Find Marriage Records in Allen County

Allen County marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of the Courts at the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne. The clerk is responsible for recording and maintaining all marriage records in Allen County, and the office issues certified copies of marriage licenses on request. This page explains how to search Allen County marriage records, how to get a new license, and where to find historical documents going back many decades.

Allen County Clerk of Courts

The Clerk of Courts in Allen County oversees the maintenance and microfilming of court records while following the confidentiality guidelines set by the Indiana Supreme Court. The clerk is also responsible for recording and maintaining all marriage records for Allen County, and the office issues certified copies of both court records and marriage licenses. This is the main office for anyone who needs an official marriage record from Allen County.

The office is located in Courthouse Room 201 at 715 South Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Phone the main line at (260) 449-7890 or call the marriage license line directly at (260) 449-7245. You can also email record copy requests to copyrequest@co.allen.in.us. One thing to know before your visit: cellular telephones, pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices are banned from the Allen County Courthouse. Leave your phone in your car or be prepared to store it before you enter.

The Allen County Clerk's website at allencountyclerk.in.gov has full details on requesting copies of marriage records and court documents.

The Indiana vital records site provides statewide information that applies to Allen County marriage records, including how to order official copies from state-level databases.

Applying for an Allen County Marriage License

To get a marriage license in Allen County, both applicants must appear in person at the clerk's office. Indiana law under Indiana Code 31-11 requires both parties to be present when the license is issued. You must each bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. You can start the process online at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license before coming to the courthouse, which may shorten your wait time. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Allen County residents apply at the courthouse in Fort Wayne. If neither applicant lives in Indiana, they must apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. Indiana marriage licenses are valid for 60 days from the date they are issued. If you do not use the license within that time, you will need to start over and get a new one. The license lets you marry anywhere in the state of Indiana, not just in Allen County.

Note: The clerk's office does not perform marriage ceremonies in Allen County. You will need to find your own officiant.

Allen County Marriage Records Search

You can search Allen County marriage records online through the Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This free database covers marriage licenses issued from 1993 to the present. Search by name, date, or county. Allen County records from this period are included. The database is useful for confirming whether a license was issued and when. It does not provide full document images, but it gives key details like license date and parties' names.

For records older than 1993, you need to contact the Allen County Clerk directly. The office has microfilmed records going back many years. Staff can search by name or date and provide copies at the standard fee schedule. For in-person searches, go to Room 201 at the courthouse in Fort Wayne during regular business hours. Bring as much information as you can, including full names and an estimated year for the marriage.

The Indiana Courts public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records explains the rules that apply to accessing court and marriage records across Indiana, including Allen County.

Requesting Copies of Allen County Marriage Records

The Allen County Clerk charges $1.00 per page plus $3.00 per document for certification. So a certified copy of a one-page marriage license costs $4.00 total. Longer documents cost more per page. The cost may differ for marriage licenses recorded before 1980, so call the clerk at (260) 449-7245 to confirm pricing on older records before you send payment. These are among the lowest copy fees in Indiana and make it easy to get what you need.

You can request copies in person, by email at copyrequest@co.allen.in.us, or by mail. To request by mail, send a check or money order payable to "Clerk of Allen Circuit Court." Include the full names of both parties, the approximate date of the marriage, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail your request to 715 South Calhoun Street, Courthouse Room 201, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Processing time varies. Call ahead if you need the copy quickly.

Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, marriage records are public documents and available to anyone who requests them. Certain personal data in vital records may be restricted by Indiana Code 16-37-1-10, but the main record is generally open to the public.

The state also issues certified copies through the Indiana Department of Health vital records office. State-level records go back to 1958 for marriages recorded statewide. For older records or local court copies, the county clerk is your best source.

Historical Allen County Marriage Records

Marriage records from before 1993 are not in the online MLPL database. For older Allen County records, the clerk's office has microfilm going back through much of the 20th century. The Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us holds digitized historical documents from many Indiana counties, including Allen County. This is a good first stop for genealogical research on older marriages.

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at in.gov/iara also holds historical vital records for Allen County. FamilySearch has indexed many older Allen County marriage records and makes them available at no cost. For records from the 1800s and early 1900s, FamilySearch often has better coverage than other sources. The Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne is also well known for its genealogical collections and may hold local marriage record indexes.

Allen County Marriage Laws and Public Access

Allen County follows Indiana marriage law as written in Indiana Code Title 31, Article 11. This law sets out who may marry, what the license requires, and how it must be issued. Indiana does not have a waiting period between getting the license and using it, so you can marry the same day you receive the license. Both parties must apply in person in the county where at least one of them lives. Out-of-state couples who want to marry in Allen County must apply at the Allen County Clerk's Office.

Indiana's public records law at IC 5-14-3 gives anyone the right to request and receive copies of marriage records held by government offices, including the Allen County Clerk. The clerk must respond to requests within a reasonable time and may charge only the fees permitted by law. If you have trouble getting a record, you can contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor for help. Legal help for individuals in Allen County is available at indianalegalhelp.org.

Cities in Allen County

Marriage licenses for Fort Wayne and surrounding areas are handled by the Allen County Clerk's office. Residents of these cities apply at the county courthouse in Fort Wayne.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Allen County. Each has its own Clerk of the Circuit Court for marriage records.