Elkhart County Marriage License Records

Elkhart County marriage license records are filed with the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Goshen. Both applicants must appear in person to complete the application. This page covers the office contact information, what you need to bring, the fees, and how to search Elkhart County marriage license records using the state's free online lookup tool.

Elkhart County Clerk of Courts

The Elkhart County Clerk of Courts is at 101 N Main Street in Goshen, the county seat. This office issues all marriage licenses for Elkhart County and keeps the official record of every license after the ceremony takes place. Goshen is in the center of Elkhart County, making it accessible from the city of Elkhart, Nappanee, Middlebury, and other communities throughout the county.

Elkhart County has slightly different hours on Mondays. The office is open until 5:00 PM on Mondays, giving couples with daytime commitments an extra window to apply. Tuesday through Friday, the office closes at 4:00 PM. Under IC 31-11-4-3, both applicants must appear together at the Goshen office. Indiana no longer allows you to apply separately on different days, so make sure both parties can come in at the same time.

The Indiana Courts pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage is an option worth considering before your visit to the Elkhart County Clerk. Entering your data online first can cut down your wait time at the counter in Goshen. The pre-application does not issue a license. You still have to show up in person to finalize everything.

The Elkhart County Clerk has a dedicated website at clerk.elkhartcounty.com. Check there for any updates to procedures, office closures, or changes to marriage license hours before your trip to Goshen.

Elkhart County Clerk Website

The screenshot below was taken from the Elkhart County Clerk's official website, which has current information about marriage licenses and office services in Goshen.

Visit clerk.elkhartcounty.com to view current hours, contact the Goshen office, and confirm what documents to bring for your Elkhart County marriage license application.

Requirements for an Elkhart County Marriage License

Both applicants need valid photo ID when visiting the Elkhart County Clerk in Goshen. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or birth certificate with another form of photo ID are all accepted. Each applicant also needs to provide their Social Security number. Under IC 31-11-1-4, both must be at least 18 years old. Younger applicants between 16 and 17 need a juvenile court order that grants approval to marry and fully emancipates the individual.

If either applicant was previously married, bring documentation of how that marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or a certified death certificate for a deceased spouse works. Some Elkhart County applicants bring copies, but the clerk may need to see certified originals to verify the information. Call the Goshen office to confirm what form of prior marriage documentation they accept before your visit.

The application also asks for genealogical information for both parents of each applicant. This includes full name, last known address, and state or country of birth. Have this ready before your appointment. If any documents are in a language other than English, have them translated and notarized before coming to the Elkhart County Courthouse.

Note: Because local policies vary, calling the Elkhart County Clerk ahead of your visit is always a good idea, even if you feel confident about the requirements.

Elkhart County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for an Elkhart County marriage license. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. Bring the exact amount in cash, as most Indiana county offices do not accept credit or debit cards. Confirm payment method with the clerk's office when you call or check the website before your visit. A $4.00 document fee may also apply in some cases, so have a little extra on hand.

Certified copies of the Elkhart County marriage license cost $4.00 each. Once the officiant returns the signed license to the Goshen courthouse, the clerk records the marriage and can issue certified copies. Order as many as you think you will need. They are useful for name changes at the Social Security Administration, the BMV, your bank, and other agencies that require proof of marriage. Getting all copies in one trip to Goshen is the most efficient approach.

The state offers a Record of Marriage through ISDH vital records for $8.00. However, that is an index record and not the same as a certified copy of the Elkhart County marriage license. For most legal purposes, you need the certified copy from the Elkhart County Clerk. VitalChek at vitalchek.com processes Indiana vital record orders online if you prefer not to visit in person.

Search Elkhart County Marriage Licenses Online

The free Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers all Indiana counties, including Elkhart, from 1993 to the present. Search by entering at least one last name. You can filter results to Elkhart County only and narrow by year range. The tool is free and open to anyone. It shows basic license information, not certified copies.

This database is the same one referenced by the state's public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records/. It covers a large number of Elkhart County marriages and is a useful first step before contacting the Goshen clerk. You can use it to verify that a record exists, find a license date, or look up names without needing to visit the courthouse.

For Elkhart County marriage records before 1993, the Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ has free databases covering marriages through 1850 and from 1958 to 2018. These are especially helpful for genealogical research or tracking older family records in Elkhart County.

Indiana Law and Marriage Licenses in Elkhart County

An Elkhart County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, under IC 31-11-4-10. There is no waiting period in Indiana. You can hold your ceremony the same day you receive your license from the Goshen courthouse. If 60 days pass without a ceremony, the license expires and you must apply again.

Under IC 31-11-4-11, the Elkhart County Clerk cannot issue a license if either applicant is visibly impaired by drugs or alcohol, has been adjudicated incompetent, or if the couple is more closely related than second cousins. Providing false information on the marriage license application is a Level 6 felony under IC 31-11-11-1.

Under IC 31-11-4-18, the Elkhart County Clerk must maintain indexed records of all marriages. These are public records. Certified copies are available for $4.00 each. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the clerk's office in Goshen. The clerk enters the record and makes it available for certified copy requests. Under IC 31-11-6-1, authorized officiants in Indiana include judges, clergy, and others allowed by law.

Cities in Elkhart County

Elkhart County has two qualifying cities. Residents of Elkhart and Goshen apply for marriage licenses at the Clerk of Courts office in Goshen. Residents of Nappanee, Middlebury, and other communities in Elkhart County also use the same Goshen courthouse office.

Nearby Counties

Elkhart County is in northern Indiana. If you live near a county line, apply in the county where you actually reside. Out-of-state residents whose wedding will be in Elkhart County may apply at the Goshen courthouse under Indiana law.