St. Joseph County Marriage License Records

St. Joseph County marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk in South Bend. Both applicants must appear in person at the same time, bring valid photo ID, and pay the fee when they apply. This page covers how to get a St. Joseph County marriage license, what documents you need, the fees involved, and how to search existing marriage records for the county.

St. Joseph County Clerk Office

The St. Joseph County Clerk handles all marriage license applications for the county. The office is at 101 South Main Street in South Bend. Staff can help with new applications, searches for existing records, and certified copies of filed licenses. The clerk maintains St. Joseph County marriage records going back many decades. With a county population over 271,000, this office handles a high volume of applications, so it's worth calling ahead if you have specific questions.

The St. Joseph County marriage and divorce information page at sjcindiana.gov/2396/Marriage-Divorce-Information has current details on applying for a marriage license. This page lists what to bring and any county-specific requirements. Military applicants should note that St. Joseph County waives the $4 copy fee for active-duty personnel. The pre-application tool at courts.in.gov/marriage is available statewide and can save time at the window in South Bend.

The screenshot above is from the St. Joseph County marriage and divorce information page, which covers the local application process and contact details for the South Bend clerk's office.

Applying for a St. Joseph County Marriage License

Both applicants must go to the St. Joseph County Courthouse in South Bend together. Under IC 31-11-4-3, both parties must appear in person before the clerk. You cannot apply separately or have someone apply on your behalf. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. This can be a driver's license, passport, state ID, or military identification card. Each applicant must also provide their Social Security number at the time of application.

Indiana does not have a waiting period. You can receive the St. Joseph County marriage license and use it the same day. Under IC 31-11-4-10, the license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. No blood test is required. Minimum age without parental consent is 18 under IC 31-11-1-4. Applicants who are 16 or 17 can apply if a parent or legal guardian is present at the clerk's office in South Bend.

If either applicant has been married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate for the prior spouse. Standard photocopies are not accepted. Bring the official certified versions. This is especially important in a county like St. Joseph, where the clerk's office processes a large number of applications and cannot always take extra time to resolve document issues at the window.

St. Joseph County includes the fee for one certified copy in the total license cost. Residents pay $25.00 for the license plus $4.00 for the copy, for a total of $29.00. Out-of-state applicants pay $65.00 plus $4.00, totaling $69.00. Military applicants have the $4.00 copy fee waived.

Note: Using the online pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage before your visit to South Bend can make the process faster at the clerk's counter.

St. Joseph County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $29.00 total for a St. Joseph County marriage license. This breaks down as $25.00 for the license and $4.00 for one certified copy of the record. Out-of-state applicants pay $69.00. Active military personnel have the $4.00 copy fee waived, so they pay $25.00 as residents or $65.00 as out-of-state applicants. Call (574) 235-9635 to confirm payment methods before your visit to the South Bend courthouse.

Additional certified copies can be obtained from the St. Joseph County Clerk after the marriage has been recorded. Certified copies are needed for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal purposes. Contact the clerk to find out the current rate for extra copies after the initial application period.

Note: Military applicants should bring proof of active-duty status to the clerk's office to qualify for the copy fee waiver.

St. Joseph County Marriage Record Lookup

Indiana's free public marriage license search covers St. Joseph County records from 1993 to the present. Access it at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. Search by name to find the issue date, names of both parties, and county. This is the easiest way to check a recent St. Joseph County marriage license without going to the courthouse in South Bend.

For older records before 1993, contact the St. Joseph County Clerk at (574) 235-9635. These records exist at the courthouse but require a manual search. The Indiana State Library has digitized historical vital records at digital.statelib.lib.in.us that may cover older St. Joseph County marriage data. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages maintains vital marriage records statewide. VitalChek is an authorized online service for ordering certified Indiana marriage record copies if visiting South Bend isn't convenient.

After Your St. Joseph County Wedding

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed marriage license to the St. Joseph County Clerk within 30 days. This is required under IC 31-11-4-18. Once the clerk receives and records the license, the St. Joseph County marriage record becomes a permanent public document under IC 31-11-6-1. Anyone may request to view or copy the record after it is filed.

Officiants performing ceremonies in Indiana must be legally authorized under IC 31-11-11-1. This covers judges, licensed ministers, and other officials recognized by state law. If you're using a friend or family member ordained through an online service, verify that their credentials meet Indiana's legal requirements before the ceremony. Under IC 31-11-4-11, the officiant must give each couple a marriage certificate at the time of the ceremony. Hold on to this while the license is being processed and returned to the St. Joseph County Clerk's office.

Cities in St. Joseph County

St. Joseph County includes several large cities in northern Indiana. Two cities in the county meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site.

Other communities in St. Joseph County include Granger, Osceola, New Carlisle, and Lakeville. All county residents apply for marriage licenses at the St. Joseph County Clerk's office in South Bend, regardless of which city or town they live in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Joseph County in northern Indiana. You may apply for an Indiana marriage license at any county clerk's office, not just in South Bend.