Madison County Marriage License Lookup

Madison County marriage licenses are issued by the Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Anderson, Indiana. Both applicants must appear in person at the courthouse to complete the application. You can also start the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage before your visit. To search existing Madison County marriage license records, use the free state lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL.

Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Madison County Clerk, Linda S. Smith, handles marriage license applications for the county. The clerk's office is on the second floor of the courthouse in Anderson, in Room 213. Anderson is the county seat and the main city in Madison County. The office is open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No appointment is needed, but both people planning to marry must come in together.

Madison County is in east-central Indiana, northeast of Indianapolis. The county has a significant population base, and the clerk processes marriage applications year-round. If you have questions before your visit, you can reach the office at the numbers below. The office also has a mailing address if you need to send correspondence after your visit.

The image above shows the Madison County Clerk website at madisoncty.com. The clerk's official marriage license page is at madisoncounty.in.gov. Online case information for Madison County is available at mycase.in.gov.

How to Get a Marriage License in Madison County

The process for getting a Madison County marriage license is the same as most Indiana counties. Both people must appear at the clerk's office together. This is required by IC 31-11-4-3. You can save time at the counter by starting the online pre-application at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license before your visit. The pre-application does not replace the in-person step, but it speeds things up.

Bring valid government-issued photo ID. A current driver's license, passport, or state ID card all work. Madison County requires proof of residency for Indiana residents. If you live here, bring something that shows your current address, like a recent utility bill or a lease agreement. Your Social Security number is required on the application as well.

If you were married before, bring the date your last marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate works best. If either person was married more than once, the date of the most recent prior marriage's end is what matters. Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-1 governs the basic eligibility rules across all Indiana counties.

After you apply and pay the fee, the clerk issues the license. It is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. There is no waiting period in Indiana, so you can have the ceremony the same day you apply if you want. After the wedding, your officiant must return the signed license to the Madison County Clerk within 30 days per IC 31-11-4-18.

Madison County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for a Madison County marriage license. Out-of-state couples pay $65.00. The certified copy fee is $4.00. These fees are set in part by state statute under IC 31-11-4-11. Madison County also notes that a documentation fee of $4.00 may apply. Call ahead to confirm the full amount you will owe.

The clerk's office accepts various payment methods. Confirm in advance whether cash, check, or credit card is accepted. Certified copies of your license are useful for changing your name on documents like your driver's license, Social Security record, and bank accounts. You can also get official copies of Indiana marriage records through VitalChek at vitalchek.com or from the Indiana Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/.

Note: Child support payments and court cost payments for Madison County can be made online at www.childsupportbillpay.com/Indiana and www.GovPayNow.com respectively, separate from the marriage license process.

Searching Madison County Marriage License Records

Indiana offers a free statewide marriage license lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This tool includes records issued in Madison County since 1993. You search by name and see the license date and county of issuance. It is the fastest starting point for verifying a Madison County marriage license.

For older records, the Indiana State Library has historical marriage data going back much further through its digital archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/. The Madison County Clerk can also handle in-person and written records requests for older filings not covered by the online tools. E-filing and pro se case management for Madison County is also available through the state courts system.

Who Can Apply for a Madison County Marriage License

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Those who are 16 or 17 may apply with parental consent under IC 31-11-1-4. Minors under 16 need both parental consent and court approval. The Madison County Clerk can walk you through those additional requirements if either applicant is under 18.

At least one of you must be an Indiana resident, or both must be from out of state, to apply in Madison County. If you live in a neighboring county, you should apply there instead. Out-of-state couples who want to marry in Indiana can apply in any county, including Madison County, but the $65.00 fee applies.

Who can perform the ceremony is set by IC 31-11-6-1. Clergy, judges, mayors, and certain elected officials may all legally solemnize a marriage in Indiana. The signed license must be returned to the clerk within 30 days of the ceremony per IC 31-11-11-1.

Cities in Madison County

Anderson is the largest city in Madison County and has its own page on this site. All cities and towns in Madison County apply for marriage licenses at the Madison County Clerk's office in Anderson.

Other communities in Madison County include Elwood, Pendleton, Alexandria, Chesterfield, Lapel, and Ingalls. All residents in these areas apply at the Madison County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 16 E 9th Street, Room 213, Anderson.

Nearby Counties

Madison County is surrounded by several Indiana counties. If you live close to a county line, verify your county of residence before visiting the clerk's office.