Johnson County Marriage License Search

Johnson County marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Courts at the courthouse in Franklin, Indiana. This page explains how to apply for a Johnson County marriage license, what documents to bring, the current fees, and where to search for existing marriage records through Indiana's public databases.

Johnson County Clerk of the Courts

The Johnson County Clerk of the Courts is located in the basement of the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin, IN 46131. The courthouse is the center of Johnson County government and handles all official filings, including marriage licenses, court records, elections, and child support processing. The clerk's website at johnsoncounty.in.gov provides current service information and office hours. Verify hours before your visit by checking the website or calling ahead.

Johnson County is one of Indiana's faster-growing counties due to its location just south of Indianapolis. The clerk's office processes a significant volume of marriage license applications each year. Both applicants must appear together in person under Indiana Code IC 31-11-4-3. Come prepared with your identification and payment, and use the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage beforehand to speed up your visit.

Applying for a Johnson County Marriage License

Both applicants must be present together at the Johnson County Clerk's Office when applying. This is a statewide requirement under IC 31-11-4-3. The clerk will not issue a license if only one person shows up. Plan your schedule so both of you can go to the Franklin courthouse together. Bring your valid IDs and payment for the license fee. The clerk collects everything at the time of the visit and issues the license before you leave.

Before your visit, complete the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage. This Indiana Judicial Branch tool is open to all Indiana counties including Johnson County. Fill in both applicants' names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security Numbers, and prior marriage history if applicable. The pre-application does not replace the in-person visit, but it makes the clerk's process faster when you arrive at the Franklin courthouse.

Johnson County has no waiting period. You can get married the same day your license is issued. The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date under IC 31-11-4-10. Payment is required at the time of application. The clerk accepts credit cards for payment, and a small service fee of $2.13 applies to credit card transactions.

Note: Johnson County's marriage license fee is slightly higher than the statewide base, so confirm the exact amount before your visit by checking the clerk's website or calling the courthouse.

Johnson County Marriage License Requirements

Both applicants must bring valid identification when applying for a Johnson County marriage license. A driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport is the standard. The ID must clearly show your legal name and date of birth. The clerk will also ask for your Social Security Number. You do not need the card, but both applicants must know their numbers. The clerk records them as part of the Indiana marriage license application.

Both applicants must be 18 or older under IC 31-11-1-4. Those who are 16 or 17 may marry with parental consent. The Johnson County Clerk will verify age from the IDs provided. If either applicant has been previously married, you need to provide the date that prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate is the best documentation to bring. Under IC 31-11-4-1, Indiana law prohibits entering a new marriage while still legally married to someone else.

Both applicants must affirm under IC 31-11-4-18 that there is no legal reason they cannot marry. The clerk records these affirmations during the application. Providing false information on an Indiana marriage license application is a criminal matter. The Johnson County Clerk is bound to verify what they can from the documents presented, but the legal obligation to be truthful rests with the applicants.

Johnson County Marriage License Fees

Johnson County charges $71.00 for a marriage license. This is higher than the Indiana state base rate of $25.00 for residents, which suggests Johnson County includes additional administrative fees. If you pay by credit card, a service fee of $2.13 is added. Paying in cash or by check may avoid the card fee. Confirm the accepted payment methods when you contact the clerk's office before your visit.

Certified copies of Johnson County marriage license records are available from the clerk at an additional cost. Getting certified copies when you pick up the license saves a return trip later. Name change requests with the Social Security Administration, the Indiana BMV, your employer's benefits office, and financial institutions all typically require a certified copy of the marriage record. Have at least two certified copies on hand when you leave the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin.

For online order of certified copies, VitalChek provides Indiana vital records including Johnson County marriage licenses with a service fee added. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages is the statewide vital records authority and can be a resource for copies as well.

Search Johnson County Marriage Records

Indiana offers a free statewide marriage license lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This tool covers all Indiana counties including Johnson County, with records available from 1993 to the present. Enter the name of either party to search. Results show the county of issue, the date, and both parties' names. It is a quick, free way to verify or locate a Johnson County marriage license record without going to Franklin.

The database portal shown above covers all Indiana counties including Johnson County. Use it to search marriage license records from 1993 onward without visiting the courthouse.

For records before 1993, contact the Johnson County Clerk's Office directly. Staff can search paper records by name and date. The Indiana State Library's historical archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy may also hold older Johnson County marriage data. The Indiana MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov covers court records and may be useful if you are looking for a marriage-related court filing in Johnson County. Certified copies of any record can be ordered in person in Franklin or through VitalChek online.

After the Johnson County License Is Issued

Once you have your Johnson County marriage license, the officiant who performs the ceremony must sign it and return it to the clerk's office within 30 days of the wedding. This is mandated under IC 31-11-4-11. The couple does not file the license. Remind your officiant of this obligation. If the license is not returned on time, the marriage may not be officially recorded. Follow up with the Johnson County Clerk's Office to confirm the license was filed.

Indiana authorizes judges, magistrates, and ordained ministers to perform marriages under IC 31-11-6-1. Once the signed license is filed with the Johnson County Clerk, it becomes a public record under IC 31-11-11-1. Anyone may request a certified copy from the clerk's office in Franklin. The record is also reported to the Indiana State Department of Health for inclusion in statewide vital records.

Cities in Johnson County

Johnson County is home to several significant cities south of Indianapolis. All marriage license applications for residents of any Johnson County city or town go through the Clerk's Office in Franklin. Two Johnson County cities have dedicated pages on this site.

Other communities in Johnson County include Edinburgh, Bargersville, New Whiteland, and Trafalgar. All of these apply for marriage licenses at the Johnson County Clerk's Office in Franklin.

Nearby Counties

Johnson County is in central Indiana just south of Marion County. The following counties border Johnson County and each has its own clerk's office for marriage license applications.