Crawford County Marriage Record Search

Crawford County marriage records are held by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in English, Indiana. The clerk's office is the official source for marriage licenses and related court documents in the county. If you need to apply for a new license, look up an existing Crawford County marriage record, or request a certified copy, this page covers the office to contact, what to bring, and how to search the state's online marriage license database.

Crawford County Clerk's Office

The Crawford County Clerk of Court is the keeper of marriage, divorce, and court records for the county. Clerk Lisa Stephenson-Holzbog leads this office, located at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive in English, Indiana, or by mail at PO Box 375, English, IN 47118. The phone number is (812) 338-2565 and the fax is (812) 338-2507. This is the office to contact for all marriage license applications, record copies, and questions about Crawford County marriage documents.

It is worth knowing that in Crawford County, the Clerk of Court and the Health Department handle different types of records. The Crawford County Clerk holds marriage, divorce, and court records. Birth and death records go to the Crawford County Health Department. If you need a marriage record, you are in the right place with the clerk. If you need a birth or death certificate, you will need to contact the Health Department separately.

The Crawford County page at in.gov has general county information and links to local offices. The Indiana State Library also maintains a Crawford County genealogy research guide that is useful for finding older marriage records and understanding where different record types are held.

The Crawford County page on the Indiana State Library's site shows how records are organized and where to find different document types for the county.

The Crawford County resources page confirms the clerk's office as the holder of marriage and court records for the county, separate from health department records.

Applying for a Crawford County Marriage License

To get married in Indiana, you need a valid marriage license. Crawford County follows the same rules as all other Indiana counties under Indiana Code 31-11. Both applicants must appear in person at the clerk's office in English. You cannot apply by mail or send someone else to apply for you. At least one person must be a resident of Crawford County, or the ceremony must be planned for the county if both parties are from out of state.

Bring a government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth. Both applicants must be 18 or older. If either party was previously married, bring information about how that marriage ended, including the date and method of dissolution. The standard resident fee follows the Indiana statewide rate of $29, which includes the license and the first certified copy. Out-of-state applicants pay $69. Payment is made at the clerk's office when you apply.

Indiana lets you start your application online before going to the clerk's office. Visit in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license to fill out the pre-application. This step saves time at the office but does not replace the in-person visit. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you do not use it within that window, you will need to apply again.

Note: Birth and death records in Crawford County are held by the Health Department, not the clerk. Contact the right office based on the record type you need.

Search Crawford County Marriage Records Online

Indiana Courts offers the Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This free tool covers marriage licenses issued in Crawford County from 1993 to the present. Search by name, county, or date to find license records. No account is needed. The database is a good first stop for confirming whether a license was issued and when. Keep in mind it shows license data, not the signed return or the actual marriage certificate.

For records before 1993, the MLPL will not have them. In that case, contact the Crawford County Clerk's Office directly at (812) 338-2565. Older records are kept on-site or may have been transferred to state archives. The Indiana State Library at digital.statelib.lib.in.us has digitized records from many counties and is a good resource for older Crawford County marriages. The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara also holds historical vital records that may include Crawford County marriage documents.

Crawford County Marriage Records and State Law

Marriage records in Crawford County are public documents under Indiana Code 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act. This law gives anyone the right to view and copy marriage records held by the county clerk, subject to any restrictions that apply to personal data in vital records. Indiana Code 16-37-1-10 covers vital records specifically and sets limits on what personal information can be released depending on the age of the record and who is asking.

For certified copies of state-level marriage records, the Indiana Department of Health is an option in addition to the county clerk. Their vital records office at in.gov/health/vital-records handles requests for records statewide. Crawford County marriage records may be available through either the county clerk or the state health department, depending on the date and nature of the record. The Indiana Courts public records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records covers court-related documents and provides guidance on how to request them.

Historical Crawford County Marriage Records

Crawford County was established in 1818, making it one of Indiana's older southern counties. Marriage records from the 19th century and early 20th century are held in historical archives. The Indiana State Library's genealogy guide for Crawford County, linked above at in.gov, is the best starting point for understanding what is available and where. Many older records have been indexed and digitized by volunteers on platforms like FamilySearch, which offers free access to early Indiana marriage records.

For researchers tracing families from the hill country of southern Indiana, Crawford County records often connect to families from nearby Harrison, Orange, and Dubois counties. It helps to search across county lines since families frequently moved and married across county borders. The Crawford County Clerk's Office can tell you what years of records are held locally and what has been archived elsewhere.

Cities and Towns in Crawford County

English is the county seat of Crawford County. No city in Crawford County has a population over 25,000. Residents of English, Marengo, Leavenworth, and other communities in the county all apply for marriage licenses at the same clerk's office at 715 Judicial Plaza Drive in English. There are no city-level marriage license offices in Crawford County.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Crawford County. Each has its own Circuit Court Clerk handling marriage records.