Lake County Marriage License Records
Lake County marriage licenses are issued by the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office in Crown Point, Indiana. As Indiana's most populous county and one of the most historically significant for marriage records, Lake County has a well-established process for applying, searching, and obtaining certified copies of marriage licenses. This page covers everything you need to apply or look up records.
Lake County Quick Facts
Crown Point and Lake County's Marriage History
Crown Point in Lake County holds a unique place in American marriage history. In the early 20th century, Crown Point became famous as Indiana's "Gretna Green" - a destination for eloping couples from Chicago and across the Midwest. Illinois had stricter marriage laws at the time, and Indiana's more accessible process drew thousands of couples who made the short trip to Crown Point to marry quickly and legally. Celebrities, politicians, and ordinary couples alike came to Crown Point for Lake County marriage licenses.
That tradition made the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office one of the busiest in the region for decades. Today Crown Point still hosts the clerk's marriage office, and Lake County processes marriage licenses for one of Indiana's largest and most diverse populations. The historical significance of the location adds context to the records that exist there, many of which document notable marriages from the early 1900s onward. If you are researching family history tied to Lake County, the clerk's office and the Indiana State Library's archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy are both worth exploring.
Note: Lake County's marriage history as an elopement destination means older records may include marriages of people from Illinois and other states. The Indiana State Library's historical records can be especially useful for genealogical research in Lake County.
Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office
The Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office is at 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building, 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307. This is the primary location for all Lake County marriage license applications. The direct phone number for the marriage office is (219) 648-6996. The main county phone is (219) 755-3000. The county website at lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-marriage provides current contact information, office hours, and any service updates.
Lake County's marriage office is a dedicated department within the county clerk's structure. Given the volume of marriages processed in Lake County, having a dedicated office makes the process more efficient for applicants. The clerk's office handles all of the county's marriage licenses regardless of which city the couple lives in within Lake County. Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, Merrillville, Schererville, Hobart, and all other Lake County communities apply for marriage licenses at this single Crown Point location.
One key detail for Lake County applicants: fees are cash only. The Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office does not accept personal checks, credit cards, or debit cards for marriage license fees. Bring cash in the exact amount. Lake County residents pay $25.00, and non-Indiana residents pay $65.00. Call (219) 648-6996 before your visit to confirm current hours and any updates to this payment policy.
| Address | 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building, 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (219) 648-6996 |
| Main County Phone | (219) 755-3000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard county office hours (verify by phone) |
| Website | lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-marriage |
Applying for a Lake County Marriage License
Both applicants must appear together at the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office in Crown Point. This is required under Indiana Code IC 31-11-4-3. The office will not issue a license if only one person is present. Both people must be there at the same time. Plan your schedule accordingly, especially if you live in a part of Lake County that requires a longer drive to Crown Point.
Before your visit, complete the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage. Lake County accepts couples who have completed this form, and the clerk uses your pre-application data to speed up the process when you arrive. This Indiana Judicial Branch portal lets you enter both applicants' personal information, Social Security Numbers, addresses, and prior marriage history. Completing it in advance is strongly recommended for Lake County given the volume of applications the office processes.
The Lake County marriage license shown in the image below was captured from the official county clerk's marriage page at lakecountyin.gov/departments/clerk-marriage.
The image above is the Lake County Clerk's marriage department page, which serves as the primary local resource for all marriage license applications in Crown Point and across Lake County, Indiana.
Indiana has no waiting period. Once your Lake County marriage license is issued, you can marry the same day. The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date under IC 31-11-4-10. You can also use it anywhere in Indiana once issued. An Indiana resident who gets a Lake County license is free to have the ceremony in any Indiana county.
Judicial weddings are available in Lake County. Judges are available for ceremonies by appointment on Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM. A fee applies for this service. Contact the clerk's office at (219) 648-6996 to inquire about booking a judicial wedding at the Crown Point courthouse.
Lake County Marriage License Requirements
Both applicants must present valid identification at the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office. A driver's license or state-issued ID is required. A passport is also accepted. The ID must provide proof of residency, identity, and date of birth. The clerk needs all three to process the application and determine whether the resident or non-resident fee applies.
Social Security Numbers are required for both applicants under Indiana law. You do not need to bring the Social Security card, but both people must know their numbers. The clerk will record them as part of the marriage license application. If neither applicant is an Indiana resident, you must apply in the county where the wedding will take place. Indiana residents who get married may do so anywhere in Indiana once the license is obtained, regardless of which county issued it. This flexibility is part of why Lake County historically attracted out-of-state couples.
Both applicants must be at least 18 under IC 31-11-1-4. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need parental consent. Anyone under 16 cannot legally marry in Indiana. The Lake County Clerk will refer you to Indiana State Statutes for any questions about underage applicants. If either applicant has been married before, bring documentation of how that marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate is required. Under IC 31-11-4-1, no prior marriage can still be in effect. Both applicants affirm this under IC 31-11-4-18 at the time of application.
Lake County Marriage License Fees
Lake County residents pay $25.00. Non-Indiana residents pay $65.00. Both fees must be paid in cash. The Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office does not accept checks, credit cards, or debit cards for this service. Bring exact cash to avoid any problems on the day of your application. If you are unsure of the exact amount for your situation, call (219) 648-6996 in advance.
Certified copies of Lake County marriage records are available from the clerk's office. These are the official sealed copies that most agencies, banks, insurance companies, and legal offices require as proof of marriage. Getting certified copies at the time you pick up the license avoids a return trip to Crown Point. The fee for certified copies is separate from the license fee. Ask the clerk about the current certified copy fee when you call or visit.
For online orders of Lake County marriage records, VitalChek provides Indiana vital records ordering with a service fee added. This is useful if you cannot visit Crown Point in person. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages is the statewide vital records authority and can also be a resource for certified copies of Lake County marriage records.
Note: Lake County is one of the few Indiana counties that requires cash only for marriage license fees. Do not arrive expecting to pay by card. Bring the right amount in cash.
Search Lake County Marriage Records Online
The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers Lake County marriage records from 1993 to the present. This is a free statewide tool. Enter the name of either party and the results show the county of issue, the date, and both parties' names. Lake County records from 1993 onward are fully included. No fee or account is needed to use the lookup tool.
The search portal above covers all Indiana counties including Lake County. It is the fastest way to look up a Lake County marriage license record from 1993 onward without visiting Crown Point.
Given Lake County's fame as an elopement destination, records from the early and mid-1900s can be particularly valuable for genealogical research. For records before 1993, contact the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office directly at (219) 648-6996. The Indiana State Library's historical archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy holds older records that have been digitized. These historical Lake County marriage records span back to the county's earliest documented marriages, including those from the Crown Point elopement era. The Indiana MyCase portal at mycase.in.gov covers court records in Lake County as well.
After Your Lake County Marriage License Is Issued
The officiant who performs your ceremony must sign the Lake County marriage license and return it to the clerk's office within 30 days of the wedding. This is required by IC 31-11-4-11. The couple does not file the license. That is the officiant's sole responsibility. Make sure your officiant knows this before the ceremony and has the return address for the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office at 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building, Crown Point.
Authorized officiants in Indiana include judges, magistrates, and ordained ministers under IC 31-11-6-1. Lake County also has judicial weddings available at the Crown Point courthouse if you want a court official to perform the ceremony. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM, with a fee. Contact the marriage office at (219) 648-6996 to schedule. Once the signed license is returned and recorded, the Lake County marriage becomes a permanent public record under IC 31-11-11-1. Certified copies are available from the clerk's office after the record is filed.
Cities in Lake County
Lake County is Indiana's most populous county and includes numerous significant cities. All marriage license applications for residents of any Lake County city go through the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office at 2293 N. Main Street in Crown Point. The same office serves Hammond, Gary, East Chicago, Merrillville, Schererville, Hobart, and every other community in Lake County.
Other communities in Lake County include Whiting, Highland, Munster, Dyer, Griffith, St. John, Lowell, and Cedar Lake. All of these apply for marriage licenses at the Lake County Clerk's Marriage Office in Crown Point.
Nearby Counties
Lake County is in extreme northwestern Indiana, bordering Illinois to the west and Lake Michigan to the north. The Indiana counties below share borders with Lake County.