Search Marriage Licenses in Henry County

Henry County marriage licenses are issued at the Clerk's Office in New Castle, Indiana. This page covers how to apply for a Henry County marriage license, what documents you need to bring, the fees involved, and how to search or request copies of existing records.

Henry County Clerk's Office

The Henry County Clerk's Office handles marriage license applications for all couples in New Castle and throughout the county. The main office is at 1215 Race Street, Suite 120, New Castle, IN 47362. A secondary location at the Courthouse, 101 S Main Street in New Castle, also serves county residents. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Both applicants must be present at the time of application.

Henry County's clerk's office handles more than just marriage licenses. They also process court filings, small claims cases, voter registration, and passport applications. For marriage license questions specifically, call (765) 529-6401. The fax number is (765) 521-7046 if you need to send documents ahead of time. The clerk's website at henrycounty.in.gov/169/Marriage-License has the most current information on fees, required documents, and procedures.

Henry County Marriage License Requirements

Henry County has some specific identification requirements that go beyond what many other Indiana counties list. The county requires that both applicants be able to speak, read, and write English. If this is a barrier, the office can arrange for a translator by appointment. Call ahead if this applies to you so the clerk can have someone available when you arrive.

Both parties must bring certified copies of their birth certificates in English. A valid driver's license with the correct current address can be used in place of a birth certificate. If you have a driver's license but your address on it does not match where you live now, you may need your birth certificate as well. Foreign nationals need a passport, a visa, and a birth certificate, all translated into English. This is stricter than many counties, so if either applicant was born outside the United States, prepare those documents well in advance of your appointment.

If either applicant has been married before, a certified copy of the last divorce decree is required. This is the court document that ended the prior marriage. A plain copy will not do. It must be certified. Under IC 31-11-4-1, Indiana law requires that no prior marriage be in effect when a new one is entered. The clerk enforces this by reviewing the divorce decree or death certificate. Both applicants must be at least 18 under IC 31-11-1-4. Those aged 16 or 17 need parental consent. Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-3 requires both applicants to appear together in person.

Note: Henry County's requirement for certified birth certificates is more strict than most Indiana counties. Do not assume your driver's license alone will be enough if it has an old address on it.

Henry County Marriage License Fees

The Indiana courts pre-application portal at courts.in.gov/marriage provides step-by-step application guidance that applies to Henry County couples.

The image above shows the Indiana Judicial Branch marriage license information page that all Indiana counties, including Henry County, use for the online pre-application process.

The fee for a Henry County marriage license is $25.00 for Indiana residents. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. Certified copies cost $4.00 each. The clerk accepts cash, money order, or credit card. A 3% convenience fee applies to credit card payments, with a $2.00 minimum charge. If you prefer to avoid the card fee, bring cash or a money order for the exact amount.

Mail requests are accepted for certified copies of Henry County marriage records. To request by mail, include the names of both parties, the date of marriage, and a check or money order made payable to the Henry County Clerk. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Allow additional time for processing when mailing rather than picking up in person.

Search Henry County Marriage Records

The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is a free tool for searching marriage records from 1993 onward. Henry County records are included in this database. You can search by first and last name to find license information, including the county of issue and date. The lookup is available at no cost and does not require registration.

The database search tool shown above covers all Indiana counties. For Henry County records, enter the name of either party and the search will return any matching records from 1993 forward.

For older records, the Indiana State Library's digital archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy may have historical Henry County marriage records that predate the online database. You can also contact the Henry County Clerk's Office directly for records outside the digital range. The Indiana State Department of Health maintains vital records statewide at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages. VitalChek at vitalchek.com/v/vital-records/indiana provides online ordering for certified copies, with a service fee added on top of the standard record fee.

After Getting Your Henry County Marriage License

Once issued, a Henry County marriage license is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. There is no waiting period in Indiana, so you can get married the same day the license is issued. The person who performs your ceremony must sign the license and return it to the Henry County Clerk's Office within 30 days of the wedding, as required by IC 31-11-4-11.

The officiant must be authorized under Indiana law. IC 31-11-6-1 covers who may perform a marriage. This includes judges, magistrates, and ordained ministers. If you want a friend or family member to officiate, they should get ordained through a legally recognized organization before the ceremony. Indiana courts generally accept online ordinations from major organizations, but you may want to confirm with the Henry County Clerk's Office if you have questions about a specific organization.

After the signed license is returned, the Henry County Clerk's Office records it as a completed marriage. Certified copies are then available upon request. These copies are needed for name changes with the Social Security Administration, the BMV, financial institutions, and other agencies. Under IC 31-11-11-1, the completed marriage record is a public document. Anyone may request access to it through the Henry County Clerk's Office.

Cities in Henry County

Henry County includes New Castle, Knightstown, Middletown, Spiceland, and other communities. All marriage license applications in Henry County are processed at the clerk's office in New Castle. No cities in Henry County meet the 25,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site, but the clerk's office serves all residents equally.

Nearby Counties

Henry County sits in east-central Indiana. The counties listed below share borders with Henry County. Each has its own clerk's office for marriage license applications.