Schererville Marriage Records Search
Marriage records for Schererville residents are issued and maintained by the Lake County Clerk of Circuit Court, the only agency in Lake County authorized to issue marriage licenses under IC 31-11. Schererville has no local marriage license office. Applicants must travel to the main Lake County Clerk office in Crown Point or the Hammond satellite location. The Lake County Clerk handles all licensing, certified copy requests, and historical record access for the entire county.
Schererville Marriage Records Quick Facts
Where to Get a Marriage License Near Schererville
Schererville is in Lake County but does not have its own marriage license office. The closest options are the main Lake County Clerk office in Crown Point and the Hammond satellite. The main office at 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building, 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307 can be reached at 219-648-6996 or the alternate line 219-755-3466. The Hammond satellite office is at 232 Russell Street, Hammond, IN 46320. There is also a Gary satellite at 15 West 4th Avenue, 400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46402.
| Office | Lake County Clerk of Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Main Office | 2293 N. Main Street, Courts Building 1st Floor, Crown Point, IN 46307 |
| Main Phone | 219-648-6996 / 219-755-3466 |
| Hammond Satellite | 232 Russell Street, Hammond, IN 46320 |
| Gary Satellite | 15 West 4th Avenue, 400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46402 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday (call to confirm location hours) |
| Payment | Cash only |
| Fee (Resident) | $25 |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $65 |
| County Page | Lake County Marriage Records |
Payment is cash only at all Lake County Clerk marriage offices. The office does not accept credit cards, debit cards, or checks for marriage license fees. Bring exact change or enough cash to cover the fee. Running short on cash means a wasted trip, so plan ahead.
Applying for a Marriage License as a Schererville Resident
Both applicants must appear in person at the same time at whichever Lake County Clerk location they choose. Indiana law does not permit one partner to apply without the other present. Each applicant needs a government-issued photo ID that shows a full legal name and date of birth. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. Social Security numbers are required during the application process.
The state online pre-application at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license/ is available and encouraged. Completing it before your visit can reduce wait time at the clerk's counter. You can also apply at courts.in.gov/marriage, which is the direct portal for the pre-application. When you finish online, save your license key number or print the confirmation to bring with you. The online step does not replace the in-person visit. Both parties still must show up together to finalize the license.
If either applicant was previously married, bring the final divorce decree. If widowed, bring a certified death certificate for the former spouse. The clerk's staff will review all documents before issuing the license. Indiana has no waiting period. You can hold your ceremony the same day the license is issued. The license stays valid for 60 days. After that, it expires with no refund option. Both applicants must be at least 18. No blood test is required.
Searching Schererville Marriage Records Online
The Indiana courts system provides a free public tool for searching marriage records. The Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers Lake County records from 1993 to present. Search by name and county to find whether a license was issued and see basic record details. No login is required and the tool runs around the clock. It is one of the easiest ways to verify whether a Lake County marriage license exists.
The ISDH vital records page at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ describes what state-level marriage records are available and how to request certified copies.
For older Lake County marriage records that predate 1993, try the Indiana State Library's Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/. The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/ also holds historical collections useful for older genealogical searches. Contacting the Lake County Clerk directly is another option for very old records that may not appear in any digital index.
Certified Copies of Schererville Marriage Records
Certified copies of marriage records are legal documents bearing the clerk's official seal. Common reasons to need one include a name change with the Social Security Administration, updating a passport, enrolling a spouse in an insurance plan, or proving marital status for estate or immigration matters. Under IC 5-14-3, Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, marriage records are public. Any person can request access to them.
To get a certified copy from the Lake County Clerk, call 219-648-6996 or visit any Lake County Clerk location with the full names of both spouses and an approximate marriage date. The Indiana State Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/ also provides certified copies for an $8 search fee. Under IC 16-37-1-10, certified Indiana marriage record copies serve as official legal evidence of the marriage in court and government proceedings. Keep any certified copy safe, since requesting a replacement costs money every time.
Courthouse Ceremonies in Lake County
If you want a judge to perform your ceremony, that option is available at the Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point. Judges are available for civil ceremonies Monday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM. This service is at the main Crown Point courthouse, not the Hammond or Gary satellite offices. Call 219-648-6996 to ask about fees and scheduling. Arriving before 11:00 AM gives you time to get your license if you also plan to apply that day and hold the ceremony the same day.
Indiana Marriage Law and Schererville Residents
Indiana marriage requirements are set out in IC 31-11. The law requires both applicants to be at least 18, to appear together in person, and to pay the applicable fee. The issued license is valid for 60 days. There is no waiting period between issuance and the ceremony. No blood test is needed. Both Indiana residents and out-of-state couples can marry in Lake County, though the fee differs based on residency in the 60 days before application.
The Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 governs public access to marriage records in Indiana. Because marriage licenses are public documents, any member of the public can inspect or request copies subject to the clerk's reasonable access procedures. Schererville residents who need older county records or have questions about what information is in a record should call the Lake County Clerk main office for guidance.
Genealogy Research for Lake County Marriages
Genealogical research on Lake County marriages can span many decades. The Indiana State Library's genealogy resources at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm include county-level collections and guides for researching Indiana families. Older Porter and Lake County records are often available in microfilm at the state library or through the Indiana Archives.
The state library's genealogy page at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm is a good starting point for anyone researching Lake County family history.
The Legacy database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ is a digitized collection that covers older Indiana marriage records from multiple counties. It is free to search and does not require an account. For records not available online, the Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/ accepts written research requests and can help locate documents from the pre-digital era.