Getting a Marriage License in Marion County
Marriage licenses in Indiana are issued by county clerks, so the Marion County Clerk handles them in Indianapolis. Both applicants must appear in person at the Clerk's Office in an Indiana county where one of them lives. Out-of-state couples apply in the Indiana county where the marriage will take place. Starting the application online saves time, but both people still have to appear to finish it and receive the license.
Eligibility rules are set by state law. Both applicants can get a license if both are at least 18. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need juvenile-court approval and cannot have an age gap over four years. A license is valid for 60 days, and a couple may marry the same day it is issued. Applicants need Social Security numbers, and a previously married applicant must give the date the prior marriage ended.
The rules sit in one chapter of the Indiana Code. A read of Indiana Code § 31-11 covers marriage eligibility, licensing, and the 60-day validity rule.
The state's official application page walks couples through the process. A view of the Indiana Courts marriage-license page outlines the online start and the in-person step at the clerk.
Both applicants still appear at the Marion County Clerk's Office to finish and receive the license.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
A little preparation makes the clerk visit quick. Gather your ID, Social Security numbers, any prior-marriage end date, and your parents' genealogical details before you go. Starting the application online through Indiana Courts is optional but helpful.
- Confirm eligibility under Indiana Code 31-11.
- Start the application online through Indiana Courts if you want to save time.
- Gather ID, Social Security numbers, prior-marriage end dates, and parent information.
- Both applicants appear at the proper county Clerk's Office and sign.
- Pay the license fee and receive the license.
- Marry within 60 days, then the officiant returns the completed license for recording.
You can begin at the Indiana Courts marriage-license page, which explains the online pre-application and the in-person step.
The self-service legal center also offers family-law forms that help with divorce and related filings.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for details about each applicant and their parents. The parent information is collected for genealogical reporting, not to seek approval. Knowing the fields ahead of time keeps the visit short.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | Yes | For each applicant. |
| Date of Birth / Age | Yes | Determines eligibility under state law. |
| Residence / County | Yes | Sets the proper county for Indiana residents. |
| Social Security Number | Yes | Required by state guidance; the card may not be needed. |
| Prior Marriage End Date | Conditional | Required if previously married; some counties want a certified decree. |
| Parent Name, Address, Birthplace | Yes | Collected for genealogical reporting. |
The state publishes the underlying application form. A look at the Indiana marriage-license application form shows the fields each applicant completes.
Knowing the fields ahead of time keeps the clerk visit short.
Marion County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Marriage fees are set by statewide guidance. Divorce filing fees come from Indiana Code 33-37 and local schedules, so confirm the current divorce amount with the Marion County Clerk. The fees below are the marriage and certified-copy figures from official Indiana guidance.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license, Indiana resident couple | $25 |
| Marriage license, out-of-state couple | $65 |
| Certified marriage-license copy | $4 (statewide guidance; verify Marion) |
| IDOH certified marriage-record search | $8 per date, nonrefundable |
Court costs and clerk fees come from Indiana Code § 33-37, which sets the framework for filing and copy charges.
How to Look Up Marion County Marriage Records
Marriage dates can be searched online, but certified certificates are not posted on a website. The statewide marriage-license public lookup lets you confirm a marriage license, while certified copies come from the county clerk or the state health department. For state marriage records from 1958 forward, the Indiana Department of Health offers a certified-record search by mail.
You will need names and an approximate date to find a record. Use the Indiana marriage-license public lookup to confirm a license, or the Indiana Department of Health marriage records page for a certified search. The IDOH search runs about six to eight weeks and requires ID.
The public lookup confirms a license but is not a certified copy, which still comes from the clerk.
How to Find Marion County Divorce Records
Divorce cases are court cases, so they are filed and heard in the Marion Circuit and Superior Courts. Divorce case information may be searchable in MyCase if the case is public. The case shows filings, hearings, and the final decree event, though sensitive details can be restricted.
Certified divorce decrees are not available online. The Indiana Department of Health does not store divorce records at all, so a certified decree must be requested from the clerk in the county where the divorce was filed. Appellate divorce rulings, by contrast, are published. A search of Indiana appellate decisions can surface published family-law opinions.
Those opinions are case law, not the certified decree, which still comes from the clerk.
Getting Certified Copies
You need a certified copy for legal steps such as a name change, a BMV update, Social Security, or benefits. An uncertified printout from an online search will not be accepted for those purposes. Certified marriage and divorce copies come from the county clerk where the event was recorded, and the state health department can provide certified marriage records from 1958 forward by mail. The mail request uses a state form. A look at IDOH State Form 54764 shows the certified-record-of-marriage search request.
The form carries an $8 fee per date searched and requires ID. Protective orders that sometimes arise in family cases are kept off the public court portal.
The Indiana protection-order search covers public protective-order information that is excluded from MyCase.
Indiana Vital Records Office
The Indiana Department of Health holds certain vital records at the state level. It offers certified marriage-record searches from 1958 forward using a mail-in form, but it does not store divorce records. For older marriages or any divorce, the county clerk is the source.
Indiana Department of Health
Vital Records, marriage searches
Indianapolis, IN
State Form 54764 by mail
The state health department explains what marriage records it holds and how to order them. A view of the IDOH marriage records guidance covers the certified-search process and timing.
For older marriages or any divorce record, the county clerk remains the source. Vital-record fees and rules tie to Indiana Code § 16-37.
Marion County Marriage and Divorce Questions
A few questions come up often when people look for marriage or divorce records in Indianapolis. Short answers help set expectations.
Are divorce records available online? Divorce case information may be searchable in MyCase if the case is public. Certified divorce decrees are not online through the state health department or the court portal. Request a certified decree from the county clerk where the divorce was filed.
How do I get a marriage record? Search dates through the Indiana marriage-license public lookup. For a certified copy, contact the county clerk where it was issued, or use the state health department form for marriage records from 1958 forward.
How long is a marriage license valid? An Indiana marriage license is valid for 60 days from issuance, and a couple may marry the same day the license is issued.