Access Hancock County Marriage License Records

Hancock County marriage license records are kept by the Clerk's office in Greenfield, Indiana. Lisa Eberhardt Lofgreen serves as the Hancock County Clerk and manages all marriage license applications and certified copy requests. This page covers the full process for applying for a Hancock County marriage license, including what to bring, the fees, and how to look up marriage license records online through Indiana's free public database.

Hancock County Clerk's Office in Greenfield

Lisa Eberhardt Lofgreen is the Hancock County Clerk. Her office is at 9 East Main Street, Room 213, in Greenfield. Greenfield is the county seat and the location of the Hancock County Courthouse, which sits along the US 40 corridor east of Indianapolis. This office handles all marriage license applications, records completed marriages, and issues certified copies to anyone who requests them.

Hancock County is a growing suburban county east of Marion County and Indianapolis. Its proximity to the city means many residents commute to Indianapolis but live in communities like McCordsville, New Palestine, and Fortville in addition to Greenfield itself. All of these residents apply for their Hancock County marriage license at the courthouse in Greenfield. Under IC 31-11-4-3, both applicants must appear together at the same time.

Call the Hancock County Clerk at (317) 477-1109 before your visit to confirm any current requirements or local procedures. The official website at hancockin.gov/183/Marriage-License also has details on the application process and what to bring. The Indiana Courts pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage can help you enter your information in advance to speed up your visit to the Greenfield courthouse.

Hancock County Marriage License Page

The Hancock County government website has a dedicated marriage license page with current information about applying in Greenfield. The screenshot below was captured from that page.

Visit hancockin.gov/183/Marriage-License for the latest information about Hancock County marriage license requirements, fees, and office hours before your trip to the Greenfield courthouse.

Hancock County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must come to the Greenfield courthouse at the same time with valid photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, or birth certificate paired with photo ID all work. Each person must provide their Social Security number. You do not need to bring the physical card in most cases, but you should know the number. If either applicant has been married before, bring the certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate for a deceased spouse.

Under IC 31-11-1-4, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Anyone between 16 and 17 needs a juvenile court order granting approval to marry and full emancipation. The Hancock County Clerk will verify this before issuing any license to a minor applicant. It is not something you can skip or work around, so have the court documentation ready if it applies to your situation.

The marriage license application also requests genealogical information for both parents of each applicant: full name, last known address, and state or country of birth. This is standard for Indiana marriage license applications. If your documents are in a foreign language, bring a certified English translation and a notarized copy. The clerk cannot process non-English documents without these translations. Preparing everything before your visit makes the process at the Room 213 counter much smoother.

Note: Because Hancock County is a growing suburban county, the clerk's office can be busy. Arriving early in the morning and having all documents ready reduces your wait time.

Hancock County Marriage License Fees

Hancock County charges $29.00 for Indiana residents, which includes one certified copy of the marriage license. Out-of-state residents pay $69.00, which also includes one certified copy. The Hancock County fee is slightly higher than the standard state base of $25.00 and $65.00. This reflects a local fee schedule that includes the first certified copy in the overall price. Confirm the exact total by calling the Greenfield office at (317) 477-1109 before your visit.

Additional certified copies of the Hancock County marriage license cost $4.00 each. If you need more than the one included with your license fee, request them at the time of application or after the ceremony when you return the signed license to the clerk. Common needs include a Social Security Administration name change, Indiana BMV update, employer or insurance records, and bank name changes. Getting extra copies while you are already at the courthouse is more efficient than making a return trip to Greenfield.

The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ offers a state Record of Marriage for $8.00, but that is an index record and not the same as the certified Hancock County marriage license. For the actual certified document, go to the clerk's office in Greenfield. VitalChek at vitalchek.com also processes Indiana vital record requests online with a service fee.

Search Hancock County Marriage Licenses Online

The Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is free and covers all Indiana counties, including Hancock County, from 1993 through the present. Enter at least one last name to search. Filter by Hancock County and year range to narrow results. No login or fee is required. The tool shows basic license data and is not a certified copy service.

This is the right starting point for confirming that a Hancock County marriage license exists, finding a date, or locating names before making a certified copy request to the Greenfield clerk. For records before 1993, contact the clerk directly. The Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ has free genealogy databases covering Indiana marriages through 1850 and from 1958 through 2018, which include Hancock County records.

Indiana Marriage Laws in Hancock County

A Hancock County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, under IC 31-11-4-10. Indiana has no waiting period. You can marry on the same day you pick up your license from the Greenfield courthouse. If the license expires before the ceremony, you must apply again and pay the fee. There are no grace periods or extensions.

Under IC 31-11-4-11, the Hancock County Clerk cannot issue a marriage license if either applicant appears impaired by alcohol or drugs, has been adjudicated mentally incompetent, or if the parties are related closer than second cousins. Giving false information on the application is a Level 6 felony under IC 31-11-11-1. Always give accurate information to the clerk in Greenfield.

The Hancock County Clerk is required by IC 31-11-4-18 to maintain indexed, publicly accessible records of all marriages. Certified copies cost $4.00 each (one is included with the Hancock County license fee). Ceremonies in Hancock County may be performed by officiants authorized under IC 31-11-6-1, which includes judges, clergy, and others authorized by Indiana law. After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the Greenfield courthouse to complete the public record.

Cities in Hancock County

All Hancock County residents apply for marriage licenses at the Clerk's office in Greenfield, regardless of which city or town they live in. Greenfield is the county seat. No cities in Hancock County meet the population threshold for a separate city page. Residents of Greenfield, McCordsville, New Palestine, Fortville, and other communities in Hancock County all use the Main Street courthouse office.

Nearby Counties

Hancock County is east of Indianapolis in central Indiana. If you live near a county line, apply at the clerk's office in the county where you reside. That is where Indiana law requires you to apply for your marriage license.