Hammond Marriage Records
Marriage records in Hammond are handled by the Lake County Clerk's Office, which issues all marriage licenses under Indiana law and maintains the official record of every ceremony performed in the county. Hammond residents have an advantage over most Lake County cities: there is a satellite clerk office right in Hammond at 232 Russell Street, so you may not need to drive to the main courthouse in Crown Point to apply for a license or get a copy of your marriage record.
Hammond Marriage Records Quick Facts
Lake County Clerk Offices Serving Hammond
The Lake County Clerk is the only office authorized to issue marriage licenses to Hammond residents. Indiana law under IC 31-11 gives county clerks sole authority over marriage license applications and record maintenance. No city agency in Hammond issues marriage licenses. The Lake County Clerk operates two locations that serve Hammond residents, and you can choose whichever is more convenient.
The Hammond satellite office at 232 Russell Street, Hammond, IN 46320 is the closer option for city residents. The main Lake County Clerk location is at 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307. The Crown Point office can be reached at 219-648-6996. Both locations handle marriage license applications, but if you plan to use the Hammond satellite office, call ahead to confirm current hours and available services before your visit, as satellite offices can vary in their offerings.
| Office | Lake County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Hammond Satellite | 232 Russell Street, Hammond, IN 46320 |
| Main Office | 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| Phone | 219-648-6996 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday (call to confirm satellite hours) |
| Fee (Resident) | $25 (cash only) |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $65 (cash only) |
| County Page | Lake County Marriage Records |
Payment is cash only at the clerk's offices. The county does accept credit cards at the counter, but a 3% convenience fee applies. American Express is not accepted. Plan to bring exact cash if you want to avoid the card surcharge.
How to Get a Marriage License in Hammond
Both people getting married must appear together at the clerk's office. Indiana does not allow one party to apply alone. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth, such as a driver's license or passport. If either of you was previously married, bring the most recent divorce decree or a death certificate for the deceased spouse. The clerk will review your paperwork before issuing the license.
Indiana offers an online pre-application at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license/. Filling this out before your visit can save time at the counter. However, completing it online does not replace the in-person visit. Both parties still need to appear together in person to sign and receive the actual license. Start the process online, then go to the Hammond satellite office or Crown Point location to finish up.
The license fee is $25 for Indiana residents. If either applicant has lived outside Indiana for at least 60 days before applying, the fee jumps to $65. The license is good for 60 days from the issue date. You don't need to wait any set number of days before using it. There is no waiting period in Indiana. Once you have the license, you can get married the same day if you want.
Marriage Ceremonies at the Lake County Courthouse
If you want a civil ceremony performed by a judge, the Lake County courts offer that option. Judges are available for ceremonies Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM at the Crown Point courthouse. This service is available at the main Crown Point location. Call the clerk at 219-648-6996 to ask about scheduling and any additional fee for a judicial ceremony.
You can also choose your own officiant. Indiana law lets ordained ministers, judges, and other authorized persons perform ceremonies. Once the ceremony is complete, the officiant returns the signed license to the Lake County Clerk. The clerk then issues certified copies, which serve as the legal proof of marriage. Keep at least one certified copy in a safe place for future legal or government use.
Search Hammond Marriage Records Online
The Indiana courts system runs a free public search tool for marriage records from 1993 to the present. The Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL lets you search by name and county. It is available any time, any day, at no cost. This is the fastest way to find out whether a marriage license was issued in Lake County and to get basic details such as names and date.
For records that go back before 1993, you need to contact the Lake County Clerk directly. The clerk holds older paper records and can assist with searches for pre-digital marriages. The Indiana State Library Legacy Database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ is another useful tool for older Lake County marriage data, especially for genealogy work. The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/ holds additional historical vital records that can supplement county clerk files.
Certified Copies of Marriage Records
A certified copy is different from a regular printout. It carries an official seal and signature from the clerk's office, making it legally valid for name changes, insurance claims, immigration, and other formal purposes. Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, marriage records are public documents and can be requested by anyone with a valid reason.
To get a certified copy of a Hammond marriage record, contact the Lake County Clerk at 219-648-6996 or visit either office location. You will need the full names of both parties and an approximate date of marriage. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ also issues certified copies for an $8 search fee. Under IC 16-37-1-10, certified copies of Indiana vital records carry full legal weight as proof of the event.
Historical and Genealogical Resources for Lake County
Lake County has been recording marriages for well over 150 years. If you are searching for a marriage from the 1800s or early 1900s, the Indiana State Library genealogy collections are a good starting point. The library's online resources at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm include county-level registers and index books that cover marriages long before digital records existed. Some Lake County marriage indexes are also available through the legacy database.
The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/ holds older statewide collections. For Lake County specifically, researchers sometimes find records through local genealogical societies and the Calumet Regional Archives at Indiana University Northwest. These sources cover Hammond marriages and can help trace family histories in one of Indiana's most populated counties.