Jasper County Marriage Records
Jasper County marriage records are handled by the County Clerk's office in Rensselaer, where applicants must schedule an appointment before arriving at the courthouse. The process here differs from most Indiana counties because the clerk requires you to start your application online first, and the office is not currently performing marriage ceremonies. This page explains how to apply for a Jasper County marriage license, what to bring, what it costs, and how to search historical records through Indiana's state databases.
Jasper County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Jasper County Clerk's Office
The Jasper County Clerk's Office, currently led by Kara Fishburn, is in the Jasper County Courthouse at 115 W Washington Street, Suite 204, Rensselaer, IN 47978. The clerk's main line is (219) 866-4926. To book a marriage license appointment specifically, call (219) 866-5297. Walk-ins are not accepted for marriage license applications. You must have an appointment, and you must complete the online pre-application before you arrive. Appointments run Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
The office notes on its website that it is located on the first floor of the Jasper County Courthouse in the Microfilm Department. That detail matters if you have never been to the courthouse before. Look for the Microfilm Department signs when you enter. Suite 204 refers to the clerk's administrative offices, but marriage license appointments are handled at the first-floor location. If you are unsure where to go when you arrive, ask at the main entrance.
| Office | Jasper County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 115 W Washington St, Suite 204, Rensselaer, IN 47978 |
| Phone | (219) 866-4926 (main); (219) 866-5297 (appointments) |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (by appointment only) |
| Fee (Resident) | $29 |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $69 |
How to Apply for a Marriage License in Jasper County
The Jasper County Clerk requires every couple to begin their application at the Indiana Courts online portal before setting foot in the courthouse. Go to courts.in.gov/marriage and fill out the pre-application. Once you finish that step, call (219) 866-5297 to book your in-person appointment. Both applicants must appear together at the appointment. You cannot send one person to pick up the license on behalf of the other.
Bring valid photo identification to your appointment. If either person was married before, you will need to know the month, year, and how the prior marriage ended. The clerk is specific about this. You do not need to bring a certified copy of a divorce decree or death certificate in most cases, but you must know the details. The office no longer requires women to show proof of rubella immunity, which used to be part of Indiana's marriage license process.
Payment must be made in cash or by money order. The clerk's office does not accept personal checks or credit cards. Bring exact change or a money order made out to the Jasper County Clerk for $29 (Indiana residents) or $69 (non-Indiana residents). Out-of-state applicants pay the higher fee only if neither person lives in Indiana. If one person is an Indiana resident, the $29 resident rate applies.
The clerk's office has stated clearly: "PLEASE NOTE THAT THE JASPER COUNTY CLERK IS NOT PERFORMING MARRIAGES AT THIS TIME." If you want a civil ceremony, you will need to find a judge, mayor, or member of the clergy to officiate. Indiana law under IC 31-11 permits clergy, judges, and mayors within the county to perform marriages. City and town clerk-treasurers may also officiate.
Online Marriage License Application Portal
The Indiana Courts online marriage application is the required starting point for all Jasper County applicants. You fill out both applicants' basic information on this portal before you come in person. The system does not issue your license online. It just starts the process and sends your information to the clerk ahead of your appointment. This saves time at the counter and lets the clerk pull up your file when you arrive.
The state's online marriage application portal allows Jasper County applicants to begin the license process before their in-person appointment, reducing wait time at the courthouse.
Once issued, your Jasper County marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If your ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and you must apply again. After the ceremony, the person who officiated must sign the license and return it to the clerk within 30 days of the wedding. The clerk records the marriage and it becomes part of the official Jasper County marriage records. Indiana Code IC 31-11 governs all of these timelines and requirements.
Search Historical Jasper County Marriage Records Online
Indiana maintains a public online database that goes back to 1993. The Marriage License Public Lookup is the fastest way to search Jasper County marriage records from recent decades. You can search by name and filter by county. Results show the license issue date, county, and basic details. This is a read-only database and does not give you a certified copy, but it confirms whether a record exists.
The Indiana Legacy Database covers older records, many of them pre-dating electronic filing. If you are looking for a Jasper County marriage from before 1993, the Legacy Database is a good first stop. The Indiana State Library also digitized a large volume of county marriage records, especially from the 19th and early 20th centuries, so older Jasper County records may be available there too. For genealogy work, the state library is often the most complete source.
The Indiana Archives and Records Administration holds older vital records and can be searched for historical Jasper County marriage documents. Some records that predate county digitization efforts are held at the state level. If the Legacy Database does not have what you need, contacting the archives directly is a reasonable next step.
The Indiana State Department of Health handles certified vital records. ISDH can issue certified marriage record abstracts for events going back to 1958. Jasper County marriages after 1958 that were properly filed with the state can be requested through ISDH. The fee and turnaround time are set by the state, not the county.
Marriage License Requirements in Jasper County
Indiana sets the baseline rules for all counties under IC 31-11. Jasper County follows those rules with its own appointment requirement added on top. Here is what every couple needs to know before applying:
- Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Anyone 16 or 17 needs a court order under IC 31-11-7.
- No blood test is required.
- There is no waiting period. The license is issued during your appointment if everything checks out.
- The license is valid for 60 days from the issue date.
- At least one applicant must be an Indiana resident to qualify for the resident fee.
- If either person was previously married, you must provide the month, year, and how the marriage ended.
- Payment: cash or money order only. No checks or cards.
After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Jasper County Clerk within 30 days. That return step is what creates the official marriage record. If the license is not returned, the marriage may still be legally valid under IC 31-11, but the paper record will not exist in the county's files. Couples who need certified copies later should confirm the signed license was properly returned and recorded.
Who Can Perform Marriages in Jasper County
Indiana law gives couples some flexibility in who officiates their wedding. Under IC 31-11, the following people can legally perform a marriage ceremony in Jasper County: clergy who are authorized by their religious organization, any Indiana judge, any Indiana mayor who is within their county, and the clerk or clerk-treasurer of any city or town. The Jasper County Clerk's office has stated it is not currently performing marriages, so if you want a civil ceremony, contact a local judge or the mayor's office.
There is no residency requirement for the officiant. If you want a friend ordained online to marry you, Indiana does recognize online ordinations from certain organizations, but it is worth verifying with the clerk that the organization meets Indiana's standards before the ceremony.
Indiana Public Records Law and Marriage Records Access
Indiana marriage records are public records under IC 5-14-3, the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. Anyone can request to view or copy most marriage records from the Jasper County Clerk's office. There is no requirement to show a personal connection to the record. Some details may be restricted under IC 16-37-1-10, which governs vital records confidentiality, but the basic record of who got married and when is generally accessible to anyone who asks.
Certified copies are a different matter. They cost more and are typically requested by the people named in the record, their attorneys, or family members with a legitimate need. The clerk's office can provide certified copies of Jasper County marriage records. For statewide vital record abstracts, ISDH is the right agency to contact.
The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division is a free resource for people researching family history. The library holds microfilm, indexes, and digitized records for Indiana counties including Jasper. If you cannot find what you need through the online databases, library staff can help you identify where a specific record might be held.
The Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup covers Jasper County records from 1993 onward and is free to search by name or county.
Cities in Jasper County
Jasper County's largest city is Rensselaer, the county seat, with a population well under the threshold for a dedicated city page. Other communities in Jasper County include Remington, Wheatfield, and Collegeville. None of these cities currently have individual marriage records pages. For all Jasper County marriage license services, use the clerk's office in Rensselaer.