New Albany Marriage Records
Marriage records in New Albany, Indiana are maintained by the Floyd County Clerk's Office. New Albany is the county seat of Floyd County, so the clerk's office is located right in the city, making it convenient for local residents to apply for a marriage license or request copies of existing records. Indiana law assigns all marriage license authority to county clerks, and the Floyd County Clerk at 311 Hauss Square handles all such requests for New Albany and the rest of Floyd County.
New Albany Marriage Records Quick Facts
Floyd County Clerk Office: Marriage Records in New Albany
The Floyd County Clerk's Office handles all marriage license applications and marriage record requests for New Albany residents. The office is at 311 Hauss Square, Room 235, New Albany, IN 47150. The phone number is 812-948-5411. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Because New Albany is the county seat, the office is easy to reach for most city residents without a long drive.
| Office | Floyd County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 311 Hauss Square, Room 235, New Albany, IN 47150 |
| Phone | 812-948-5411 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Fee (Resident) | $29 |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $69 |
| County Page | Floyd County Marriage Records |
Indiana law under IC 31-11 requires both applicants to appear together at the clerk's office. Both parties must present valid photo ID and sign the license application in person. One applicant cannot submit paperwork on behalf of the other. This requirement applies to all couples regardless of whether they live in New Albany or elsewhere in Indiana.
New Albany City Clerk and Wedding Officiant Services
New Albany has a notable local option worth knowing about. The New Albany City Clerk may officiate weddings for couples at no charge. This is not common across Indiana cities, and it gives New Albany residents a convenient option if they want to hold a simple civil ceremony without arranging a separate officiant. The city clerk does not issue marriage licenses, which remain the exclusive responsibility of the Floyd County Clerk's Office. But if you already have your license and want a city official to perform the ceremony, the New Albany City Clerk may be able to help.
If you plan to use the city clerk as an officiant, contact the New Albany City Clerk's office directly to confirm availability and current procedures. This service is not guaranteed to be available at all times, and the city clerk has other official duties that may affect scheduling. Getting your Floyd County Clerk-issued license first is the required first step regardless of who will perform the ceremony.
For out-of-state couples or visitors who want to marry in New Albany and take advantage of its location just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, the Floyd County Clerk is the proper starting point. Indiana's requirements apply to anyone applying for a license in Indiana, including non-residents who choose to marry in the state.
How to Apply for a Marriage License in New Albany
Bring a government-issued photo ID showing your date of birth. A driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card all work. If either applicant was previously married, bring a final divorce decree or death certificate for a deceased spouse. The Floyd County Clerk will not issue a new license without this proof when prior marriages are involved.
Indiana has no waiting period. The license is ready the same day you apply and is valid for 60 days from issuance. Plan your ceremony date before applying so you do not let the license expire. After 60 days, the license can no longer be used and you would need to apply again. The resident fee is $29. The out-of-state fee is $69, which applies when either party has not been an Indiana resident for at least 60 days before the application.
Indiana Courts offers an online pre-application at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license/. Using the online form before your in-person visit allows the clerk to process your application faster. You still need to appear in person with both applicants to sign and pay, but pre-filling your data shortens the time at the counter. The Floyd County Clerk at 812-948-5411 can answer any questions about what to bring or what to expect.
Search New Albany Marriage Records Online
Indiana maintains a free public search tool for marriage licenses issued from 1993 to the present. The Marriage License Public Lookup is available at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. Search by party name and select Floyd County to see records for New Albany marriages. No account or fee is needed to use the tool. It shows both parties' names, the license issue date, and other basic details. The lookup is available at any time.
Indiana's vital records system provides additional resources for looking up marriage records, especially for records that predate the online court database. The Indiana State Department of Health vital records division is a useful complement to the court system's records.
For records before 1993, contact the Floyd County Clerk directly at 812-948-5411. The clerk can tell you what older records are available and how to request them. Very old records may also be available through the Indiana State Archives or the Indiana State Library's genealogy collections.
Historical Marriage Records for New Albany
New Albany is one of Indiana's older cities, and Floyd County has marriage records going back to the early 1800s. For genealogical research involving New Albany marriages from the 19th and early 20th centuries, several resources exist outside the modern online lookup. The Indiana State Library genealogy division holds historical records at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm. Their Indiana collections include county-level marriage data and other vital records from decades past.
The Legacy Database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ provides digitized access to older Indiana records, which may include historical Floyd County marriage data. The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/ is another key source for historical vital records from Indiana counties. Using these sources together with the county clerk's files gives the most complete research coverage for New Albany's marriage history.
Certified Copies and Public Records Access
Certified copies of marriage records are often needed for legal and administrative purposes. Name changes with the Social Security Administration, passport applications, insurance policy updates, and immigration filings all commonly require a certified copy rather than just a printout. The Floyd County Clerk at 311 Hauss Square issues certified copies for marriages on record in Floyd County. Call 812-948-5411 to ask about the current process, fees, and whether requests can be submitted by mail.
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act under IC 5-14-3 makes marriage records generally available to any person who requests them. You do not need to be a party to the marriage or a direct relative. The law also sets rules about how agencies must respond to records requests and what fees are allowed. If you need a certified copy and cannot visit in person, ask the clerk whether mail requests are accepted and what documentation is needed for a mail request.
Indiana Marriage Requirements and Law
Indiana sets the rules for marriage statewide. Both applicants must be at least 18. Both must appear in person before the county clerk and sign the application as required under IC 31-11. No waiting period applies. The license is valid 60 days. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the marriage certificate and returns it to the Floyd County Clerk to complete the official record under IC 16-37-1-10.
The signed certificate is what creates the legal record of the marriage. An issued license that was never used in a ceremony, or a ceremony whose certificate was never returned to the clerk, will not show a completed marriage in the county's records. Confirm with your officiant that they returned the certificate to the Floyd County Clerk within a reasonable time after the ceremony. If you're using the New Albany City Clerk as an officiant, confirm their process for returning the signed certificate as part of your ceremony arrangements.