they live in. Greensburg is the county seat and the location of the Decatur County Courthouse where the Clerk is located. No qualifying cities in Decatur County have separate city-level pages, but residents of Greensburg, Westport, and other towns in the county all use the same courthouse office.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Decatur County. If you live near a county line, check with the clerk in the county where you actually reside, since that is where you need to apply under Indiana law.