Search Indiana Marriage Records
Indiana marriage records are filed and kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in each of the state's 92 counties. You can search marriage licenses online, request copies from the county clerk, or contact the Indiana State Department of Health for records since 1958. Knowing where the marriage took place or where the couple lived at the time helps speed up any search. This guide covers all the places to find Indiana marriage records, how to request certified copies, and what to expect from each source.
Indiana Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where Indiana Marriage Records Are Kept
In Indiana, marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk of the Circuit Court, sometimes called the Clerk of Superior Court depending on the county. Each of the 92 counties keeps its own marriage records. These include the original license application, the issued license itself, and the signed return after the ceremony is performed. If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate, you must contact the county where the license was issued. County clerks serve as the primary custodians of Indiana marriage records and hold both current and older records going back many decades.
The state also plays a role. The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) maintains a statewide marriage index going back to 1958. The state can issue a document called a "Record of Marriage," which is distinct from the marriage certificate held by the county clerk. If you need the actual marriage certificate, you must go to the county where the license was issued.
The ISDH Vital Records Division is at 2 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis. The mailing address is P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. You can reach the office at (317) 233-2700 or toll-free at (866) 601-0891. A certified Record of Marriage from the state costs $8.00 per date searched. This fee is non-refundable. If found, the fee covers one certified copy. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days. To request one, complete State Form 54764 and mail it with your payment and a photocopy of your government-issued ID. The state office, per the CDC's vital records guide, retains an index for marriages since 1958 only. For older records, contact the county clerk directly.
Note: Certified copies of Indiana marriage certificates are only available from the county clerk, not the state health department.
Search Indiana Marriage Records Online
The Indiana Judicial Branch offers a free tool called the Marriage License Public Lookup (MLPL). It covers marriage licenses from 1993 to the present. Search at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. You can enter a last name for either applicant and narrow results by marriage year and county. The county shown is where the couple applied for the license, which is the county where at least one of them lived at the time. This is useful when you know a name but are unsure which county holds the record. The tool does not provide certified copies, but it confirms whether a license was issued and tells you the right county clerk to contact.
For records before 1993, two main free options exist. The Indiana Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy is a free tool run by the Indiana State Library. It includes an Indiana Marriages index from 1811 to 2007 compiled with the Indiana Genealogical Society and FamilySearch, a separate index from 1958 to 2018, and a database covering marriages through 1850. FamilySearch.org also hosts the Indiana Marriages collection from 1811 to 2019 at no cost. Coverage varies by county since pre-1958 records were kept locally. Ancestry.com holds Indiana Marriage Certificates from 1960 to 2012 but requires a paid subscription.
Indiana Marriage License Requirements
To get married in Indiana, both you and your future spouse must appear together in person at the County Clerk's office. Apply in the county where at least one of you lives. If neither applicant lives in Indiana, apply in the county where the ceremony will be performed. Many counties allow you to start the application online at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license before your visit, which saves time at the counter.
The standard fee for Indiana residents is $25 plus a $4 document fee in most counties, totaling $29. Out-of-state applicants pay $65 plus the document fee, for a total of $69 in most counties. Cash is accepted at every county clerk. Most clerks do not accept personal checks. Credit and debit cards are accepted in many counties, though some add a small convenience fee. The license is valid for 60 days. There is no waiting period in Indiana, so you can marry the same day the license is issued. After the ceremony, the officiant must sign and return the license to the clerk within 30 days for it to be recorded.
You must be 18 or older to apply without court involvement. Applicants between 16 and 17 need a juvenile court order under IC 31-11-7. The clerk will not issue a license if either party is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of application. Close relatives may not marry. Indiana law bars marriages between people more closely related than second cousins, with a narrow exception for first cousins both aged 65 or older. Required ID includes a driver's license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, or military ID. Your Social Security number is required, though the card itself may not be needed. If previously married, bring the date and manner that marriage ended.
Indiana State Library Marriage Records
The Indiana State Library holds one of the largest genealogical collections in the Midwest. It is at 315 West Ohio Street in Indianapolis and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The library's genealogy collection has more than 40,000 print items covering family history, marriage indexes, cemetery transcriptions, and county histories, with a focus on Indiana and neighboring states. Call (317) 232-3689 to reach the Reference Desk.
In-library databases available on library computers include Ancestry Library Edition, FamilySearch Affiliate Library, Fold3, HeritageQuest, and Newspapers.com. These are not remotely accessible. For searches from home, the Indiana Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy is free. Additional research tools are listed at in.gov/library/online-resources. On Wednesday afternoons and the second Saturday of each month, volunteers from the Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution assist patrons at the library with genealogy research, including searches for Indiana marriage records.
Indiana Archives and Historical Marriage Records
The Indiana State Archives (IARA) is the official repository for Indiana state records of permanent historical value. The Archives holds Indiana marriages from 1958 to 2005 in digitized form on Ancestry.com. These digital copies are for genealogical use only. Certified copies must be obtained from the county clerk. The statewide marriage index from 1957 to 1992 is on microfilm in the Archives reading room. The Archives is at 6440 East 30th Street in Indianapolis and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are strongly encouraged. Contact the Archives at (317) 591-5222 or arc@iara.in.gov. More information is at in.gov/iara.
Before 1958, Indiana did not collect marriage data at the state level. Records from that era are kept locally at each county. Coverage varies widely. Some counties have digitized records from the early 1800s. Others have significant gaps. Check with the county clerk or review the Indiana State Library's county-by-county research guides before planning a research trip. FamilySearch.org has the best compiled collection for pre-1958 Indiana marriage records, covering 1811 to 2019, though the data is incomplete in some counties.
Indiana Marriage Records Laws and Access
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 gives citizens the right to inspect and copy government records, including marriage licenses on file with county clerks. Marriage licenses are generally public records. You do not need to be a party to the marriage to request a copy from the county clerk.
Certified copies of state-level Records of Marriage, however, require proof of direct interest under IC 16-37-1-10. Acceptable requesters include the individuals listed on the record, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children and grandchildren, the current spouse, aunts and uncles, stepparents with a valid marriage certificate, court-appointed legal guardians, attorneys with court documents, and state or federal agencies. For genealogical research, the individual on the record must be deceased and at least 75 years old, with proof of death included. Administrative rule 410 IAC 18-3-1 defines these categories in detail and governs who may receive certified vital record copies in Indiana.
Indiana marriage law is found in IC 31-11, which covers who may obtain a license, who may perform a ceremony, requirements for issuance, and grounds for refusal. The Judicial Branch public records page at in.gov/courts/public-records provides guidance on accessing court records tied to marriage-related proceedings.
Getting Certified Copies of Indiana Marriage Records
What you need determines where you go. For a certified copy of the original marriage certificate, contact the County Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the license was issued. Most clerks charge $4 per certified copy. Payment is usually cash, money order, or credit card. Some accept cashier's checks. Call ahead to confirm hours, accepted payment, and whether an appointment is needed. In-person requests are usually processed the same day.
For a Record of Marriage from the state (for marriages since 1958), complete State Form 54764 and mail it with your payment to ISDH Vital Records, P.O. Box 7125, Indianapolis, IN 46206-7125. Each search costs $8.00. This fee is non-refundable. If the record is found, the fee covers one certified copy. Include a clear photocopy of your government-issued ID. If your current address differs from the address on your ID, also include a utility bill showing your current address. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days. For faster results, contact the county clerk directly, as in-person service is typically same-day.
For research without needing a certified copy, the Indiana Courts MLPL at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is free and instant for records from 1993 forward. The Indiana Legacy database covers records going back to 1811 at no cost.
Browse Indiana Marriage Records by County
Each of Indiana's 92 counties has its own Clerk of the Circuit Court who keeps marriage records. Choose a county below to find local contact info, office hours, fees, and direct links to search tools for marriage records in that area.
Indiana Marriage Records by City
Marriage licenses in Indiana are issued at the county level. Residents of major cities file through their county clerk. Choose a city to find which county handles the records and where to go for marriage documents in that area.