Find Marriage Records in Brown County

Brown County marriage records are held by the Clerk's Office at the courthouse in Nashville, Indiana. Whether you need to apply for a new marriage license, look up an existing record, or get a certified copy of a past marriage document, the Brown County Clerk handles all of these services. This page explains what you need to know about Brown County marriage records, how to access them, and where to find historical marriage data going back many years.

Brown County Clerk's Office

The Brown County Clerk's Office is located at 20 East Main Street, Nashville, Indiana, 47448. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The office is closed on state holidays. The clerk maintains all marriage license records for Brown County and issues certified copies to those who request them. If you need to apply for a license, search for an old record, or get a copy of a past marriage document, this is the office to contact first.

Brown County is a smaller county in south-central Indiana. The clerk's office in Nashville serves all residents of the county. Because of the county's size, staff are often able to assist visitors with records questions without a long wait. Call ahead to confirm current procedures and any updated fee information before making the trip to Nashville.

The Brown County Clerk's office information is listed at browncounty.com/do-list/brown-county-clerks-office.

The Brown County Clerk's listing shows office location, hours, and what services the clerk's office provides, including marriage license records and applications.

Applying for a Brown County Marriage License

You need a marriage license to get married in Indiana. This rule applies everywhere in the state, including Brown County. Indiana requires both parties to appear in person at the clerk's office. Under Indiana Code 31-11, no marriage is valid in Indiana without a license issued by the county clerk. The license confirms that both parties met the legal requirements and that the county has a record of the marriage.

If you live in Indiana, you must get your license in the county where you live. This is a key rule. If you live in Monroe County or Johnson County, for example, you cannot get your license from Brown County just because it is where you want to get married. You must apply in your home county. The only exception is if you live out of state. If neither applicant lives in Indiana, you get your license from Brown County, which is the county where the ceremony will take place.

You can start the application online at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license before visiting the courthouse. This pre-application shortens your time at the office. Both parties must still appear in person with valid photo ID. Both must be at least 18 years old. The license is good for 60 days from the date of issue.

The Brown County Circuit Court page at browncounty-in.gov/161/Circuit-Court has additional information about court operations in Nashville.

The Brown County Circuit Court page shows how the court handles various filings and records, including marriage licenses, that go through the Nashville courthouse.

Brown County Marriage Records Search

The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is the free statewide tool for finding Brown County marriage licenses issued since 1993. You can search by name, date, or county. The tool is open to anyone. No registration is required. Search results show the names of the applicants and when the license was issued. This is a good first step when you are trying to verify or confirm a Brown County marriage from recent decades.

For records before 1993, the Brown County Clerk's Office in Nashville is the right place to contact. Older records are stored at the courthouse and are not available online. The Indiana Courts public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records explains Indiana's rules for accessing court and marriage records. Call the clerk's office in Nashville before visiting to ask about older records and what they require for access.

Note: The MLPL database only covers Brown County licenses from 1993 forward. Older marriage records need to be requested directly from the county clerk in Nashville.

Certified Copies of Brown County Marriage Records

To get a certified copy of a Brown County marriage record, contact the clerk's office at 20 East Main Street in Nashville. You can request copies in person during regular office hours. The clerk keeps a record of every license issued in Brown County. Bring the names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage so staff can locate the record quickly. Fees apply for certified copies, so call ahead or check the office website for current pricing.

The Indiana Department of Health also issues certified copies of marriage records through the Indiana vital records office. State records go back to 1958. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, marriage records are public and any person can request them. Some personal details in vital records are protected under IC 16-37-1-10. Both the county and state office can provide certified copies that carry legal weight for official purposes.

Historical Brown County Marriage Records

Older Brown County marriage records can be found through the Indiana State Library's digital archive at digital.statelib.lib.in.us. The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at in.gov/iara holds older vital records from across the state. FamilySearch has indexed many historical Indiana marriage records and makes them available at no cost. For genealogical research into Brown County marriages from the 1800s and early 1900s, FamilySearch is often the fastest starting point. Ancestry.com also has older Brown County records that have been scanned and indexed by volunteers over the years.

Brown County Marriage Records and Indiana Law

Indiana marriage law at Indiana Code Title 31, Article 11 governs every marriage license issued in Brown County. The law sets out who may apply, where they must file, and what the license process requires. Indiana has no waiting period between getting the license and using it, which means a couple can marry on the same day the license is issued. This applies in Brown County just as it does everywhere in the state.

Brown County marriage records are public records under Indiana Code 5-14-3. Any member of the public may request to see or copy these documents. Some data in vital records is limited by IC 16-37-1-10, but the main marriage record is open. If you need legal help with a matter related to marriage records in Brown County, the Indiana Legal Help website offers free resources and referrals to legal aid services across the state.

Cities and Towns in Brown County

All cities and towns in Brown County obtain marriage licenses from the County Clerk in Nashville. There are no cities in Brown County with a population over 25,000, but residents of Nashville, Helmsburg, Fruitdale, and other local communities all file at the same clerk's office at 20 East Main Street, Nashville, Indiana, 47448.

Nearby Counties

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