Search Marriage Licenses in Marshall County

Marshall County marriage licenses are issued by the Marshall County Clerk's office in Plymouth, Indiana. Both applicants must appear together in person. The application process takes about 15 minutes. You can start the pre-application online at mycourts.in.gov/mlpublic/ before your visit. To search existing Marshall County marriage license records, use the free state portal at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL.

Marshall County Clerk's Office

The Marshall County Clerk, Jenny Bennitt, oversees the marriage license process for the county. The office is at the Marshall County Courthouse in Plymouth, in north-central Indiana. Plymouth is the county seat, about 25 miles south of South Bend. The office has specific cutoff hours, so plan to arrive well before the 3:30 PM closing time if you want to complete your application that day.

One feature that sets Marshall County apart: the clerk's office will perform marriage ceremonies for couples who apply there. This is available between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Both applicants must speak and understand English. All other couples need to arrange their own officiant. Marshall County residents find this a convenient option for a simple civil ceremony right at the courthouse.

How to Apply for a Marshall County Marriage License

Both parties must appear together in person at the Marshall County Clerk's office under IC 31-11-4-3. The process takes about 15 minutes. To save time, start the online pre-application at mycourts.in.gov/mlpublic/ before your visit. You still must appear in person to complete the application and pay the fee.

Bring valid identification. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or birth certificate all work for Marshall County. Your Social Security number is required on the application. The clerk notes that Marshall County residents should bring proof of residency. If you live outside Indiana, bring ID that shows your out-of-state address as well.

If either of you was previously married, you need to provide the date that marriage ended. A certified copy of the final divorce decree or death certificate is the standard documentation. Marshall County may not always require you to hand over the document, but you must be able to state the date accurately on the application. Indiana law under IC 31-11-4-1 sets the eligibility rules that apply across all Indiana counties.

After the clerk issues your Marshall County marriage license, it is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. There is no waiting period. After the ceremony, the signed license must be returned to the clerk within 30 days per IC 31-11-4-18.

Note: Marshall County accepts cash, money order, or credit card. Personal checks are not accepted.

Marshall County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for a Marshall County marriage license. Out-of-state couples pay $65.00. Certified copies of the license cost $4.00 each. Fee levels are set partly by statute under IC 31-11-4-11. Marshall County does not accept personal checks, so bring cash, a money order, or a credit card.

After the wedding, the signed license is returned to the Marshall County Clerk's office. You can then get certified copies for name change and other legal purposes. You can also order certified copies of Indiana marriage records through the Indiana Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ or through VitalChek at vitalchek.com.

Looking Up Marshall County Marriage License Records

Indiana's free marriage license lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers records from 1993 forward. You can search by name to find a Marshall County marriage license. This tool is useful for confirming a license was issued and finding the date of issuance. The results do not show the full application data, just basic identification.

For older Marshall County marriage records, the Indiana State Library has historical records in its digital archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/. The Marshall County Clerk can help with records requests that the online tools don't cover. Court case records for Marshall County are also searchable at mycase.in.gov.

Note: The forms returned to the clerk must be filed within 30 days of the ceremony for the marriage to appear in official records.

Indiana Marriage License Application Portal

Indiana runs a state-level online portal to help couples start the marriage license application before their in-person visit. The screen below shows what the Indiana Courts application portal looks like at courts.in.gov/marriage.

The online pre-application collects basic information from both parties and creates a record in the state's system. You bring the confirmation to the Marshall County Clerk's office when you appear in person. This step does not waive the in-person requirement but can reduce the time you spend at the counter. The online system is run by the Indiana Supreme Court Division of State Court Administration.

Cities in Marshall County

Marshall County includes Plymouth, Culver, Bremen, and other smaller towns. No city in Marshall County meets the population threshold for a separate city page on this site, but all residents apply for marriage licenses through the same Marshall County Clerk's office in Plymouth.

Communities in Marshall County include Plymouth, Bremen, Culver, Argos, Bourbon, LaPaz, and a number of townships. All of these residents apply at the Marshall County Courthouse, 211 W. Madison Street, Plymouth.

Nearby Counties

Marshall County borders several counties in north-central Indiana. Verify your county of residence before your visit if you live near a county boundary.