Marriage License Records in Howard County

Howard County marriage licenses are issued at the Clerk of the Courts office at the Kokomo courthouse. If you are applying for a marriage license or need to look up an existing record in Howard County, Indiana, this page outlines the steps, the required documents, the fees, and the search tools available to you.

Howard County Clerk of the Courts

The Howard County Clerk of the Courts issues all marriage licenses for the county. The main courthouse is located at the intersection of Main and Sycamore in Kokomo. The mailing address is 104 N Buckeye St, PO Box 9004, Kokomo, IN 46904. The office handles marriage licenses in addition to court records, elections, and child support collection. Call (765) 456-2204 with any questions before your visit.

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Both applicants must appear together to apply for a Howard County marriage license. Indiana law does not allow one person to apply on behalf of the other. The clerk's staff will verify identities, collect the fee, and issue the license at the time of your visit. Howard County couples can often receive the license the same day as their ceremony, since Indiana has no waiting period under state law.

Applying for a Howard County Marriage License

Before your visit to the Howard County Clerk's Office, complete the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage. This Indiana Judicial Branch portal walks you through the information the clerk will need. Completing it ahead of time can shorten your wait at the office. You will enter both applicants' names, addresses, Social Security Numbers, dates of birth, and prior marriage history if applicable.

Under IC 31-11-4-3, both applicants must appear in person together. Neither person can submit their part separately or send a representative. When you both show up at the Howard County Clerk's Office, bring your valid IDs. Driver's licenses, state-issued IDs, and passports are all accepted. The clerk will also ask for your Social Security Number. You do not need to bring the card, but you do need to know the number.

Once the clerk verifies everything and collects the fee, the license is issued. You can marry the same day. There is no waiting period in Indiana. The Howard County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the issue date under IC 31-11-4-10. Plan your ceremony within that window, or you will need to apply again.

Note: If you have been married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate so the clerk can confirm the prior marriage ended legally before issuing a new Howard County marriage license.

What Howard County Requires

Howard County follows Indiana's statewide requirements for marriage license applicants. Both parties must be 18 or older under IC 31-11-1-4. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need parental consent to marry in Indiana. Anyone under 16 cannot legally marry in the state regardless of consent. Howard County clerks will check proof of age as part of the application review.

Valid photo identification is required for both applicants. Options include a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. A birth certificate combined with a photo ID is also acceptable in Howard County if you lack a standard photo ID. The key requirement is that your identity, date of birth, and legal name can be verified from your documents. If your name has changed since your ID was issued, bring additional documentation that shows the legal name change, such as a previous marriage certificate or court order.

Indiana also requires proof of your date of birth. This is typically shown through the same ID you use for identity verification. Social Security Number disclosure is required under IC 31-11-4-1 as part of the application. Under IC 31-11-4-18, both applicants must affirm there is no legal reason they cannot marry. The clerk will record both affirmations at the time of application.

Howard County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for a Howard County marriage license. Non-Indiana residents pay $65.00. The resident rate applies when at least one applicant lives in Indiana. If neither person lives in Indiana, the $65.00 rate applies. Payment is collected at the time of application. Confirm accepted payment methods with the Howard County Clerk's Office at (765) 456-2204 before your visit.

Certified copies of the marriage license are available from the Howard County Clerk's Office. These copies are often needed for name change requests, benefit updates, and legal documents. Getting a certified copy at the time you pick up the license is the most efficient approach. You will save a return trip later. Most government agencies and institutions that ask for a marriage record require a certified copy, not a plain photocopy.

Online orders for Indiana vital records including Howard County marriage licenses can also be placed through VitalChek. A service fee applies to online orders. If cost is a concern, visiting the Howard County Clerk's Office in person and getting copies there will save the service charge. Processing times for mail and online orders are longer than picking up in person.

Search Howard County Marriage Records Online

Indiana provides a free public marriage license search at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This covers all Indiana counties including Howard County, with records available from 1993 to the present. You search by name and can find the county where the license was issued, the date, and the names of both parties. This is the fastest way to verify whether a Howard County marriage record exists for a specific person.

For Howard County marriage records before 1993, contact the clerk's office directly. The staff can search paper records by name and date. Historical records are also partially available through the Indiana State Library's digital archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy. The Indiana State Department of Health maintains statewide vital records at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages. Court records in Howard County can be searched through the Indiana MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov, which covers filings, cases, and related documents across all Indiana courts.

After Your Howard County Marriage License

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed Howard County marriage license to the clerk's office within 30 days. This is the law under IC 31-11-4-11. The couple does not file the license. That job belongs to the officiant. Make sure your officiant knows this before the ceremony. If the license is not returned, the marriage may not be formally recorded in the Howard County Clerk's files.

Officiants in Howard County must be legally authorized under IC 31-11-6-1. This includes judges, magistrates, and ordained ministers. If you are using a friend or family member as your officiant, they must hold a recognized ordination before the ceremony. Some couples have after-hours wedding officiants available for a fee. In Kokomo specifically, the City Clerk's office may have information on officiant referrals for Howard County ceremonies.

Once recorded, a Howard County marriage record is public under IC 31-11-11-1. Certified copies are available from the Howard County Clerk's Office in Kokomo. Bring a photo ID when you go to request a copy. The record is also transmitted to the Indiana State Department of Health for inclusion in statewide vital records.

Cities in Howard County

Howard County is anchored by Kokomo, the county seat and largest city. All marriage license applications for cities and towns in Howard County are handled at the Clerk's Office in Kokomo. Kokomo has its own dedicated page on this site.

Other communities in Howard County include Greentown, Russiaville, and Oakford. All of these file marriage license applications at the Howard County Clerk's Office in Kokomo.

Nearby Counties

Howard County is located in north-central Indiana. The surrounding counties each have their own clerk's office for marriage license applications.