Marriage License Records in Jennings County

Jennings County marriage licenses are issued by Clerk Amy G. Thompson at the courthouse in Vernon, Indiana. Whether you need to apply for a new marriage license or locate an existing record, this page covers the Jennings County process, required documents, applicable fees, and online search tools available for Indiana marriage records.

Jennings County Clerk's Office

Amy G. Thompson is the Clerk for Jennings County. Her office is at 200 East Brown Street, Vernon, IN 47282. The mailing address is P.O. Box 385, Vernon, IN 47282. You can reach the office by phone at (812) 352-3070 or by fax at (812) 352-3076. The county website at jenningscounty-in.gov/clerk-home has additional information about the clerk's services and current office hours.

The Jennings County Clerk handles a wide range of government functions. Marriage license applications, passports, small claims filings, protective orders, divorce filings, voter registration, and child support payments all run through this single office. Because the office handles so many things, it can get busy at different times of year. Calling ahead to ask about the best time to come in for a marriage license is always a good idea. Standard hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Vernon is a small county seat, so the courthouse setting is more personal than what you would find in a large urban county. Staff in the Jennings County Clerk's Office know the marriage license process well and can walk you through each step if you have questions. The office serves all communities in Jennings County for marriage license applications.

Applying for a Jennings County Marriage License

Indiana Code IC 31-11-4-3 requires both applicants to appear together in person. Jennings County follows this rule without exception. Neither person can apply alone or send a proxy. Schedule your visit so both of you can attend at the same time during regular office hours in Vernon.

You can speed up the process by completing the Indiana Judicial Branch's online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage before your visit. This tool lets you enter your information in advance so the clerk already has your data ready when you arrive. Using the pre-application is voluntary in Jennings County, but it does reduce the time you spend at the window. You still need to bring your original documents for verification, so do not leave them home just because you completed the form online.

Jennings County has a residency note worth knowing. At least one applicant must be a resident of Jennings County to qualify for the resident fee rate of $25.00. If neither person lives in Indiana, the fee is $65.00. Indiana has no waiting period, so the Jennings County marriage license can be used the same day it is issued. It remains valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10.

What Jennings County Requires

Both applicants must present valid identification at the Jennings County Clerk's Office in Vernon. A driver's license or state-issued ID is the most common option. A passport also works. The ID must show your legal name and date of birth clearly. The clerk will use your ID to verify your identity and confirm your age before issuing the Jennings County marriage license.

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old under IC 31-11-1-4. Those aged 16 or 17 need parental consent in Indiana. Anyone under 16 cannot marry in Indiana under any circumstances. The Jennings County Clerk will check your age from your ID when you apply. If there is a question about your age, additional documentation may be requested.

Social Security Numbers are required for both applicants as part of the Indiana marriage license application. You do not need to bring the card, but both people must know their numbers. If either applicant has been previously married, the date that prior marriage ended must be provided to the Jennings County Clerk. A certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is the appropriate documentation. Under IC 31-11-4-1, Indiana requires confirmation that no prior marriage is in effect. Under IC 31-11-4-18, both parties must affirm this before the license is issued.

Note: Jennings County applies the resident rate when at least one applicant lives in Jennings County. Out-of-county Indiana residents who want to marry in Jennings County should confirm which fee rate applies to their situation before their visit.

Jennings County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for a Jennings County marriage license. Out-of-state residents pay $65.00. Certified copies of the record are available for a separate fee, typically $4.00 per copy. Call (812) 352-3070 to confirm current fees and accepted payment methods before your visit. Some Indiana county clerks prefer cash or money orders, so knowing in advance will help you prepare.

The Indiana Judicial Branch courts portal at courts.in.gov/marriage guides couples through the pre-application steps that apply statewide, including in Jennings County.

The image above shows the Indiana courts marriage license information page, which outlines the pre-application process used by Jennings County and all other Indiana counties for marriage license applications.

Certified copies of Jennings County marriage records are available from the clerk's office in Vernon. These copies are officially sealed and carry legal weight. Most agencies, banks, and legal offices require certified copies, not plain photocopies. If you need a copy but cannot visit Vernon in person, VitalChek provides Indiana vital record orders online for an added service fee. Processing through VitalChek takes longer than visiting the office directly.

Search Jennings County Marriage Records Online

The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers all Indiana counties including Jennings County. Records from 1993 to the present are available. The search is free. Enter the name of either party, and the system returns matching records with the county, date, and both parties' names. This is the fastest way to verify or locate a Jennings County marriage record without visiting Vernon.

For records before 1993, the Jennings County Clerk's Office in Vernon is the best starting point. Contact them at (812) 352-3070. Staff can search paper records by name or approximate date. The Indiana State Library's historical database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy may also hold older Jennings County marriage records that have been digitized. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages is another resource for statewide vital records. Court records tied to Jennings County marriages can be searched through the Indiana MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov.

After Your Jennings County Marriage License

After your ceremony in Jennings County, the officiant who performed the wedding must sign the license and return it to the Jennings County Clerk's Office within 30 days. This is required under IC 31-11-4-11. The couple does not file the license. That responsibility belongs entirely to the officiant. Remind your officiant before and after the wedding, and confirm that the license was returned by following up with the clerk's office if needed.

Indiana law under IC 31-11-6-1 allows judges, magistrates, and ordained ministers to perform marriages. Once the signed license is returned and recorded by the Jennings County Clerk, the marriage is officially documented as a public record under IC 31-11-11-1. Certified copies can be requested from the clerk's office in Vernon. These records are also reported to the Indiana State Department of Health for inclusion in the statewide vital records system.

Cities in Jennings County

Jennings County includes Vernon, North Vernon, Commiskey, Scipio, and other small communities. All marriage license applications for residents throughout Jennings County are processed at the Clerk's Office at 200 East Brown Street in Vernon. No cities in Jennings County meet the 25,000-population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Jennings County is in southeastern Indiana. The neighboring counties below each have their own clerk's office for marriage license applications and records.