Search Lawrence County Marriage Records
Lawrence County marriage records are filed and maintained at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office in Bedford, Indiana. The clerk handles all marriage license applications for the county, keeps the official records, and provides certified copies to those who need them. This page covers the application process, fees, where to search existing marriage records, and how Indiana law governs public access to these documents.
Lawrence County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Lawrence County Clerk of the Circuit Court
The Lawrence County Clerk, Amy Voorhies, manages marriage license records from the courthouse in Bedford. The office is at 916 15th Street, Room 31, Bedford, IN 47421. You can call 812-275-7543 with questions or fax documents to 812-277-2024. The office follows a Monday through Friday schedule. Both people getting married must appear together in person. No exceptions are made for one party to appear alone.
Before your visit, you can start the application through the Indiana online marriage license portal. Using the online form ahead of time can speed things up at the window. Still, both applicants need to arrive together to sign in front of the clerk. The clerk's office is in Room 31 of the courthouse, so check for that room number when you arrive at the building.
Bring valid photo ID. Indiana accepts driver's licenses, state-issued ID cards, and passports. No expired documents.
| Office | Lawrence County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Amy Voorhies |
| Address | 916 15th Street, Room 31, Bedford, IN 47421 |
| Phone | 812-275-7543 |
| Fax | 812-277-2024 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday |
| Resident Fee | $25 |
| Out-of-State Fee | $65 |
| License Valid | 60 days |
Getting a Marriage License in Lawrence County
Indiana's marriage license rules come from IC 31-11, which sets requirements that apply statewide including in Lawrence County. Both applicants must be 18 or older. There is no waiting period after the license is issued. You can get married the same day if you want. The license stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. If your ceremony does not happen within that period, the license expires and you must start the process over.
The fee is $25 for Indiana residents. If one or both applicants live outside Indiana, the fee increases to $65. Payment is made at the clerk's office. Call ahead if you want to confirm what forms of payment the office accepts. After the wedding, the officiant returns the signed license to the Lawrence County Clerk for recording. That completed record becomes the official marriage document on file.
If either applicant was previously married, you need to bring proof of how the prior marriage ended. A divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate all work. The clerk will look at that document before issuing the new license.
Lawrence County Marriage Records Search
The state of Indiana operates a free public search tool for marriage records at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL. This Marriage License Public Lookup covers records from 1993 to the present. You can search by name and find whether a license was issued in Lawrence County. The results show the license date, county, and names of both parties. No account or login is needed. Access is free and open to anyone.
For records before 1993, the Indiana Legacy Database is the next stop. The Indiana Legacy Database holds older county records including many marriage records from Lawrence County. The database is maintained by the Indiana State Library and includes scanned documents and indexes. If you are doing genealogy research or trying to find a record from before the state online system existed, this is where to look first.
The Marriage License Public Lookup is the quickest way to find a Lawrence County marriage license from the last three decades.
This free state tool lets you search Lawrence County and all Indiana county marriage licenses issued since 1993 without any fee or registration.
Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates
A certified copy of a Lawrence County marriage record is different from a simple printout. It carries an official seal and signature and is accepted as legal proof of marriage. You need one for tasks like updating a Social Security record, changing a name on a passport, or providing proof of marriage for insurance or estate matters.
You can request a certified copy from the Lawrence County Clerk in Bedford. Call 812-275-7543 to ask about the process and any fees the office charges for copies. Alternatively, the Indiana State Department of Health issues certified copies of marriage records statewide under IC 16-37-1-10. The state charges $8 per copy. Mail-in requests go through the ISDH vital records office. Include the full names of both spouses and the approximate marriage date on your request.
State processing can take several weeks. The county clerk may be quicker, especially if you can visit in person.
Historical Marriage Records in Lawrence County
Lawrence County has a long record-keeping history dating back to the county's founding in 1818. Early marriage records are held at the courthouse and may also be found through the Indiana State Archives. The Indiana Archives vital records section has details on what county-level records are stored there. Researchers looking for marriages from the 1800s or early 1900s often start with the archives to see if the county's records were transferred there for long-term preservation.
The Indiana State Library's genealogy resources are another place to look. The library at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm holds microfilm and digitized records for many Indiana counties including Lawrence. Some of those records cover marriage indexes from the mid-1800s through the 1900s, giving researchers a broad view of who married in the county and when. A visit to the library or a remote request can often turn up what the online databases miss.
The Indiana Legacy Database brings many of these older records together in one searchable place.
The Legacy Database covers pre-1993 Lawrence County marriage records and is a key tool for anyone researching family history in southern Indiana.
Public Access Rights Under Indiana Law
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act under IC 5-14-3 gives the public the right to inspect and copy government records including marriage licenses. The Lawrence County Clerk's office must respond to records requests and can charge a reasonable fee for copying. You do not need to give a reason for requesting a marriage record. The law treats marriage records as public documents open to inspection.
Some narrow exceptions exist. Records sealed by court order or involving minors might not be released. But for standard adult marriage records, access is open. If you believe a request was wrongly denied, you can contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor for guidance. That office helps the public understand and enforce records rights statewide. Most requests at the clerk level are straightforward and do not require legal intervention.
Cities in Lawrence County
Lawrence County's largest city is Bedford, the county seat. No cities in Lawrence County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Bedford, Oolitic, Mitchell, and other communities in the county all use the Lawrence County Clerk's office for marriage records.