Ohio County Marriage License Records

Ohio County marriage licenses are issued by the Ohio County Clerk of Circuit Court in Rising Sun, Indiana. Ohio County is Indiana's smallest county by area, and Rising Sun is its only incorporated city. Both applicants must appear in person at the Main Street courthouse to complete the application. To look up existing Ohio County marriage license records, use the free state tool at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL.

Ohio County Clerk of Circuit Court

The Ohio County Clerk handles all marriage license applications for the county. The office is at 413 Main Street in Rising Sun, which sits along the Ohio River near the Indiana-Kentucky border. Ohio County is the smallest county in Indiana by land area and one of the smallest by population. The courthouse is easy to find on Main Street in Rising Sun's compact downtown.

Both parties must appear in person on a weekday during office hours. If you are driving from the Cincinnati metro area, Rising Sun is about 40 miles west of the city. The drive along the Ohio River is scenic, but give yourself time to find parking near the courthouse. Call ahead to confirm the office is open and what payment methods are accepted before your trip.

The screenshot above shows the Ohio County government website at ohiocountyin.gov. The state-level clerk page is also at in.gov/counties/ohio/. Ohio County marriage license records from 1993 to present can be searched for free at the Indiana marriage license lookup portal.

How to Get a Marriage License in Ohio County

Both parties must appear in person together at the Ohio County Clerk's office under IC 31-11-4-3. The online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage can be completed before your visit to save time at the counter. The in-person step is still required to complete the application and receive the license.

Bring valid government-issued ID for both applicants. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or birth certificate all meet the standard. Your Social Security number is required on the application. If either person was previously married, bring the date that marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate is the standard documentation. Under IC 31-11-4-1, prior marriages must be disclosed before Indiana will issue a new license.

Age requirements are set by IC 31-11-1-4. Both must be 18 or older. Those 16 or 17 may apply with parental consent. Younger applicants need both parental consent and a court order. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days per IC 31-11-4-10. There is no waiting period in Indiana. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Ohio County Clerk within 30 days under IC 31-11-4-18.

Note: Ohio County is Indiana's smallest county. Online services are limited, so most of the process happens in person at the Rising Sun courthouse.

Ohio County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $25.00 for an Ohio County marriage license. Out-of-state couples pay $65.00. Certified copies cost $4.00 each. Fee levels are partly set by state statute under IC 31-11-4-11. Call the clerk to confirm the current accepted payment methods before your visit.

Certified copies of the Ohio County marriage license are used for name changes on a driver's license, Social Security card, passport, and bank accounts. You can also order certified Indiana vital records copies through the Indiana Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ or through VitalChek at vitalchek.com.

Ohio County Marriage License Records Search

The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is free to use and covers Ohio County records from 1993 to present. You search by name and see the issuance date and county. This is the fastest way to confirm a marriage license was issued in Ohio County without calling the clerk's office.

For older Ohio County records, the Indiana State Library maintains a digital historical archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/. The Ohio County Clerk handles records requests for filings not found through the online tools. Court records for Ohio County can also be searched at mycase.in.gov. If you need a certified copy, contact the clerk's office directly or use the Indiana Department of Health vital records options.

Who Can Perform a Marriage in Ohio County

Indiana law under IC 31-11-6-1 lists who may legally solemnize a marriage. Clergy from recognized religious organizations, judges, mayors, city and town clerks, the governor and lieutenant governor, and members of the Indiana General Assembly may all officiate. Certified secular organizations may also authorize officiants under state law.

The signed license must be returned to the Ohio County Clerk after the ceremony per IC 31-11-11-1. This creates the permanent official record of the marriage in Ohio County. If the officiant fails to return the license within 30 days, the marriage may not be properly recorded, which can cause problems with legal name changes and other administrative steps afterward.

Cities in Ohio County

Rising Sun is the only incorporated city in Ohio County and serves as the county seat. No city in Ohio County meets the population threshold for a separate city page on this site. All residents apply for marriage licenses through the Ohio County Clerk at 413 Main Street in Rising Sun.

Ohio County has a small number of unincorporated communities in addition to Rising Sun. All residents of the county apply for marriage licenses at the same office on Main Street in Rising Sun, Indiana.

Nearby Counties

Ohio County borders three Indiana counties along the Ohio River corridor in southeastern Indiana.