Starke County Marriage License Search

Starke County marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk in Knox. Both applicants must appear together in person, show valid ID, and pay the fee when they apply. This page covers how to get a Starke County marriage license, what documents to bring, what the fees are, and how to search existing marriage records in the county.

Starke County Clerk Office

The Starke County Clerk handles all marriage license applications in Knox. The office is at 53 East Washington Street and is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Staff maintain Starke County marriage records going back many years and can assist with new applications, searches for existing records, and certified copies. The office handles civil court filings in addition to marriage licenses.

You can contact the Starke County Clerk by phone at (574) 772-9128. The clerk's page at starke.in.gov/homepage/departments/clerk has current contact information and any updates to procedures. Check this before your visit to the Knox courthouse. The Indiana Courts pre-application at courts.in.gov/marriage lets you fill in your personal information online before your in-person visit, which can save time at the counter.

The screenshot above is from the Starke County Clerk's official page, which lists contact details and services for the clerk's office in Knox.

How to Apply for a Starke County Marriage License

Both people getting married must appear at the Starke County Courthouse in Knox at the same time. You cannot apply by mail, by phone, or with only one person present. Under IC 31-11-4-3, both parties must appear in person before the clerk. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID: a driver's license, passport, state ID, or military card. Both applicants must also provide their Social Security numbers. This is required by state law to complete the application.

Indiana does not have a waiting period. Once you have the Starke County marriage license, you can hold your ceremony that same day if you want. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue under IC 31-11-4-10. If you don't use it within 60 days, you have to start over. No blood test is required in Indiana. The minimum age without parental consent is 18 under IC 31-11-1-4. Applicants who are 16 or 17 must have a parent or legal guardian present at the Knox courthouse.

If either applicant has been married before, bring a certified divorce decree or death certificate for the prior spouse. Plain copies are not typically accepted. Bring the official certified documents to avoid a second trip to the Starke County Clerk's office. If you have questions about what is required for your specific situation, call (574) 772-9128 before going to Knox.

Note: Starke County is one of the counties in Indiana with lower marriage license fees. At $18 for residents, it's worth knowing if you have any flexibility in where you apply.

Starke County Marriage License Fees

Indiana residents pay $18.00 for a Starke County marriage license. Out-of-state applicants pay $60.00. These are among the lower fee amounts in the state. Pay at the clerk's window when you apply. Call ahead at (574) 772-9128 to confirm payment methods. Cash or a check is often the safest option at smaller county clerk offices.

Certified copies of the Starke County marriage record are available from the clerk after the marriage has been recorded. Certified copies are commonly needed for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal matters. Ask the clerk about the current fee for copies when you call or visit.

Note: Fee amounts can change over time. Always confirm the current rate with the Starke County Clerk before you make your trip to Knox.

Starke County Marriage Record Search

Indiana's free public marriage license search tool covers all counties, including Starke. Access it at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This database covers records from 1993 through the present. Enter a name to see the issue date, names of both parties, and the county. It's the easiest way to verify a recent Starke County marriage license without visiting Knox.

For records before 1993, contact the Starke County Clerk at (574) 772-9128. These older files are at the courthouse and must be searched manually by staff. The Indiana State Library has digitized historical vital records at digital.statelib.lib.in.us that may include older Starke County marriage data. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages maintains vital marriage records for Indiana. VitalChek is an authorized online service to order certified Indiana marriage records if you can't make it to Knox in person.

Indiana Marriage Law and Starke County

The Starke County Clerk follows Indiana's marriage statutes for all license applications and record keeping. IC 31-11-4-1 defines which county clerks may issue marriage licenses and what the application must include. After the wedding, the officiant must return the completed license to the Starke County Clerk within 30 days under IC 31-11-4-18. The clerk records the marriage and sends the data to the state. The Starke County marriage record becomes a permanent public document under IC 31-11-6-1.

Officiants in Indiana must be legally authorized under IC 31-11-11-1. Judges, licensed ministers, and other recognized officials may perform marriages. If your officiant was ordained through an online service, verify their legal status in Indiana before the ceremony. Using an unauthorized officiant can affect whether the marriage is legally valid. Under IC 31-11-4-11, the officiant must give each couple a marriage certificate at the time of the ceremony. Keep this document safe while the Starke County Clerk processes the returned license.

Once the record is filed, you can order certified copies from the clerk's office in Knox. These are accepted by government agencies, financial institutions, and employers as official proof of marriage.

Cities in Starke County

Knox is the county seat and largest city in Starke County. North Judson and San Pierre are smaller communities in the area. No Starke County cities meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site, but all residents apply for marriage licenses at the Starke County Courthouse in Knox.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Starke County in northwestern Indiana. You can apply for a marriage license at any Indiana county clerk's office, regardless of where you live.