Search Howard County Marriage Records
Howard County marriage records are maintained by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Kokomo, Indiana, which issues marriage licenses, stores filed documents, and handles certified copy requests for the county. Howard County stands out for offering after-hours access to officiants for couples who cannot schedule a ceremony during normal business hours, and for maintaining a historical marriage records collection that extends back well before the modern digital era. This page covers how to apply for a Howard County marriage license, how to search existing records online, and where to access older historical documents.
Howard County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Howard County Clerk's Office
The Howard County Clerk's Office is located at 104 N. Buckeye St, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901. Call (765) 456-2000 or fax (765) 456-2267 for questions. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The clerk's office issues marriage licenses, accepts new court filings, and handles the full range of circuit court administrative functions for Howard County. The resident fee for a marriage license is $18. Out-of-state applicants pay $60.
Howard County is one of the few Indiana counties to provide a list of after-hours officiants for couples who need to hold their ceremony outside normal business hours. The clerk's page lists: "Weddings After Hours - The following individuals are available after hours to perform marriage ceremonies." One contact listed is Diane Howard, City Clerk, reachable at (765) 456-7370. This is a notable service not offered by most Indiana counties. If your ceremony needs to happen evenings or weekends and you want an officiant through the county system, Howard County can connect you with one.
Both parties must appear in person at the Kokomo courthouse to apply. Indiana allows a pre-application online at courts.in.gov/marriage, which speeds up the in-person visit. The state-managed Howard County clerk page at in.gov/counties/howard/departments/clerk has contact details and links to current resources.
| Office | Howard County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 104 N. Buckeye St, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901 |
| Phone | (765) 456-2000 |
| Fax | (765) 456-2267 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Fee (Resident) | $18 |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $60 |
| After-Hours Officiant | Diane Howard (City Clerk): (765) 456-7370 |
Applying for a Howard County Marriage License
Complete the online pre-application at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license and save your license key number before going to the Kokomo courthouse. Both applicants must be present in person at Room 202 to complete the application and pay. There is no waiting period. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. Plan your ceremony within that window or you will need to reapply.
Standard Indiana identification rules apply in Howard County. Bring a government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. If you have been divorced, bring your certified divorce decree. If applicants are 16 or 17 years old, a court order is required under Indiana Code IC 31-11-7. Both applicants must be 18 or older without a court order. No blood test is required. Indiana Code IC 31-11 governs marriage law across all Indiana counties.
The Howard County resident fee of $18 is lower than the Indiana standard of $25 charged by many counties. Out-of-state applicants pay $60, also below the $65 charged by many other counties. These lower fees make Howard County a relatively affordable option for couples living near the county's borders.
Howard County Historical Marriage Records
Howard County has an online historical marriage records collection that is worth knowing about. The Howard County Memory digital archive at collections.howardcountymemory.net/digital/collection/mrrgrcrds hosts digitized historical marriage records from Howard County going back well before the statewide courts database. If you are researching family history or need an older record not available through modern databases, this collection is a good first stop specifically for Howard County.
This Howard County historical marriage records collection is maintained locally and covers records from earlier eras of county record-keeping, offering researchers a way to access older Howard County marriage documents online without visiting the courthouse in Kokomo.
The Indiana Legacy Database at the State Library also holds older digitized records from many Indiana counties and can supplement the Howard County Memory collection for genealogists researching marriages before modern record-keeping began.
For additional genealogy resources, the Indiana State Library at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm has indexes and materials covering Indiana counties including Howard County. FamilySearch has indexed many early Howard County records as well. The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara holds transferred historical vital records from Howard County that may predate digitization.
Search Howard County Marriage Records Online
The Indiana Courts Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is the primary free database for Howard County marriage records from 1993 to the present. Search by name or narrow by county. No account needed. Results show both parties' names and the license issue date. This database is maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court and covers all 92 Indiana counties.
The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup is the fastest way to find a Howard County marriage record from recent decades without a visit to the Kokomo courthouse or a formal records request to the clerk's office.
The statewide portal covers Howard County licenses from 1993 forward and allows name-based searches that return results within seconds, making it far more efficient than mail-in record requests for recent Howard County marriages.
For records between 1958 and 1993, the Indiana Department of Health at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages maintains a statewide marriage index. Searching costs $8 and returns an index entry only. For records before 1958, the Howard County Memory digital archive or the Indiana Archives are better resources. The Indiana Judicial Branch at in.gov/courts/public-records explains broader public access rights to Indiana court records.
Certified Copies and Record Access
Certified copies of Howard County marriage records are available at the Kokomo courthouse in Room 202. Visit in person during office hours or submit a mail request to Howard County Clerk, 104 N. Buckeye St, Room 202, Kokomo, IN 46901. Include both parties' full names, the approximate date of marriage, return contact information, and payment for the copy fee. Check current fee amounts with the clerk's office before sending your request.
Indiana Code IC 5-14-3 makes most marriage records in Indiana public and accessible on request. Indiana Code 16-37-1-10 sets some limits on certain vital records data disclosure, but does not typically block access to marriage license records. Free legal help for Howard County residents is available through indianalegalhelp.org.
Cities in Howard County
Kokomo is the county seat and the largest city in Howard County, with a population well over 25,000. Kokomo residents and all other Howard County communities apply for marriage licenses at the clerk's office at 104 N. Buckeye St in Kokomo.