Search Clinton County Marriage Records

Clinton County marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the county courthouse in Frankfort, Indiana. The clerk's office handles all marriage license applications, issues licenses, and keeps official records for the county. If you are applying for a new license or need to search or obtain a copy of an existing Clinton County marriage record, this page covers the process, fees, and online tools available to you.

Clinton County Clerk's Office

The Clinton County Clerk's Office is located at the county courthouse in Frankfort, Indiana. The clerk serves as the official keeper of marriage records for Clinton County, along with other court and vital records. You can find contact details and office information at clintonco.com/clerk. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. For current hours and to confirm appointment availability, check the clerk's website or call the office before your visit.

Both applicants must appear in person to apply for a Clinton County marriage license. This is a statewide rule that applies to all Indiana counties. You cannot send a proxy or apply on behalf of your future spouse. Bring a valid photo ID showing your date of birth. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. If either applicant was previously married, be ready to provide information about how that marriage ended.

The Clinton County Clerk's website at clintonco.com/clerk is the best place to check for the latest information on scheduling and requirements before you go.

The Clinton County Clerk's page provides current contact information and details on applying for a marriage license in Frankfort.

How to Apply for a Clinton County Marriage License

Indiana requires a valid marriage license for every wedding performed in the state. Under Indiana Code 31-11, both parties must apply together in person at the county clerk's office. Clinton County follows this rule. At least one applicant must be a resident of Clinton County, or if both are from out of state, the ceremony must be planned for Clinton County. Bring a government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth and your current address.

Indiana lets you begin the application process online before your in-person visit. Go to in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license and fill out the pre-application form. This can speed things up at the clerk's office but does not replace your appointment. The resident fee is $29, broken down as $25 for the license and $4 for the first certified copy. Out-of-state applicants pay $69 total. Payment is made at the clerk's office on the day you apply.

The Clinton County Courts probate page at clintoncountycourts.org also lists requirements that may be relevant for applicants with special circumstances, such as those involving court orders for applicants under 18.

The marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If it expires before the ceremony, you will need to apply and pay again. Online payments for certain court fees can be made at public.courts.in.gov/pay, though check with the clerk's office about which fees can be paid this way.

Clinton County Marriage Records Search

The Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers Clinton County marriage licenses issued from 1993 to the present. The tool is free to use. You can search by name, county, or date range. Results show license holder names and issue dates. No registration is required to search.

Records older than 1993 are not in the MLPL database. For those, contact the Clinton County Clerk's Office directly in Frankfort. Older records may also be found through the Indiana State Library digital archives at digital.statelib.lib.in.us. The Indiana Archives and Records Administration at in.gov/iara holds some older vital records from Clinton County that can assist with genealogical research.

Note: The MLPL database shows license data only. It does not include the signed return from the ceremony or the marriage certificate itself.

Clinton County Marriage Records and Indiana Law

Marriage records held by the Clinton County Clerk are generally public records under Indiana Code 5-14-3, the state's Access to Public Records Act. Anyone can request to view or copy a marriage record from the clerk's office. Certain details in vital records, however, may be restricted. Indiana Code 16-37-1-10 sets limits on what personal information in vital records can be shared, depending on the age of the record and the relationship of the person requesting it.

The Indiana Department of Health maintains vital records at the state level, including marriage records. You can request certified copies through their office at in.gov/health/vital-records. This is a separate process from requesting a copy through the county clerk. Both are valid options for getting a certified marriage record from Clinton County. The Indiana Courts public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records has more on how to access court-filed documents in Indiana.

Clinton County Historical Marriage Records

Clinton County has records going back to the early 1800s. For genealogy or historical research, older marriage records are found through several sources. The Indiana State Library's digital legacy collection is a good first stop. FamilySearch has indexed many early Clinton County marriages for free access. Ancestry also has collections of older Indiana marriage records that may include Frankfort and other Clinton County communities.

If you need to trace a specific older record, start by contacting the Clinton County Clerk's Office in Frankfort. They can tell you what years of records are held on-site and what has been transferred to state archives. Local libraries and historical societies in the Frankfort area may also hold indexes or microfilm copies of older marriage records not available online.

Cities and Towns in Clinton County

Frankfort is the county seat and the largest city in Clinton County. No city in Clinton County has a population over 25,000. Residents of Frankfort, Rossville, Michigantown, and other communities in the county all apply for marriage licenses at the same clerk's office at the courthouse in Frankfort.

The Clinton County Clerk's page at clintonco.com shows office details and current marriage license procedures for Frankfort residents and all Clinton County applicants.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Clinton County. Each has its own clerk's office for marriage license applications and records.