Monroe County Marriage License Search

Monroe County marriage licenses are issued by the Monroe County Clerk of Circuit Court in Bloomington, Indiana. Both applicants must appear in person at the clerk's office on North College Avenue. An appointment is recommended. To search existing Monroe County marriage license records, use the free Indiana portal at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL, which covers records from 1993 to present.

Monroe County Clerk of Circuit Court

Monroe County Clerk Nicole Browne oversees the marriage license process for the county. The office is on the second floor of the County Courthouse Square in downtown Bloomington, Suite 201. Bloomington is home to Indiana University, which makes it one of the busier county clerk offices in the state, especially during spring and summer wedding seasons. An appointment is recommended but not strictly required.

The Monroe County Clerk also offers courthouse marriage ceremonies by appointment. If you want the clerk to perform your ceremony, call (812) 349-2614 to schedule. The clerk's office cannot guarantee availability and treats ceremonies as a courtesy rather than a core service, so plan ahead if you want that option. Other couples arrange their own officiant outside the courthouse.

The image above shows the Monroe County Clerk website at co.monroe.in.us. The marriage license page is at in.gov/counties/monroe/justice/clerk-of-court/marriage-licenses/. Court records for Monroe County can be searched at mycase.in.gov.

Applying for a Monroe County Marriage License

Both parties must appear in person together at the Monroe County Clerk's office under IC 31-11-4-3. The clerk recommends scheduling an appointment by calling the office. Monroe County also offers a marriage license e-filing application, so you can start the process online before visiting. Check the clerk's website for the current e-filing option.

Each applicant needs valid government-issued photo ID. Monroe County requires that the application be made in the county where at least one of you lives. If neither of you lives in Monroe County, you may need to apply in your home county. Bring your Social Security numbers, and be prepared to state the date any prior marriage ended. Under IC 31-11-4-1, Indiana requires disclosure of prior marriage termination before a new license can be issued.

Monroe County issues the license the same day you apply. There is no waiting period in Indiana. The license is valid for 60 days under IC 31-11-4-10. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Monroe County Clerk's office. The clerk then mails a certified copy to you within about two weeks after the license is returned. Under IC 31-11-4-18, the officiant must file the signed license within 30 days of the ceremony.

Note: Monroe County is one of the few counties where an appointment is strongly recommended, especially during busy spring and summer months.

Monroe County Marriage License Fees

Monroe County charges $29.00 for Indiana residents and $69.00 for out-of-state couples. This is slightly above the base state fee of $25/$65 because Monroe County adds costs for copying and certification: $1 for the copy and $3 for certification. The total fee is set in part by IC 31-11-4-11.

After the officiant returns the signed license, the Monroe County Clerk mails you a certified copy. This is included in the process. If you need additional certified copies later, request them from the clerk's office or through the Indiana Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/. VitalChek at vitalchek.com is another option for ordering certified Indiana marriage records online.

Monroe County Marriage License Records

The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is a free tool covering all Indiana counties from 1993 to present. Search by name to find a Monroe County marriage license. This tool is useful for confirming that a license was issued and getting the basic date of issuance. Court case records are at mycase.in.gov.

For older Monroe County marriage records, the Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ holds historical Indiana records in a digital archive. Monroe County marriage records going back well before 1993 may be available there. The clerk's office can also assist with records requests that the online tools do not cover.

Who Can Perform Your Ceremony in Monroe County

Indiana law under IC 31-11-6-1 sets out who may legally perform a marriage ceremony. Clergy from recognized religious organizations, judges, mayors, city clerks, the governor, and members of the Indiana General Assembly all qualify. Certified secular organizations may also have authorized officiants.

If you want the Monroe County Clerk to perform your ceremony, call (812) 349-2614 to schedule a time. The clerk treats this as a courtesy, so it depends on staff availability within a two-week window of your call. There is no dedicated staff member for ceremonies, so it is not guaranteed. Most couples who use this option plan ahead during quieter weekday mornings.

Age requirements are set by IC 31-11-1-4. Both must be at least 18. Those 16 or 17 may apply with parental consent. The signed license must be returned to the Monroe County Clerk per IC 31-11-11-1.

Cities in Monroe County

Bloomington is the largest city in Monroe County and qualifies for its own page on this site. All cities and towns in Monroe County apply for marriage licenses through the Monroe County Clerk's office on North College Avenue in Bloomington.

Other communities in Monroe County include Ellettsville, Stinesville, Harrodsburg, and various rural townships. All apply at 301 N. College Ave., Suite 201, Bloomington, IN 47404.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County sits in south-central Indiana. These neighboring counties have their own clerk offices for marriage license applications.