Find Marriage License Records in Jackson County

Jackson County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk's Office in Brownstown, Indiana. Whether you are applying for a new license or looking up an existing record, this page covers the Jackson County process, what you need to bring, and the search tools available for Indiana marriage records.

Jackson County Clerk's Office

The Jackson County Clerk's Office is the place to go for marriage licenses in this county. The office is at 111 S Main Street, Brownstown, IN 47220. The clerk handles marriage license applications, election administration, court records, and other county services. For questions specific to marriage licenses, call (812) 358-6117. For election and voting matters, the number is (812) 358-6120. The county website at jacksoncounty.in.gov provides additional information.

Office hours in Jackson County run from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The office is closed for lunch from noon to 12:30 PM. It is also closed on federal holidays. If you plan to come in, try to arrive well before the lunch break or after it ends. Both applicants must be present at the same time, so coordinate your schedules before your trip to the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown.

Jackson County has a residency requirement that sets it apart from many Indiana counties. At least one applicant must be a resident of Jackson County to qualify for the resident fee rate. If neither person lives in Jackson County, you can still apply there but will pay the out-of-county rate.

Applying for a Jackson County Marriage License

Both applicants must appear in person together at the Jackson County Clerk's Office. This requirement comes from Indiana Code IC 31-11-4-3, which applies statewide. No exceptions are made for distance, work schedules, or other personal factors. Plan your trip so both people can arrive together during regular office hours in Brownstown.

Before your visit, complete the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage. This Indiana Judicial Branch tool lets you enter your information ahead of time. The clerk will review your pre-application data along with your physical documents when you arrive. Using the pre-application tool can reduce the time you spend at the window and helps avoid errors on the day of your appointment.

Jackson County clerk staff will check your identification, verify your ages and prior marriage status, collect the fee, and issue the license. There is no waiting period in Indiana, so you can marry the same day you receive the Jackson County marriage license. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, as set out in IC 31-11-4-10. If your ceremony is more than 60 days away, wait to apply until you are closer to the date.

Note: The Jackson County Clerk's Office is closed during the noon hour. Avoid arriving between 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM or you will have to wait outside until the office reopens.

What to Bring to Jackson County

Jackson County accepts a certified birth certificate or a valid operator's license or state ID as your primary identification. Your ID must show your date of birth and current address. If your driver's license has an old address on it, bring your birth certificate as a backup. The clerk needs to confirm both your identity and your current place of residence to determine whether the resident or out-of-county fee applies to your application.

The age requirement in Jackson County follows Indiana state law. Both applicants must be 18 or older under IC 31-11-1-4. If either person is younger than 18, call the clerk at (812) 358-6117 before coming in. The clerk can explain what additional steps or documents are needed for underage applicants. Under Indiana law, parental consent is required for those aged 16 or 17.

If either applicant was previously married, you must provide information about how and when that prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is the best documentation to bring. Under IC 31-11-4-1, Indiana requires confirmation that no prior marriage is still in effect before a new one can be entered. Under IC 31-11-4-18, both applicants must affirm there is no legal reason they cannot marry.

Jackson County Marriage License Fees

Jackson County residents pay $25.00 for a marriage license. Couples where neither applicant lives in Indiana pay $65.00. The county uses the term "in-county residents" and "out-of-county residents," and at least one person must live in Jackson County to qualify for the lower rate. Certified copies of the marriage record cost $4.00 each. Check with the office about accepted payment methods before your visit, since not all clerks accept every form of payment.

The Jackson County Clerk's website provides additional guidance and may list updated fee schedules. Visit jacksoncounty.in.gov or call (812) 358-6117 to confirm the current fees. It is always smart to call ahead, particularly if fees have been updated since this page was last reviewed.

Search Jackson County Marriage Records

The Jackson County Clerk's Office has a searchable presence through the Indiana courts system. The image below was captured from the Jackson County clerk's website, which provides local contact details and links to marriage license services.

The Jackson County Clerk's website shown above is the official source for local marriage license information including contact details, office hours, and applicable fees for Jackson County residents and non-residents.

For statewide marriage record searches, use the Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This free tool covers all Indiana counties including Jackson County, with records from 1993 to the present. Search by name and the results will show the date and county of issue. For records before 1993, contact the Jackson County Clerk's Office directly. The Indiana State Library's digital archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy may also have older marriage records that have been digitized over time. Certified copies can be requested in person at 111 S Main Street in Brownstown or through VitalChek with an added service fee.

After Your Jackson County License Is Issued

The officiant who performs your ceremony must return the signed Jackson County marriage license to the clerk's office within 30 days of the wedding. This is required under IC 31-11-4-11. The couple does not file the license. That is the officiant's responsibility. Remind your officiant before and after the ceremony. If the license is not returned on time, follow up with the Jackson County Clerk's Office to confirm the record was filed.

Officiants in Jackson County must be legally authorized under Indiana law. IC 31-11-6-1 covers who may perform marriages in Indiana, including judges, magistrates, and ordained ministers. Once the signed license is returned and recorded, the Jackson County marriage license becomes a permanent public record. Certified copies are available from the clerk's office. The record is also reported to the Indiana State Department of Health for inclusion in statewide vital records at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages.

Cities in Jackson County

Jackson County includes the communities of Brownstown, Seymour, Crothersville, and Medora. All marriage license applications for residents of Jackson County go through the Clerk's Office at 111 S Main Street in Brownstown. No cities in Jackson County meet the 25,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Jackson County is located in south-central Indiana. The following counties border Jackson County. Each has its own clerk's office and marriage license process.