Fulton County Marriage License Records

Fulton County marriage license records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Rochester. Dawn Ziemek serves as the Fulton County Clerk and handles all marriage license applications, certified copy requests, and public record inquiries. This page walks you through the application process, required documents, current fees, and how to search Fulton County marriage licenses online using the state's free public tool.

Fulton County Clerk of Courts in Rochester

Dawn Ziemek is the Fulton County Clerk of Courts. Her office is at 815 Main Street in Rochester, the county seat of Fulton County. The Rochester courthouse is where couples apply for a Fulton County marriage license. Both applicants must appear together under IC 31-11-4-3. You cannot send one person to fill out the paperwork while the other waits at home. Both have to be there in person at the same time to complete the application.

Fulton County is a rural county in north-central Indiana, home to Maxinkuckee Lake and a number of small communities. Rochester is the largest city in the county and the only place to apply for a marriage license in Fulton County. The clerk's office is open standard weekday hours and can help you with any questions about the process. Call (574) 223-2911 or check the office website at co.fulton.in.us/210/Clerk-of-Courts before your visit.

The Indiana Courts pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage is a good way to enter your information before your trip to Rochester. Filling it out in advance speeds up your time at the counter. It does not replace the in-person requirement, but it makes the visit go faster for both applicants.

Fulton County Clerk Website

The screenshot below shows the Fulton County Clerk of Courts website, where you can find current information about marriage license applications in Rochester, Indiana.

Check co.fulton.in.us/210/Clerk-of-Courts for the latest office hours, contact details, and any updates to Fulton County marriage license procedures before your visit to Rochester.

What to Bring to the Fulton County Clerk

Both applicants need valid photo ID at the time of their visit to the Rochester courthouse. A driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or birth certificate with photo ID all qualify. The clerk also needs a Social Security number from each person. Bring a document that confirms it if you are not certain you have it memorized, though in many cases the clerk will accept it if you can state the number accurately.

Prior marriages must be documented. If either applicant was previously married and divorced, bring the certified divorce decree from that court. If a former spouse died, bring the certified death certificate. Under IC 31-11-1-4, both applicants must be at least 18. If either person is 16 or 17, a juvenile court order granting approval to marry and full emancipation is required. The Fulton County Clerk will ask to see this before issuing any license to a minor applicant.

The application form also asks for parent information for each applicant: full name, last known address, and state or country of birth. Gather this before your visit. If any documents are not in English, have them translated and notarized. The clerk in Rochester cannot process foreign-language documents without a certified English translation attached.

Note: Call the Fulton County Clerk at (574) 223-2911 before your visit to confirm any county-specific requirements, as local policies can vary from one Indiana county to the next.

Fulton County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for a Fulton County marriage license. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. Some Indiana counties add a $4.00 document fee on top of the base fee, so call the Rochester office before you go to confirm the exact amount. Most clerk offices prefer cash, so bring the right amount. If you need a receipt, ask the clerk when you pay.

Certified copies of a Fulton County marriage license cost $4.00 each. You can order them the day you apply or return after the ceremony once the signed license has been recorded. Getting multiple copies in one visit saves time. You may need a certified copy for a Social Security name change, Indiana BMV update, employer benefits, or bank accounts. Each certified copy is an official document with the clerk's seal or stamp.

The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ provides a state Record of Marriage for $8.00, but that is an index record and not a certified copy of the Fulton County license. For the certified license copy, contact the Clerk of Courts in Rochester. VitalChek at vitalchek.com processes Indiana vital record orders online with a service fee if you prefer not to visit the courthouse.

Search Fulton County Marriage Licenses Online

The Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL lets you search Fulton County marriage records from 1993 to the present for free. Enter at least one last name to get started. You can filter by county and year range to narrow down your results. The tool is open to anyone and requires no login or fee.

Search results show basic license information: names, date issued, and county. This is not a certified copy. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, contact the Fulton County Clerk in Rochester. The database is useful for confirming a record, checking dates, or locating a license number before making a formal request to the clerk's office.

For older Fulton County marriage records, the Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ has two free genealogy databases. One covers records through 1850, and the other covers 1958 through 2018. These are free, open to the public, and useful for family history research or for records that fall before the court database coverage period.

Indiana Marriage Law in Fulton County

A Fulton County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, under IC 31-11-4-10. Indiana does not require a waiting period. You can marry on the same day you pick up your license from the Rochester courthouse. If 60 days pass without a ceremony, the license is no longer valid and you must apply again.

Under IC 31-11-4-11, the Fulton County Clerk cannot issue a license if either applicant appears impaired by alcohol or drugs, has been adjudicated incompetent, or if the parties are related closer than second cousins. Providing false information on the application is a Level 6 felony under IC 31-11-11-1.

The Fulton County Clerk is required by IC 31-11-4-18 to maintain indexed, publicly accessible records of all marriages in the county. Certified copies are available for $4.00 each from the Rochester office. Ceremonies may be performed by officiants authorized under IC 31-11-6-1, including judges, clergy, and others designated by Indiana law. After the ceremony, the signed license is returned to the Fulton County Clerk and entered into the public record.

Cities in Fulton County

All Fulton County residents apply for marriage licenses at the Clerk of Courts in Rochester. Rochester is the county seat and the only office in Fulton County that handles marriage licenses. No cities in Fulton County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. Residents of Rochester, Akron, Kewanna, and other communities in the county all use the same Main Street courthouse office.

Nearby Counties

Fulton County is in north-central Indiana. Apply in the county where you reside. If your wedding will take place in Fulton County but you live elsewhere in Indiana, apply where you live. Out-of-state residents may apply in Fulton County if the ceremony will be held here.